Mission of Honor Web site        http://njsmissionofhonor.org/

American Legion Comrades and Veterans.

 

Welcome to the Burlington County Executive Committee (BCEC) of the Department of New Jersey. I wish to take this opportunity to introduce myself – I am Russell Franks, newly elected and installed Commander of the BCEC.  I was born in Philadelphia, but before my first birthday my family moved to New Jersey, my dad not wanting to raise a family in the city environment, preferring the Garden State.  I enlisted in the US Air Force, serving from 1968 to 1972, being stationed at Clark, AFB, Philippines, Da Nang AFB, S. Vietnam, and Iraklion AS, Crete, Gr. my assignment being in the USAFSS as a morse intercept operator. I joined the American Legion in 1999,my home post being Post 294 in Pemberton.  It has been my honor to serve the membership at the post in many capacities, including Post Commander, being tutored by some of the best and most knowledgeable veterans and legionnaires to walk on the face of this earth. I am also a member of the American Legion Riders at Post 294.

As I know you are well aware, we are living in difficult times with the on-set of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Our way of life has been greatly altered, as has our operations within the American Legion, in order to protect us, and others, from infection by this virus.  But we must continue to work for the benefit of our veterans, their families, active servicemembers and local communities where we live, assisting everyone in every way possible. We need to remember The Four Pillar of the American Legion – Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, and Children, and Youth. Become familiar with programs contained under each pillar.  And, above all, remember and do your best to follow the points of the Veteran’s Creed:

1. I am an American Veteran
2. I proudly served my country
3. I live the values I learned in the military
4. I continue to serve my community, my country and my fellow veterans
5. I maintain my physical and mental discipline
6. I continue to lead and improve
7. I make a difference
8. I honor and remember my fallen comrades

In closing, my Commanders Project for 2021-22 is to fully support the effort of the New Jersey Mission of Honor for Cremains of American Veterans through respect and honor, but most of all with a sizeable monetary donation from the County. I have set the amount of $4,500 - as a goal for Burlington County. I will be looking for each of 16 Posts in Burlington County to participate willingly in this project. Burlington County, the only county in the state of New Jersey that stretches from the Delaware River to the Atlantic Ocean, home to JBMDL Joint Base, should be able to reach and possibly exceed this goal. Once I get situated in my new position of County Commander, I will visit each and every post at least once, in an attempt to get to know you and enlighten you about the NJ Mission of Honor.  Another goal I have for the year is to see an increase in membership. This can be accomplished through some effort.  We can do this! I would also like to see attendance at the monthly county meeting by the county posts. We need input from everyone. Your attendance would be appreciated, one officer from each post, one night in the month. This can be done.

In closing, I wish success for everyone in the upcoming year.  Stay safe and be healthy.

For God and Country

Russell Franks

                                                     Burlington County Commander
                                                
R

American Legion County Commander
Russell Franks (294)