February 2004

Comrades,

Thanks to all who contributed in making the first eight months of my term in office a very successful one. I hope that the next few months will continue to be the same! To all of you, I thank you.

This year is rapidly coming to a close but there is still a lot of work to be done. Membership is still not where it should be. The post needs the help of all its members to sign up new and reinstate delinquent members if we plan to be a 100% VFW post. Please continue to recruit. Each member is of extreme importance.

The time is now to get your reservation to the World War II Memorial Dedication Trip. Your commitment is needed. Please call Ron or Kathy Mironchik or the Post home at 255-8497 if you have any questions concerning the trip.

Remember post election time is here again and nominations will be open in March and remain open until the April meeting.

We have volunteers who are always there to support the our post activities. We need more of you to help and just a couple hours of your time in support would go a long way. Please give it some thought and let us know how you would like to help.

Joe Rappa Color Guard / Honor Guard is looking for members to volunteer for the Color Guard. If you have the opportunity to see our Honor Guard participate at a funeral service for a service member, you could not think of anything that we do as a post that is anymore important than honoring a serviceman who has served his country and now is laid to rest. The men in our Honor Guard perform this service with professionalism and dignity. The Color Guard performs at all of our post memorial functions. These men in the Color Guard / Honor Guard deserves around of applause.

Mark your calendars for March 12th, 2004. Starting at 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (or earlier if sold out), the post will be having a St. Patrick's Day Dinner, Come out and be Irish! St. Patty's menu: Corned Beef, Cabbage, Potatoes, Carrots, Soda Bread, price $ 8.00 .

The Thirty-First Annual 20 WEEK CLUB - kickoff will be on April 3rd, 2004. For information or tickets contact John Ruger or the Post at 255-8497.

The month of May we will be looking for help on the weekends promoting our Buddy Poppy Program at the Shop- Rite store in New Paltz, if you could donate a couple of hours please stop by the post and sign up.

Get well wishes goes out to John Carroll.

January 2004

Comrades,

On Veterans Day November 11th, 2003 at the post a slight breeze blew the American Flag gently as members and citizens gathered outside the post home for our annual Veterans' Day program. We provided our Color Guard and the Marine Corp Rifle Squad for this traditional ceremony. Ron Mironchick was are guest speaker and Dave Deyo was our m/c , Dave gave a warm Welcome and we joined him with the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem. Ron spoke about our veterans here and around the globe. He asked that we all take time now and every day to thank those veterans, and all men and women who serve your country so we might enjoy the freedom we have today. A great job, Ron.Taps was played and the Marine Corp. gave a rifle salute. Our post piper, Wanda Nicholson, played Amazing Grace. The Invocation and Benediction was by post Chaplain Joe Rappa.

On December 7th 2003 we held our Pearl Harbor Day services. Ken Rain was the guest speaker. He was assisted by Dave Deyo as M/C , and the Post Color Guard and the Marine Corp Squad from Steward Air Base.

I would like to thank Jake Mertes for all the hard work he does as Post Quartermaster. Jake is at the post home almost every day. Some people complain that Jake handles our funds like they were his own. I'm sure glad he does. He is there always looking after our interests and always giving his support. Jake, keep up your good work.

The breakfast crew is doing a marvelous job of cooking breakfast. They present a great menu to choose from. Please come and join us.

Again. I thank you, to those of you that have helped at the post and never ask for anything but to serve. These comrades and sisters are the hard core of the post. But we need all of you, Young or Old, male or female, to jump in, we need you !!!! Its not just a single person that makes a post run.

I like to take this time to thank Pat (Stewart) Johnson for being the webmaster for the post web site. It takes a lot time to put this together, but the end result is quite rewarding knowing that all of our post members will enjoy. If you have anything you would like posted on the site (photos, news about members, events, etc), please send them to Pat at webmaster@vfw8645.org for inclusion on the site. If you have photos, you can leave them at the post home and they will be returned to you after she scans them and posts them on the site. If you have photos from past events, we would love to share them with other members. Please make sure you also include information about the event and identify the participants, if you can. Any remembrances of the past would be most welcomed on our web site!

Membership, we can reach our goal of 100 % if each member brings in a renewal or a new member during January or February, just a little more effort will take the post to the quota. Reminder to those of you who haven't paid their dues, please do so as soon as possible.

May the New Year bring Peace, Prosperity and Joy.

November 2003

Greetings Comrades,

Here it is Holiday time. Where has the time gone? During the past months, there has been much done by the comrades of this post. There are many comrades for me to personally thank, but I want you all to know that you have done one helluvajob and I really appreciate it. Thanks to all who worked for their invaluable assistance and support at the Pasta Dinner. I heard it was one great dinner and very well attended, a fine job.

