Four Chaplains Memorial Service!

Come Join Woodland Hills Post 826 American Legion
In our Annual 4 Chaplains Brunch
Sunday Febuary 26, 2012

The program, held annually, commemorates an event in Feb. 1943, during WWII, when a US troop ship was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat in the North Atlantic. There were four Army Chaplains on board (a Rabbi, a Catholic priest and two Protestant ministers), all of whom gave up their own life jackets to others and, by doing so, went down with their ship saving the lives of their fellows. (If you would like to learn more about the 4 Chaplains, please go here: http://www.immortalchaplains.org/Story/story.htm).

Brunch 2:00 PM

Ceremony 3:00 PM


Tickets On sale from Legion Members $10.00 ( can be purchased at the door )


Open to all members and friends of the American Legion


Menu : Scambled Eggs, Turkey & Regular Sausage, Hash Browns, Fruit Cocktail, Rolls & Butter, Coffee or Tea


Additional Donations accepted at the door.
Please RSVP so we can get a count for Food Etc.


For additional information call 1-818-692-0701


The program, held annually, commemorates an event in Feb. 1943, during WWII, when a US troop ship was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat in the North Atlantic. There were four Army Chaplains on board (a Rabbi, a Catholic priest and two Protestant ministers), all of whom gave up their own life jackets to others and, by doing so, went down with their ship saving the lives of their fellows. (If you would like to learn more about the 4 Chaplains, please go here: http://www.immortalchaplains.org/Story/story.htm).

A Rule 5 Restaurant? Can Such a Marvel Truly Be?

"These are the days of miracles and wonderments..." Art Garfunkel

After the arrival of the Vietnam Rolling Memorial Wall, the reception party from the American Legion and Operation Gratitude went to Buca de Beppo, a popular Italian restaurant on Ventura Boulevard in Encino CA.

At first the decor looks like typical Italian tchotchkes, if "typical" is defined as including a picture of John Belushi in drag peeling potatoes (I suspect I've just horribly offended someone's grandmother):

But then things took a turn for the wonderful.

It starts with the Papal Gazebo: literally, a circular alcove in the middle of the restaurant, its walls decorated with Vatican and Papal portraits and sculpture, with a bust of the current Pope Benedict XVI set on a sort of lazy-susan in the middle of the dining table, rotating to keep Rome's eye on the diners:

But then you turn around, I mean you literally just turn around, and

Buongiorno, Bella Sophia!

Yes, it's the official Sophia Loren Wall of Pulchritude, three feet from the Vatican West! This is why I think I'd like Italy. They know there's a huge gap between the sacred and profane, but somewhere deep in their excitable little hearts they just don't care.


Incidentally, the food was terrific and the portions were huge!

Sadly, I hear that even Italy may be succumbing to the EUrodulls. Maybe I should start saving up for that trip to Rome and the Amalfi Coast before they end up looking like fookin' Bruges...

Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall...

The convoy rolled in from Van Nuys Airport escorted by LAPD, motorcycles from the Legion Riders of the American Legion, and the Patriot Guard, along with a parade of classic cars led by KTLA's veteran reporter Stan Chambers:

The wall is an 80% scale replica, exact in every detail, of the

original Memorial in DC. This is the first time it has visited

California. \The names of our American dead are arranged

by year, from 1959 to our withdrawal.

Friday Night Rally

No fancy slogans for 9/11.