There are 63 American Legion posts in Pennsylvania and the Lehighton AMVETS Post had the distinction of being one to be honored with a "Quality Post of the Year" designation in 2010.

That award was one of the highlights reported when Randolph Rabenold, adjutant of the Lehighton AMVETS, Elwood Miller Post 106, issued his report on the post activities for last year.Since the post is without a "post" home, the members meet at the

V.F.W. Post on South Street. Most members are also members of the American Legion Post 314, and also the

V.F.W. Post 256.Regular meetings are held at 3 p.m., on the third Sunday of each month.Average attendance is about 10 members. Thirty six members attended the August picnic meeting at Bob and Carol White's grove, and 28 attended the Christmas meeting at the Legion Home.Officers elected for 2011 were Bob Rehnert, commander; Randy Rabenold, adjutant; Mitchell Nace, finance officer; John Stefanik, first vice commander; Dern Sharbaugh, second vice commander; Attorney William Bayer, judge advocate; Bern Fritz, provost marshal; Jim Wentz, chaplain; Bill Newton, service officer; and Kaye B. Leiby, Bill Sherman and James Movios Jr., trustees.The post noted with regret the passing of members, Charles Solt, Curtis Miller, Larry Kimmel, Nevin Krum and Bill Armbruster in 2010.As part of the

U.V.O. (American Legion,

V.F.W., and the AMVETS) Honor Guard, the post participated in 32 military funerals.Those military funerals included Williard Rex, Frank Kost, Charles Solt, Robert Knappenberger, Clarence Hahn, Edward Reihman, Robert Sterling, Bill Williams, Warren Reichard, Curtis Miller, Joseph Leyer, Martin Butchko, Mel Storm, Frank Rudelitch, William Sander, Charles Knappenberger, Edwin Wentz, Ellen Wentz, John Fryman, "Skip" Walck, Ronald Snyder, Nevin Krum, Bill Armbruster, Willard Eberts, Robert Yanero, Ira Foster, Charles Sharbaugh, Donald Bartholomew, Rodney Grimm and Arthur Serfass.The post participated in a Vietnam veterans ceremony on April 7. Two members traveled to Elizabethtown to assist in a Memorial service in April for Dr. Clarence Hunsicker, a Lehighton native. The men, assisted by the boy scouts, placed flags on the rural cemeteries in May and 10 men, also assisted by boy scouts, placed the flags on the local cemeteries. Ten members, assisted by the National Guard, took part in the Memorial Day ceremonies for the rural cemeteries on May 30 and local cemeteries on May 31.Ten men participated in the Lehighton Area Middle School ceremony on May 26, also the post chaplain, Jim Wentz, presented a $250 scholarship to Lauren Jankowski at the high school ceremony in May. Wentz and adjutant Randy Rabenold presented $200 to Americanism contest winners in the middle school concert.The post also participated in Memorial Day ceremonies at Franklin and East Penn elementary schools on May 25, also at Blue Mountain Health System, Gnaden Huetten Campus; and at The Summit Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.The winners of the 2009-2010 Americanism contests were: third grade poster contest, Elizabeth Eckhart, first, $50; Chris Whiteman, second, $30; and Austin Miller, third, $20. In the seventh grade essay contest, Katelyn Hosler, first place, $50; Sierra Volkert, second place, $30; and Devin Hinkle, third place, $20.The post donated $250 for their annual scholarship, $200 for the annual Americanism contests, $100 to the

U.V.O. for Memorial Day expenses, $100 toward the Palmerton Veterans Day Parade, and $25 for the Halloween parade committee, $75 toward a "brick" for the fountain in the park, and $200 toward other projects for a total of about $1,000.