January 2012 • First Call 1

Chris Urban, Commander January 2012 Jack LaPaglia, Membership

First Call!The American Legion Utica Post 229

Utica Post 229 • 409 Herkimer Rd., Utica, NY 13502 • 315.793.9377 • www.uticapost229.org

Post Meetings are first Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. (optional dinner at 6:15)

InsideCommander’s Call 2Membership Report 2Color Guard Needs You 2Chaplain’s Corner 3 Adopted Soldiers Visit 3Top Firefighter & EMT 4-5 Bingo Report 6Auxiliary 7Valentine’s Dinner Dance 7

January3 Bingo, 6:30 pm4 Bloodmobile, noon-55 Monthly Dinner, 6:15 Post Meeting, 7:30 pm Auxiliary, 7:30 pm8 Mushroom Stew Cookoff9 Vietnam Vets of Am., 110 Bingo, 6:30 pm17 Bingo, 6:30 pm18 Bloodmobile, noon-521 DAV, noon24 Bingo, 6:30 pm31 Bingo, 6:30 pm

Staff Sgt. Isabel Tio and Sgt. 1st Class Kenny Clark (right) pose with Post Commander Chris Urban after arriving from Ft. Drum to thank the post for adopting their platoon while deployed to Afghanistan. SEE PAGE 3.

NEWS FOR BLUE WATER VIET VETSService Officer Dave Wilson (right) shares news with

post members that veterans who served aboard ships oprat-ing on the waters of Vietnam may qualify for VA benefits for presumptive Agent Orange exposure. SEE PAGE 6.

A moment in time. PAGE 2

Adopted Troops Visit Post to Say ‘Thank You’

Capt. Michael Wusik and Leonardo Orlando are Post 229’s Firefighter & EMT of the Year. SEE P. 4.

POST HONORS FIREFIGHTER, EMT OF YEAR

February1 Bloodmobile, noon-52 Monthly Dinner, 6:15 Post Meeting, 7:30 pm Auxiliary, 7:30 pm7 Bingo, 6:30 pm

First Call • January 20122

Commander’s Call

Chris Urban

ing your involvement with Post 229. An hour or two a month working at Tuesday Evening Bingo or partici-pating in any of our events will help Post 229 make greater contributions to veterans and local com-munity organizations. Last year Post 229 members helped raise and distribute nearly $30,000 to folks and organizations in need. There is much more that can be done.

If you aren’t currently volunteering any time to Post 229 events and if your health is good enough to travel to Post 229, please consider making and keep-ing New Year’s Resolution #10: Volunteer to Help Others through YOUR Post: Utica Post 229.

Jack LaPagliaPost Membership Chair

Happy New Year! I did a little research at

www.usa.gov and I learned that these are the TOP TEN New Year’s Resolu-tions that have stood the test of time:

1) Drink Less Alcohol, 2) Learn to Improve

Yourself, 3) Get a Better Job, 4) Get Fit, 5) Lose Weight, 6) Manage Debt, 7) Manage Stress, 8) Quit Smoking, 9) Save Money, 10) Volunteer to Help

Others. Your membership with

Post 229 is a big step toward fulfilling #10. You can make even greater strides in Volunteering to Help Others by increas-

Quota: 659Paid to date: 490

POST 229 SURVEYIf you have access to

the Internet, I would like you to take a short survey about Utica Post 229. Please go to this web site and answer the 10 questions you find there: http://www.surveymon-key.com/s/V7Y9VRK (There’s also a link on the post website.)

We will use the infor-mation we gather from this survey to make chang-es and improvements to Utica Post 229. We will do additional surveys in the future as a means to increase communication and feedback from ALL of our members.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to participate in the survey.

What real-life hero (and Legion founder) is the ancestor of a big-screen hero? The answer is Franklin D’Olier, the Legion’s first national commander.

