January 2016 Newsletter

“God Bless our Servicemen and Women and America.”
The Bugle
NEWSLETTER OF MERRICK POST NO. 1282
AMERICAN LEGION
VOL. 8
Editor: Richard M. Ambrosino
January 2016
Website: merrickpost1282.org
ISSUE 4
Email: [email protected]
Commander’s Corner
Dear Legionnaires,
I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and the beginning of the
New Year. I hope I have served the veterans of Merrick Post 1282,
American Legion, well, in this past calendar year. Here is a recap of
some of the things I was involved in during the past year (2015). Putting
up of membership drive signs at the Merrick Post 1282 and Merrick's
Veteran Memorial Park, worked the summer and winter Veteran
Standdowns for homeless veterans, five weekends fund raising at the
Holms service station in Merrick, fund raising at Merrick Fall Festival.
Made visits to Northport Veterans Nursing Home three times and to the
Stony Brook Nursing Home.
I attended dinners for the National Commander, State Commander, Nassau County
Commander and his newly elected officers, and Past County Commander’s Retirement and three
Legislative breakfasts. I also attended Merrick Post No. 1282 Installation, Law and Order Ceremony,
St. Pat’s Party, Holiday Party, and BBQ for Stony Brook Veterans held at our Post.
At Eisenhower Park attended Veterans Memorial Ceremony, Wall of Honor, Nassau County
Salute to Veterans and Vet to Vet BBQ. I attended a three day Levittown Hall Nassau County
Elections meeting, Nassau County Membership workshop, three school district tax relief meetings,
Color Guard at The Small Businessperson of the Year, three Eagle Scout ceremonies, and a
Dedication of new ramp at our Post, and Paraded at the ceremony for keys to the house for member
Kevin Vaughan, USMC.
Lead the Memorial Day Parade, commencement speaker at The Veterans Day Ceremony held
at Merrick’s Veteran Memorial Park and attended the Veterans Day Recognition Mass at Cure of ARS
church. Attended eleven Nassau county meetings and commenced over twelve Merrick Post 1282
meetings.
I am looking forward to a new and prosperous year as your third term Commander. God Bless
and Stay Safe.
Kenneth J. Braun, Post Commander
Page 1
MERRICK POST NO. 1282
AMERICAN LEGION
160 WEST MERRICK ROAD
MERRICK, NY 11566
516-521-6989
2015-2016
American Legion Merrick Post 1282 Officers
Commander
First Vice Commander
Second Vice Commander
Third Vice Commander
Adjutant
Treasurer
Chaplain
Sergeant at Arms
Judge Advocate
Historian
Service Officer
Kenneth J. Braun
James W. O’Neill
Bernard H. Hoffman, PC
Jim V. Anatra
Harold K. Gribbin
Michael S. Elliott
John Murphy, PC
Joseph T. Ambrosino
Vincent J. Gabriele, PC
Eugene E. Lowenberg
Leonard T. Tucker
Trustee
Barbara Byrne
Trustee
Joseph T. Ambrosino
Trustee
Robert Dishman
Trustee
Bernard H. Hoffman, PC
Trustee
Robert C. Wieboldt, PC
________________________________________________________________________________
2015-2016
American Legion Auxiliary Merrick Unit 1282 Officers
President
Florence Hoffman
First Vice President
Laura LaHood
Second Vice President
Patricia Tropea
Historian
Florence Hoffman
Recording Secretary
Palma Fasano
Corresponding Secretary
Palma Fasano
Treasurer and Membership
Sharon Williams
Chaplain
Betty Tucker
Sergeant At Arms
Sharon Ferst
Executive Board
Toni Uberti, Lucy Murphy, Betty Tucker
________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Reader, Merrick Post No. 1282, American Legion, is trying to form a contact e-mail list in
case we have to contact you due to changes in our schedule or with important information. If you are
a Post member or an organization that receives our Newsletter, please e-mail us (if you have not
done so already) your e-mail address with your name or name of organization to our e-mail address
listed on the front cover of this Newsletter.
Page 2
Stony Brook Veterans Home Visit by Post Members
Post members, Frank
Pedagno and Richard A.
Mecabe Jr., via the Merrick
Post No. 1282, American
Legion, purchased a
number of electronic items
from P.C. Richard & Son for
Veterans at the Stony Brook
Veterans Nursing Home.
