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- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
The goal of the Caravan is to increase membership among
the Legion community.
Members of the American Legion traveling membership caravan pose for a picture during their stop at Timmermann-Benhoff American Legion Post 252 in Breese on Friday, Jan. 17. Photo by Matt Wilson The American Legion traveling membership caravan made a stop at the Timmermann-Benhoff American Legion Post 252 in Breese on the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 17.
The caravan goes to communities and gets the leadership of the posts of each area to gather to gain information from the state leadership about their programs and membership. The goal is to get the renewal rate back up for the members. They had a national target of membership of 80% by Jan. 15. They have been doing the caravan since the mid 1990s.
American Legion National Vice Commander Roger Mathison was the guest speaker for the event. He is a US Army veteran from Wisconsin. He served in the military from 1971-1973. He is the American Legion baseball and softball commissioner, a position he has held since 2013.
Mathison said the American Legion is the voice for the veterans, and that is more important now more than ever.
"We must strive and ensure that their needs — medical, educational and housing — are provided for them," Mathison said.
Mathison said the last session of congress saw the passage of the Elizabeth Dole 21st century veterans health care benefits improvement act. Mathison said that is a very important bill that the American Legion pushed for over two years to get passed. The bill adds to the PACT Act to improve benefits, especially for care givers for veterans.
The national defense authorization act also was passed. 
American Legion National Vice Commander Roger Mathison speaks to the audience during the traveling membership caravan at Timmermann-Benhoff American Legion Post 252 in Breese. Mathison said American Legion programs help people in communities on a daily basis. The national emergency fund provides $3,000 for individuals and $10,000 for post for those who suffered a natural disaster. The American Legion also provides temporary financial aid, which is especially important for families with young children who need assistance with rent, groceries and car or household repairs.
Mathison said the most important of all is the American Legion service officers who help the veterans make claims so they are fairly compensated for the injuries they suffered while serving in uniform.
Mathison is in his 54th year as a Legion member and he said he truly believes the Legion is doing more now than ever before and are doing it with less members.
The vice commander talked about the American Legion's two recent initiatives: Be the one to stop the one and the buddy checks.
The be the one to stop the one initiative has the goal of stopping veterans suicide. They have reduced the amount of veterans suicide from about 22 a day to 17 a day, but Mathison said that is still about 6,000 veterans a year committing suicide.
2024 Miss Clinton County Fair Shelby Peters (front, center) is pictured with Clinton County pageant directors Lori Jansen and Sharilyn Mench. In the back are Clinton County Fair Board members Michelle Essenpreis, Jeff Brink, Nancy Rehkemper, Greg Rehkemper, Ralph Beckmann, Alexis Voyles, Audrey Moran and Sara Welles. Shelby Peters of Breese, the reigning Clinton County Fair Queen, represented her community at the prestigious Miss Illinois Fair Queen Pageant this past weekend.
Competing against 72 other queens from across the state, Shelby showcased her talents and poise in various categories, including interview, evening gown, and swimsuit.
The pageant, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Illinois, brought together an impressive group of young women who each brought their unique stories and aspirations to the stage.
Miss Henry County Johnna Fulcher, 20, of Geneseo was crowned this year's Miss Illinois County Fair Queen following three days of competition — Jan. 17 through Sunday, Jan. 19. Fulcher is the daughter of Margo and David Hohe. She is currently attending Blackhawk College and will graduate this spring with an associate degree in art. She plans to continue her education at Carl Sandburg College to pursue a degree in dental hygiene.
Miss Clinton County Fair Queen Shelby Peters is pictured during the evening gown competition at the state fair pageant. First runner-up was Miss Christian County Delaney Epley, second runner-up was Miss Sangamon County Claire Oliver, third runner-up was Kaylee Ford of Western Illinois Fair and Paris Van Dyke of Clay County was named fourth runner-up.
Natalie Evans from Morgan County was the retiring 2024 Miss Illinois County Fair queen.
Miss Madison County Fair Queen Annalyse Richter of Highland made it to the top 16 at the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant.
Richter is a 2022 Mater Dei Catholic High School graduate. She is a junior at St. Louis University majoring in medical sciences on the pre-medicine track.
Friends and family attended a send-off reception for Peters on Sunday, Jan. 12, at Avon Theater in Breese, where Peters said she had a sense of "nervous excitement" before she competed in the state pageant.
"I'm a little nervous, but I'm really excited to see all of the other queens and get on the stage and do our thing," Peters had said. "I'm really looking forward to meeting all of the other queens from all the other surrounding counties and meet other people who are doing the same thing I am under the same circumstances I am and get to know everyone."