Born in New Jersey in 1877, D’Olier graduated from Princ-eton University and was heading up his father’s textile operation when World War I started. He arrived in France in April 1917, and was placed in charge of the salvage service of the American Expeditionary Force, a captain in the Army’s Quartermaster Corps. D’Olier was a vital link in the Legion from the beginning, help-ing to organize both the St. Louis Caucus in May 1919 and the first national conven-tion in Minneapolis in November 1919, and

Color GuardNeeds You

The Color Guard needs new members, including for an honor guard with no marching in parades. Leave your name and number at the post, and Tony Palla-dino will contact you.

We still have a number of members who have not paid their dues for this year.

Here’s an incentive to pay in January: two free drinks at the bar to anyone who pays his/her dues in January (all you need to do is walk into the bar, pay your dues to the bartender, and the bartender will give you two free drinks).

All those members who paid early (before Veterans Day) were able to partake in the Early Bird Dinner (about 150 members attended).... While two free drinks might not be equal to the Early Bird Dinner, I’m hoping this incentive gets folks to come to the Post and pay their dues in January.

Membership Report

working tirelessly to recruit vol-unteers and members in between. In Minneapolis, he was elected the first national commander on Nov. 12; and a year later, was re-elected in Cleveland.

He joined Prudential Insur-ance in 1926, and became its president in 1938. He died in

1953. His oldest daughter, Anne D’Olier Reeve, was the grandmother of actor Christopher D’Olier Reeve, best known for playing “Super-man” in the 1980s-era movie. Reeve went from fighting for people on the big screen to doing the same in real life, lobbying hard for research into spinal cord injuries and stem cell treat-ments after a 1995 horse-riding accident left him a quadriplegic. Reeve died in 2004.

MOMENT IN TIME: Legion Founder & Ancestor of Star

January 2012 • First Call 3

As the New Year flows inMay you soar even higherReach greater heights and

Find happiness in all you do.Happy New Year.

May your new year be blessedWith peace and joy.

Sending you my heartfelt wishesWith joy that never ends.

Wishing youA Happy New Year.

Joy to your heartAnd warmth to your home.

As the New Year arrivesHope it brings along

happinessHope and good tidings

To stay on and on.Happy New Year.

New year is time to bid farewell to the old year and

welcome the new.It is time to forget and get past the memories that are no longer worth pondering,

let us forget and forgive.Happy New Year

REST IN PEACEFrancis J. Giacovelli

Thomas J. Borgia

Chaplain’scorner

Paul Wojcik

POST MEETINGS

EXECUTIVE BOARD

April 5May 3June 7

Jan. 5Feb. 2March 1

Jan. 19Feb. 16March 15

April 19May 17June 21

Utica Post 229’s ad-opted platoon is back from Afghanistan, and two of its non-com lead-ers paid a visit to the post Dec. 3 to express their appreciation for the goodies, support and cheer they received while deployed.

“It was always exciting to receive a call from the battalion mailroom that we had a lot of boxes there,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kenny Clark.

“The football was a big hit as well as the baseball bats and soccer balls,” added Staff Sgt. Isabel Tio -- not to mention the flavored coffees, biscotti, a myriad of assorted snacks, and the dozens upon dozens of homemade cookies.

They would set up rows of tables to share the good-ies with the 86 members of the platoon, plus a few other soldiers who would wander by and couldn’t believe the gifts from well-wishers back home.

Then there were the tubes of sunscreen -- a necessary balm in the sun-hot terrain of Afghanistan. Post 229’s military liaison Pat Dodge dispatched hundreds of them for the troops.

“There was enough sunscreen for the whole (700-member) battalion,” Sergeant Tio said.

“We gave it all out,” she added, to 500 runners and most of another 400 sup-porters in a Ruck Relay Race.

That’s a relay where four-man teams run a two-mile obstacle course, carrying a 30-pound rucksack and weapon.

Their G6 Platoon is part of the 10th Mountain Division, 40th Battalion, Division Sig-nal Company. They were sta-tioned at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan, and when they were getting ready to return home to Fort Drum, the enemy insurgents found out and decided to give them a send-off.

“We were rocketed for 11 straight days,” said Sergeant Clark. Their last 11 days there.

