Abe Daniels won “Post Adjutant of the Year” at the fall conference of the American Legion Department of North Carolina at the North Raleigh Hilton Hotel on Oct. 17.
The department is comprised of more than 300 American Legion Posts throughout North Carolina.
The award was granted to Daniels for excellence in his job and going above the call of duty as adjutant of Post 107. He was described as “a dedicated, loyal and genuine legionnaire who possesses a contagious, positive and never a defeatist attitude.”
The following accomplishments were the winning factors: fundraising, serving in key roles with no financial remuneration, representing Post 107 in leadership roles in the community, serving as administrative recorder on Post committees and projects, serving as key spokesman to keep some of the critical health services at the Salisbury VA Medical Center open to veterans.
The nomination was submitted by Ollie Carroll, commander, Post 107.
Earnhardt Reunion
Descendants of the Henry Milas and Josephine Hopkins Earnhardt family met on Sunday, Oct. 25, for their seventh Earnhardt reunion at Union Lutheran Church on Bringle Ferry Road. More than 100 family members attended.
The Earnhardts lived in the Dunns Mountain and Crystal Lake areas. Their children were Hettie Bell Earnhardt Allman, Della Earnhardt Wyatt, James David Earnhardt, Charlie Edward Earnhardt, Samuel Council Earnhardt, Lillie Myrtle Earnhardt Hartman, John Henry Earnhardt and Dock Earnhardt.
Jan Pruette and Amy Earnhardt welcomed everyone to the reunion. Roland Langley of Lexington gave the blessing. The family then enjoyed a covered-dish lunch.
A table displayed framed pictures of Miles and Josephine Earnhardt. Scrapbooks of the Earnhardt family history, featuring reunion pictures, newspaper articles, family trees, and old photographs were also displayed.
Copies featuring Milas and Josephine’s photographs and a listing of of their children and their marriages and also their grandchildren were given to the Earnhardt descendants. Fall harvest arrangements and fall flowers decorated the tables and dining room area.
The family enjoyed an evening of fellowship, sharing family stories and family photographs. Group pictures were also made of the Earnhardt descendants.
Deaths since last year’s reunion were Ida Basinger Earnhardt, wife of Clifford Holland Earnhardt Sr., and Alisha Victoria Hartman, daughter of David Ray Hartman, from the Lillie Myrtle Earnhardt Hartman family. These deceased descendants were remembered by the family members.
Plaques featuring the “Love of Family” theme were given to the oldest woman present, Elizabeth Rufty Weaver, 89, of Salisbury, descendant of Hettie Bell Earnhardt, and to the oldest man present, James Adam Earnhardt, 88, also of Salisbury, descendant of Samuel Council Earnhardt.
Gold dollar coins were awarded to the youngest descendants present: Asia Mae Earnhardt, Wesley Earnhardt, Coby Nikole Earnhardt, Jackson Earnhardt, Emily Jean Earnhardt, and Jacob Lane Earnhardt, descendants of Samuel Council Earnhardt, and Kayle Givens and Wesley Honeycutt, descendants of Lillie Myrtle Earnhardt Hartman.
A fall flower arrangement was given to James Adam and Jean Bost Earnhardt for being the longest-married couple at 67 years.
Present were 88-year-old twins, Mary Kate Earnhardt Oddie and James Adam Earnhardt, descendants of Samuel Council Earnhardt.
The family of Samuel Council Earnhardt had the most members present.
Sharon Waller and Boyce Phillips of Friendly, W. Va. and Sandy Beck of Providence Forge, Va., traveled the farthest.
Family members and guests attended from Salisbury, Lexington, Spencer, Rockwell, Charlotte, Gold Hill, China Grove, Kannapolis, Granite Quarry, Southport, Faith, Morven, Virginia, West Virginia and South Carolina.
Amy LoRae Earnhardt of Salisbury, descendant of Charlie Edward Earnhardt, and Jan Weaver Pruette of Granite Quarry, descendant of Hettie Bell Earnhardt, were the reunion coordinators.
Musician Paul Hill
Paul Hill of Salisbury won first place on guitar at the N.C. State Fair Folk Festival and also won the Bascom Lamar Lunsford trophy which is given by the judges to a group or individual whose musical performance best exemplifies the historical and entertainment purpose of the folk festival.
This was Hill’s 45th year of playing in the festival without missing a year since 1964.
He also won second place in the nation for National Veterans Creative Arts Festival which is open only to veterans to perform, This was also on guitar. Competing were 3,453 veterans from 123 VA medical facilities.
Hill is an Army veteran who served in Germany.
The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival is sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs, American Legion Auxiliary and Help Hospitalized Veterans in an effort to showcase talents of veterans. VA medical facilities incorporate creative arts into their recreation therapy programs.
Halloween gathering
Over 100 children, parents and legionnaires attended the Halloween/Crime Prevention program held at J.C. Price American Legion Post 107 on Friday, Oct. 30. The children and youth danced to music provided by deejay Wade.
Comrade Hercules Shannon demonstrated tricks that his dog, Rebe, could do and answered questions about the dog.
Officer Mark Hunter demonstrated how his dog, Smoke, followed his commands and could find drugs in a locked box. He offered tips to the children on crime prevention and stressed the penalties and consequences of using or selling illegal drugs.
The firefighters from station #3 were present: engineer D. Lancaster, engineer Berry Frazier, firefighter Justin Vess and firefighter Chris Damato. They demonstrated how firefighters put their gear on in one minute and discussed fire prevention techniques, fire and smoke detectors, and what to do in case of a fire in the home. They demonstrated parts of the fire truck and answered questions.
Food was served and each child received a candy bag upon departure. Photos were taken of the children in Halloween costume.
Legionnaires present: Commander Mae Carroll, Daniel Haddock, Leonard Hall, James Best, Maurice Dunlap, Roy Leazer, John Frank White,John Knox, Charles Weldon, Wade Murphy and Hercules Shannon.
Guests were Dr. Arletta Massey, Kathryn Wiggins, Barbara Blackwell and sister Sherrill.
Mullis chosen
Wayne Mullis of Salisbury, has been chosen to serve as a member of Civitan International’s Board of Directors.
Civitan International is one of the world’s top volunteer service organizations, with approximately 40,000 members working to make their communities better in 28 countries. Mullis begins his term as a director on Oct.1, 2009, and will complete two years of service on the Board.
Mullis has been a Civitan member for 20 years, serving as club president as well as lieutenant governor and governor of the North Carolina West District. He is CEO of a family owned and operated travel agency and a former director of the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce.
Beta Sigma Phi
The Iota Psi chapter of Beta Sigma Phi hosted a Halloween party for sister chapter Xi Alpha Delta at the home of Scottie and Kelly Lippard, son and daughter-in-law of member Vicki Lippard. They make their home on Lake Norman.
A cookout was held, Halloween games played, and both chapters took part in a scavenger hunt.
Member Gail Young bestowed the honor of Envoy Member on Scottie Lippard for his years of assistance and work behind the scenes. His wife was made an honorary member of Iota Psi chapter, receiving a long stemmed yellow rose.
On Sunday, Nov. 1, five Beta Sigma chapters met at Milford Hills Methodist Church for the yearly Preferential Tea to present their chapters’ new rushees, envoys and legacy members.
Iota Psi presented new member Gladys Joyce to the other four chapters.