Commander's
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March 2006 Comrades and Sisters; We’re back ! Just a few short words to let everyone know what’s happening at our Post lately. March is time for Post elections. Nomination for all Post Officers for the VFW year 2006-2007 will be opened at the March meeting, and remain open until the April meeting. If you plan on running for an elected position, you must be present, or have a letter on file with the Adjutant stating your intentions. So please be there a take part in the nomination process and help us select our next slate of officers for our Post Membership is still needed for our 100%, if you had not paid your dues for 2006 please do so now. We needed your support. We have installed a new furnace in our boiler room this should save the post on fuel cost. We also replaced the dishwasher, refrigerator and freezer in the downstairs kitchen thanks to the long hours and time put in by the Post House Committee. John Ruger, Dave Deyo, Ken Rain and Ron Mironchik attended the State Legislative Conference in Albany, in January as well as Betty Ruger, Karen Barnhart and Vicki Rain. It was one of the best legislative conferences we have attended and hope the post send more members next year. We reported to the post about the priority and the goals of the VFW on their official positions on state and national issues for veteran’s needs for a stronger VA Budget 2006 at our February Post meeting. The Voice of Democracy winner for our Post and County this year was Rana Abdelqader, from Marlboro High School. The Voice of Democracy is an annual national audio essay contest that is designed to foster patriotism by giving high school students in grades 9 through 12 the opportunity to voice their opinion about their personal obligations as an American and address their responsibility to our country. The 2005-2006 theme was “Freedom’s Challenge”. Ron Mironchik has been the Post and Hudson Valley County Council chairman of the VOD for many years we want to thank Ron for taking his time and effort to participate with this program success. Announcing the Thirty Third Annual “20-Week Club” kickoff, tickets are out now, stop by the Post and get your ticket today, the first drawing is April 18th, 2006. For any inquiries call Dave Deyo or the Post at 255-8497. Our next Pancake Breakfast is schedule for March 19th, 2006 from 8 AM - 11 AM come join us and bring a friend. The Spring Conference will be held in conjunction with the Department of New York VFW Conference and Gold Chevron Ball at the Best Western Binghamton Regency Hotel, April 28-30,2006 We will be looking for volunteers to help us with the Buddy Poppy Program and the 20-Week Club. When you received a call from us for help, please say yes. Sometimes we are short handed and need all available resource’s to help us out. Commander John Ruger and Aux. President Betty Ruger would like to thank all the members for their support over the last several months. Jake Mertes our quartermaster states the post is doing very well. Lets thank him for his dedication and hard work that he does as Post Quartermaster. Ron and Kathy Mironchik our doing a great job sending packages to our troops in Iraq, if you know of any one serving in Iraq or Afghanistan please contact Ron or Kathy at the post If you could spare a couple of hours the VAVS at Castle Point VA Hospital could use your help with the following programs; (Programs start at 2PM)
Lets thank Our Post Color/Honor Guard for all they do for our Veterans, and our Post. Please give some though to joining this impressive group they sure could use some new members. Don’t feel like cooking? Try our Friday night diner! Friday night dinners are once again being served at the post canteen and have be quite successful come on and join us. Remember dinner-serving starts at 6 PM. We are always in need of volunteers to spearhead a Friday night dinner and the good thing about that is that you can cook what you want. So give it some thought and sign up to do a dinner. To those who are ill I wish a speedy recovery. To those who have lost a love one, my deepest sympathy. In support of all the men and women who have been called into military action. You’re in our hearts, our thoughts, and in our prayers. I hope you all have a nice St. Patrick Day and Easter as well. See you all at the next Post meeting. Till
next time December 2005 Comrades and Sisters: The Holiday Season is upon us. I hope you and your families are enjoying them. But this is also the time to remember the less fortunate and the homeless. Please have a safe and joyous Holiday Season. Don't forget we are having Santa with us on the 17th of December, 2 PM - 4 PM for the Post Children's Christmas Party. There will be a signup sheet in the canteen. If you would please let us know the age and gender of the children coming to the party, Santa will be able to get a nice gift for each child. The State Commander, James McNally, stopped by our Post on October 22, 2006 for a fundraiser to support Jr.Vice Commander Robert Barnhart for his advancement in the Department of New York. Congratulation to the winnesr of the post canteen Turkey raffles. We would also like to thank everyone for their kind donations that were made to the families of New Paltz this holiday season. On behalf of our soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait, Proctor-Hopson Post #1896 VFW (Jamaica, Queens) once again was asking for contributions to order and purchase Christmas Trees that will be sent to