“You can’t imagine how proud we are of you guys,” Pat told them.

Sergeant Tio looked sur-prised and said, “It’s our job.”

The pair presented a certifi-cate of appreciation to Post Commander Chris Urban

that was signed by the battal-ion commander and battalion sergeant major. Clark had a bouquet of flowers for Pat, and Tio presented her with a certificate, too, “because she was the platoon’s mama.” Pat would sign her letters “Mama D” and the appellation struck a chord with the troops.

They also had certificates for two of Pat’s friends whom she would call upon to bake the majority of chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal and raisin cookies -- Joyce Astafan and Jeannette Grude.

Urban was quick to credit Pat for organizing and taking the lead in the support-the-troops effort.

“This is really about Pat,” he said.

“No, it’s about the troops,” quipped Pat.

2 Soldiers from Ft. Drum Visit Post

ADOPTED TROOPS SAY ‘THANK YOU’

Staff Sgt. Isabel Tio and Sgt. 1st Class Kenny Clark share sto-ries with Post Commander Chris Urban and Military Liaison Pat Dodge in the post lounge.

First Call • January 20124

POST HONORS FIREFIGHTER AND EMTHeroic Action, Compassionate Care Are Hallmarks

Utica Fire Chief Russell Brooks took a moment to express praise for Capt. Michael Wusik and Leonardo Orlando, saying they “go above and beyond.” From left: Law-and-Order Chair Paul Wojcik, Chief Brooks, Wusik, Orlando and Post Commander Chris Urban.

A paramedic who receives accolades from family members of individuals he has cared for and a firefighter cited for heroic actions over the course of his career were honored by American Legion Post 229 as Emergency Medical Technician of the Year and Firefighter of the Year during ceremonies at the Utica Post Thursday evening, Dec. 1. The honorees are:

• EMT of the Year Leonardo Or-lando, a firefighter/paramedic who has been with the Utica Fire Department

Urban introduced Law-and-Order Chair Paul Wojcik to present the awards.

Wojcik said the fire department has received numerous letters commend-ing Orlando “on the exemplary care he provided” when responding to 911 emergency calls. For example, he said, one letter came from a family grateful for the rapid and compassionate care he provided to their father, both at their home and in the hospital. Another letter from a father praised Orlando “for his

since March 27, 2004. He became a paramedic in May 2006.

• Firefighter of the Year Captain Michael Wusik, who joined Utica Fire Department on May 21, 1988. He was promoted to fire lieutenant ten years later, and then was appointed fire cap-tain on July 9, 2004.

Calling them outstanding individuals, Fire Chief Russell Brooks said Orlando and Wusik go “above and beyond the call of duty.”

Utica Post 229 Commander Chris

Fire Chief Russell Brooks is interviewed by WUTR Eyewitness News at Post 229.

Michael Wusik and Leonardo Orlando took turns expressing gratitude and surprise at being selected.

January 2012 • First Call 5

WUTR Eyewitness News prepares to interview EMT Orlando and Captain Wusik.BELOW: WKTV News Channel 2 inteviews Captain Wusik.

Chief Brooks’ mother, World War II Army veteran Kathleen Brooks, attended the awards ceremony, where the EMT who helpd save her was being honored.

immediate evaluation, rapid treatment and persistence in caring for his child during a critical situation, and continued this utmost care until the hospital per-sonnel took over.” Wojcik said Orlando also displayed courage and commit-ment in August 2009 when he was the first firefighter to enter the water of the Barge Canal to attempt the search-and-rescue of a 6-year-old girl who had been ejected from a vehicle.

Chief Brooks praised Orlando for his actions when he and his partner responded to the chief ’s home to care for the chief ’s elderly mother who had suffered a stroke. Brooks said he believes that if it had not been for the actions of Orlando and fellow paramedic, his mother would not have survived.

“It never hurts to save the chief ’s mother,” he quipped.

Orlando has been recognized on Valor Day for going “above and beyond,” Brooks noted, and has represented the department as a volunteer at the Boiler-maker Road Race and Muscular Dys-trophy Boot Drive.