Veterans Day Services will be held at the Post on November 11, at 11:00 AM. All members of the Post and Ladies Auxiliary are invited to join. Guest Speaker will be our own comrade, Ron Mironchik. Refreshments will follow. Come join us in the showing of your colors and support for our veterans

On behalf of the membership of the Post, I extend "Happy Birthday Wishes" to the men and women of the United States Marine Corps who celebrates 228th Birthday of its service on November 10th. The Post will celebrate the birthday of the Marine Corps at 1:00 PM on the 10th of November in our canteen; Dave Deyo wishes you and any Marine to join him this day.

Special thanks to Chaplin Joe Rappa and the Color/Honor Guard for their continuous service and support. (200 Anniversary Gardiner Day Parade , Wallkill Correctional Memorial , VA Hospital Castle Point Day) plus Memorial Services. A job well done.

Join us for the Post Children Christmas party , Saturday, December 13, 2003, 2 PM - 4 PM.

If there is anyone you might know that we can help during this holiday season, please have them contact Ken Rain.

Membership; It is projected that our membership goal will be 327 by the end of December 2003, can we make it ? I believe we can ! If you are an annual member and you have not renewed for 2004, NOW is the time.

We will be having services at our Post on December 7th for Pearl Harbor Day. Details will be announced shortly.

Have a safe and joyous Holiday Season.

September 2003

Comrades,

I hope you and your family have had a great summer. it won't be long before fall is upon us.

I would like to thank all those that came out for our 20/week club activities. I was told by many that the "Chicken" was great, Thank the cook and his helpers, it made the day a great event. My thanks and heartfelt appreciation are in order for all those who contributed so much to our 20/ week club activities: thanks to the kitchen crew and servers who prepared and put out the food, as well as the setup & cleanup crew a job well done. Our 50/50 raffle was very impressive, thanks Rita. The pavilion was packed wall to wall with people who came out to enjoy this activity. Again thanks to all those individuals who volunteered. Iit could not have been done with out you.

On July, 2003 the Post Color Guard raised the Flag of the United States of America for the 325th Anniversary of the Town of New Paltz at the fair grounds. This flag was flown over the United States Capitol on June 16, 2003 , at the request of the Honorable Maurice D. Hinchey , Member of Congress. The flag was given to VFW Post 8645 to be the holder for the Town of New Paltz, a job well done by Joe Rappa and his Color Guards.

At present we have 214 Life Members and 47annual and 1 new member who dues are paid for 2004. Just think if every member would just go out and sign up one member, we would be a all state post with 100 + members.

Come join us at our next meeting. Your voice is need for the support of our veterans' rights and benefits. Tthe support is in our membership.

There are many programs that must be accomplished during the year and the committees appointed wil,l as always, be successful.

Come join us at the post for Pasta Dinner on October 25, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. and then visit your canteen upstairs for a enjoyable evening.

VFW Day at Castle Point Veterans Hospital is scheduled for Sunday, September 14th at 12 noon. Come join us for this special day to honor these veterans.

I remind all that our Service Officer Harold Van Leuven states that you must register to be able to get your Veterans Benefits . Here in our area contact the Department of New York Service Officer at Albany , or contact your VA Medical Center and if all else fails; contact me at the Post for Harold's number.

Remember September 11, 2001 "Patriot Day" when Terrorists attack New York City, Washington DC & Pennsylvania.

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS

July 2003

Comrades:

As we begin another year, the elected officers would like to invite everyone to get involved in the Post activities. There is plenty going on and room for everybody.

If you would like to take part in one or more of the VFW programs, please let the Commander or one of the officers know. The VFW programs include the MAP (Military Assistant Program) , this program helps active duty military members as well as their families. The Patriot's Pen program is a youth essay contest for 7th & 8th grade children. The Voice of Democracy program is a audio essay contest for 9th—12th grades. The Buddy Poppy program is a program designed to distribute Poppies to help support our disabled Veterans. The Citizenship Education program members are the local representatives for the entire organization, They build relationships with community leaders, organize partnerships with civic groups and promote the VFW. The Community Service program includes interacting with school teachers and administrators, community leaders, members of the media, city government officials and fellow Veterans. This committee also identifies and initiates programs needed in the community. There is also a program on Recognition Activities. This program covers a wide variety of topics including Eagle Scout of the Year Award, and many more.

As you can see there is room for all of us to get involved and we must remember that if we don't support and participate in these VFW programs it could put our charter in jeopardy. And as we know without a charter we would have no canteen. We are very fortunate that the Post is able to make donations to local charities, however it takes more than a donation to make the above programs work. Please take the time to get involved.