1 December 2016 News Items

Maynard Sorensen reports:


Two items for the December News.

1.  American Legion Post 711 is in the process of merging with Post 90. Former Commander Maynard Sorensen is third Vice Commander of Post 90 and will continue to serve the Ivins area with assistance of Post 90 membership with American Legion projects. Some of the former members of Post 711 are now serving in the Post 90 Honor Guard.

2.  For some time, former Commander of American Legion Post 711, now in Post 90, Maynard Sorensen has been working on re-naming the Central Utah Veterans Home in Payson for one of five Medal of Honor winners in Utah. Recently, Gary Harter, head of the Department of Veterans Affairs for Utah, announced that the name change had been approved, and that it would happen on Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7th, 2016 at the Veterans Home in Payson, Utah at 2 p.m., which facility was built as the same time as the Southern Utah Veterans Home in Ivins. Maynard Sorensen will be a speaker on the program and will assist in an unveiling of a new monument and special photo at the conclusion. The public is welcome to attend.

The Payson facility will be re-named The Mervyn Sharp Bennion Veterans Home. Captain Bennion was killed while in command of the USS West Virginia defending his ship and crew during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7th, 1941. This year is the seventy-fifth anniversary. Captain Bennion grew up just fifty miles to the West of Payson on a sheep and cattle ranch near Vernon, Utah. He, and his Brother Howard, both graduated with honors for the military academies and had very successful  careers in the military.


10 Nov 2016 - Military Honors for Bill Toole

On the Marine Corps' 241st birthday, Bill Toole was given military honors by the Utah Dixie Detachment #1270, Marine Corps League at Spilsbury Mortuary in St. George.  The Toole family sends a huge thank you to the Detachment and to Devil Pup graduates for a beautiful tribute to Col. Toole.  MCL 1270's Facebook page has a few photos posted, including these photos of the rifle detail and Devil Pup pallbearers.

MILITARY HONORS  You might have to log in to Facebook to see the photos.