On Thursday, December 10,
2015, a number of Merrick
Post 1282 Veterans brought
these items to the Stony
Brook facility for the
disabled veterans there.
In the picture, from left to right, are Post members: Harry Gribbin, Jim O’Neill, Joe Ambrosino, Frank
Pedagno, Bob Weiboldt (PC), and Commander Ken Braun. Above picture courtesy of the Stony Brook
Veterans Nursing Home.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Northport Veterans Home Visit by Post Members for the Holidays
On December 12, 2015, Post members
visited the disabled veterans at the
Northport Veterans Nursing Home. Post
members sang Christmas Carols to the
residents at the Nursing Home for the
holidays and participated in helping out
with the Day at the Races, in which 7
simulated horse races were run.
In the picture from left to right, back row, were Post members: Frank Pedagno, Joe Ambrosino, John Weber
(musician/piano player who led us in singing of the Christmas Carols), Jim O’Neill, Harry Gribbin, Bob
Weiboldt (PC) and Commander Ken Braun. From left to right, front row, Auxiliary member Betty Tucker and
Post member Lenny Tucker. Post member Al Garbarino also visited the Northport disabled veterans.
Page 3
Post Holiday Party 2015
Post Member John Weber providing the entertainment
for our Post Holiday Party on 12/13/2015.
Post members Jim O’Neill (left) and Harold
Gribbin (right) setting up Christmas lights at
the Merrick’s Veteran Memorial Park on
11/28/2015.
From left to right: Holiday Party Chairman Harold
Gribbin, Commander Ken Braun and Holiday Party
Co-Chairman Jim O’Neill at the Post Holiday
Party.
Lets Eat!!! Holiday Party Chairman Harold Gribbin
(front right) with Holiday Party Co-Chairman Jim
O’Neill (back right) and the American Legion
Auxiliary Merrick Unit 1282 members (left) at the
food table at the Post Holiday Party. Thank you to
the auxiliary members for helping with the serving
of the food at this event.
Page 4
Page 5
Chaplain Report
Post Member Jeffrey B. Wortmann has reported to Post Everlasting.
John Murphy, Post Chaplain
________________________________________________________________________________
Boys State Leadership Program
Boys State is a leadership action program where qualified male high school juniors take part
in a practical government course designed to develop in them a working knowledge of the structure of
government.
The qualified student must be in the top 50 percent of his class, be of moral character, a leader
and in good health. These student candidates should be involved in physical training and organized
sports along with their studies of and visits to various offices of state government.
This program is held at the State University at Morrisville, New York, in the last week of June
(6/26/2016 to 7/02/2016). Training course expenses, which include room, board and transportation,
are paid by the Merrick Post No. 1282 of the American Legion.
Any high school junior interested in the Boys’ State program and wishes to be considered and
resides in the Merricks, is asked to send their name, address, phone number and school to the
Merrick Post No. 1282, American Legion, 160 West Merrick Road, Merrick, NY 11566, to arrange for
an interview to be considered as our representative to attend Boys State.
James W. O’Neill, 1st Vice Commander
________________________________________________________________________________
Philip L. Williams Memorial Scholarship
Merrick Post No. 1282 will be awarding a Philip L. Williams Memorial Scholarship to a
deserving high school senior who best exemplifies the qualities of Philip L. Williams. Phil’s core
values were focused on Strong Morals: Patriotism, Family Values, Community Service and a strong
Work Ethic. Phil was an inspiration because he took every opportunity to exhibit and incorporate
these morals in his life. He made a difference to his fellow veterans, his co-workers, as well as his
family and friends by reminding us to integrate these beliefs into everyday life.
The Williams Family wishes to find a senior who is committed to these same values and has a
determination for making a difference. Donations for this Fund can be made out to American Legion
Merrick Post No. 1282 earmarked Philip L. Williams Memorial Scholarship Fund and sent to:
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1282, 160 West Merrick Road, Merrick, New York 11566
Attention: Sharon Williams
All high school seniors who are interested in applying and need further details on the $1000
Philip L. Williams Memorial Scholarship in June 2016 please send a request to
[email protected].
Page 6
American Legion Auxiliary Merrick Unit 1282
On December 1, 2015, Mattea Saraceni, Eileen Weber, Sharon Williams and
myself along with my husband, Bernard Hoffman from the American Legion, Merrick
Post 1282, went to Northport Hospital to help the veterans there pick out gifts they
could send to their loved ones. We also helped with wrapping the gifts to be mailed
out for them.