the above mentioned locations. The cost of each tree with the appropriate lights and ornaments is $25.00. Our Post put on a Friday night dinner, and sold 50/50 chances. We received personal donations as well as receiving money from the Troop fund raising committee at our Post. This brought our contribution to the Tree donation program to $575.00 (23 trees) We also hope it makes the Holidays a little more enjoyable for our deployed troops. A job well done by post members and thanks to Proctor-Hopson Post #1896 for this well-worthy program. The State Commander has been receiving complaints in regards to phone solicitations in various areas of the State. There have even been articles in the newspapers stating that we do not do phone solicitations and this is a scam. Please be advised, in case you were not aware, the Department of New York does have (2) two approved solicitors. They have been using them for the past (3) years. The names of these companies are Marketing Squad, Inc and Xentel. Neither of these should be stating that they are collecting for hurricane relief, but should be telling people about our V.F.W. programs. The BOCES Christmas Party is December 14th at 9:30 AM. If you can help please join us as it’s a fun day for all. As of the January 1st 2006 the Post will no longer be putting on a monthly Pancake Breakfast. The new Pancake Breakfast Schedule for 2006 is as follows: March 19, June 18, September 17 and December 17, 2006. Remember the breakfast is open to the public, come join us on those dates and bring a friend. On November 11, 2005 at 11:00 AM the Pos,t in observance of Veterans' Day, conducted Veterans' Days Services at the Post Memorial, Comrade Chaplin Joe Rappa once again gave the opening prayer. Those in attendance joined with us in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Post Color Guard and the Hudson Valley Submarine Veterans participated. Comrade Ron Mironchik was the Master of Ceremony as well as the guest speaker. From Ron's remarks: Places such as Concord, Lexington, Anzio, Kason, Samarra, and Midway all have one thing in common, the citizen soldier: ordinary people rising to the aid of their country with extraordinary valor. It is these citizens soldiers, both past and present, that we honor today. Both in war and in peace, these great Americans sacrificed not only their time and pleasures of home life, but also many times their lives: all for the common good and the ideals that make America the greatest free country on the planet. Displayed before us are the symbolic flags of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. They represent the best in all of us: courage, compassion, and strength in times of national danger. Above all these symbols flies the greatest symbol of all - The American Flag - made more stainless pure by the courage and sacrifice of its veterans. Today is a day for those who have survived the atrocities of wars. We honor those living heroes by never forgetting those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, for their country, and for you and me. Today, on Veterans' Day, seek out a veteran, young or old, male or female, and thank them. Thank them for your way of life and for all the freedoms you enjoy. Today on Veterans Day, as we should on every other day, show our gratitude to the generations of young men and women who have so gallantly served our nation. By ensuring that they will not be for gotten after the battles are over. By banding together as citizens to make sure our government does not abandon their warriors, who have given so much to their fellow Americans. We must help protect the benefits to our wounded and mentally scarred veterans so that they can enjoy the fruits of their battle along with the rest of our great nation. It is the least we can do - the very least! I would like to conclude my remarks by reading a poem by Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, Sgt United States Marine Corp. Freedom It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the
freedom of the press. Laying of the wreath's was done by Comrade Ron Mironchik and Matt Schmitz, Ron also presented a POW/MIA flag to the Department of Public Works, New Paltz to Jamie DePuy, for the Village Hall. Ron finished the ceremony with a "Thank you and God Bless America and its Veterans". Membership - Reminder to those of you who haven't paid your 2006 dues, please do so as soon as possible. We can reach our 100 % goal by the first of the year, if each member brings in a new or reinstated member in during the holidays season, Lets go for it! Mark these dates: January 21-23, 2006, The Veterans of Foreign Wars Mid-Winter Legislative Conference will be held at the Marriott Hotel, Wolf Rd, Albany, New York. It is extremely important that we, as an organization, fill the room to capacity at the Legislative Office Building on Monday morning January 23rd, to visibly show our support for the 2006 VFW Legislative Program To the families of those who have lost a love one: our sincere condolences. To those who are ill, we wish you a speed recovery. To the men and women in our military: we just want you to know that you are the real heroes of the world. You have the toughest job in the world, preserving the freedom and integrity of the free world. No one does a better job than you do. We pray every day for your safe return and for your families at home, God Bless you all. Have a wonderful magical Holiday Season! Till next time - Ken Rain September
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