On December 7, 2015, I held an Executive Board meeting. Unfortunately, we were not able to
give the veterans a Thanksgiving dinner at the Hempstead home they live in, but we hope to be doing
this as a Christmas dinner for them. On December 8, 2015, Eileen Weber and I went to Chatterton
School to bring apples and cookies for the teacher's lunchroom for all they do for us. On December
13, 2015, many of us attended the American legion, Merrick Post 1282, annual Christmas Party. As
usual lots of good food and fun was had by all.
Speaking for the American Legion Auxiliary, Merrick Unit 1282, we wish all Happy Holidays
and a Safe and a Healthy New Year. For God and Country.
Florence Hoffman, ALA, President
________________________________________________________________________________
Ninth Annual Military Ball/Post Commanders Night
The Ninth Annual Military Ball/Commanders Night will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2016,
at the Leonard's "La Dolce Vita", 555 Northern Blvd., Great Neck NY 11021 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00
p.m. The event begins with a cocktail hour with hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, followed by a full course
meal. With unlimited brand name liquor and music for your listening and dancing pleasure.
A ticket is $67. The Post will pay for your guest. The cutoff date to attend this event is
February 1, 2016. Make checks payable to Merrick Post No. 1282, Memo: Military Ball. There will be
the usual Pageant. The Auxiliary is invited to bring Their Colors and Parade with the Post. Merrick
Post No. 1282, American Legion Members, please contact the Post via email:
[email protected] and/or via phone: 516-521-6989 for more information about this
event.
________________________________________________________________________________
Notes
Post members meet the fourth Monday of each month, the meeting starts at 7:45 p.m.
Refreshments are served after the meeting.
In order to help pay for the costs of producing this Newsletter we will incorporate
advertisements in all of our publications. Whenever possible, please patronize these local
businesses that are helping to support the Legion.
The cutoff date for articles in the next Newsletter must be submitted at our Post meeting on
March 28, 2016.
Page 7
Merrick Post No. 1282
The American Legion
160 West Merrick Road
Merrick, N.Y. 11566-4232
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
Address Service Requested
PAID
MERRICK, N.Y. 11566
PERMIT # 21
Dates to Remember
JAN.
11
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY EXECUTIVE MEETING AT THE POST AT 7:45 PM
JAN.
19
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AT THE
POST AT 7:45 PM
JAN.
25
POST EXECUTIVE MEETING AT 7:45 PM
POST GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AT 8:00 PM
JAN.
29
COUNTY ADVISORY MEETING – MALVERNE POST AT 7:30 PM
COUNTY MEETING AT 8:00 PM
FEB.
1
FEB.
16
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AT THE
POST AT 7:45 PM
FEB.
20
MILITARY BALL/POST COMMANDERS NIGHT AT LEONARD’S “LA DOLCE VITA”
555 NORTHERN BOULEVARD, GREAT NECK, NY 11021. FROM NOON TO 5:30 PM
CUTOFF DATE 2/1/2016. SEE ARTICLE ON PAGE 7 OF THIS NEWSLETTER.
$67 PER POST MEMBER, THEIR GUEST GOES FREE.
FEB.
22
POST EXECUTIVE MEETING AT 7:45 PM
POST GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AT 8:00 PM
FEB.
26
COUNTY ADVISORY MEETING – MALVERNE POST AT 7:30 PM
COUNTY MEETING AT 8:00 PM
MAR.
7
MAR.
13
SAINT PATRICK’S DAY 2016 PARTY AT THE POST AT 3:00 PM.
PRICING FOR THIS EVENT TO BE DETERMINED AT A LATER DATE.
MAR.
15
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AT THE
POST AT 7:45 PM
MAR.
25
COUNTY ADVISORY MEETING – MALVERNE POST AT 7:30 PM
COUNTY MEETING AT 8:00 PM
MAR.
28
POST EXECUTIVE MEETING AT 7:45 PM
POST GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AT 8:00 PM
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY EXECUTIVE MEETING AT THE POST AT 7:45 PM
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY EXECUTIVE MEETING AT THE POST AT 7:45 PM
Every Friday Night of the week is “Poker Night at the Post” at 8:30 pm (unless otherwise specified).
Page 8