Captain Wusik is being honored for “bravery, professionalism, knowledge and expertise,” Wojcik said, as well as for his willingness to donate time to assist with such events as Ride for Missing Children, Boilermaker Road Race, Mus-cular Dystrophy Boot Drive, and Heart Run & Walk. He cited two instances of bravery. One was the 1994 fire at Kanat-enah Apartments, where, he said, some 150 people were rescued and brought to safety by whatever means necessary. “Captain Wusik displayed bravery and initiative while operating steadfastly in a burning building that posed unusual personal risk,” he said.

In 2002, Wojcik added, Wusik was off duty when he responded to a fully involved fire on Meeker Avenue. “He heard explosions from within the home and he proceeded to kick in the front door to gain entry.” For his actions, Wusik received a proclamation pro-claiming May 3, 2002 as Michael E.

Wusik Day. Captain Wusik serves in several roles, as a ranking officer on a Haz-Mat Team, as an instructor in the Fire Academy Program, as a state fire inspector, and as house commander at Fire Station Three.

The awards ceremony followed a din-ner attended by Legionnaires, auxiliary

members, and the families of both honorees.

Wojcik noted that Post 229 would submit Orlando and Wusik for the County level award.

Post 229 honors top firefighters every fall and police officers of the year in the spring.

First Call • January 20126

Bingo ReportDate Income Prizes Expenses 3% Profit

10/04/11 $2989.00 $2079.00 $268.75 $19.24 $622.01

10/11/11 2692.00 2581.00 0.00 3.33 107.67

10/18/11 2736.00 1984.00 0.00 22.56 729.44

10/25/11 2508.00 1986.00 0.00 15.66 506.34

11/01/11 2771.00 2014.00 174.95 17.46 564.59

11/08/11 2895.00 2006.00 174.99 21.42 692.63

11/15/11 2619.00 2469.00 149.70 - 0.30

11/22/11 2427.00 1939.00 0.00 14.64 473.36

11/29/11 2409.00 2146.00 0.00 7.89 255.11

Bingo Workers

OCT. DONATIONS: Utica Unit 229 $75, Post Bowling Team $60.

OCT. EXPENSES: First Call $493.87.

NOV. DONATIONS: Parkway Seniors $50, Oneida County Aux $100, Clark Mills Post $100, Utica Unit 229 $75, Salvation Army $150, Thea Bowman House $200, Rescue Mission $200, Presbyterian Church Food Bank $200, Post 229 Children’s Christmas Party $60.

NOV. EXPENSES: First Call $504.50, Trash $185.05, Snow Removal $500, Water $604.06.

• Albert Alteri.• Stu Bailey.• Steve Campese.• Phil Capraro.• Frank Cassella.• Chuck Dailey.• Pat Dodge.• Jim George.

• Jim Haggerty.• Frank Jakubowski.• Al/Peggy Kohler.• Jack LaPaglia.• Rich Maloon.• Dave Manore.• Jim McGuire.• Tom O’Toole.

• Tony Palladino.• Dan/Virginia Pieloch.• Scott Sebastian.• Steve Terzini.• Chris Urban.• Paul Wojcik.• Jerry/Grace Welpe.• Vin Zaleski.

CALLERS AND CASHIERS ARE NEEDED!

Veterans who served aboard U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships operating on the waters of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, may be eligible to receive De-partment of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation for 14 medical conditions associated with presumptive exposure to Agent Orange, Service Officer Dave Wilson reported at the Nevember

BLUE WATER VIET VETS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITSmembership meeting.

An updated list of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships confirmed to have operated on Vietnam’s inland water-ways, docked on shore, or had crewmembers sent ashore, has been posted at http://www.publichealth.va.gov/expo-sures/agentorange/ to assist Vietnam Veterans in deter-mining potential eligibility for compensation benefits.

This is an important recog-nition of the sacrifices of our blue water Vietnam veterans, Wilson said.

The VA presumes herbicide exposure for any Veteran with duty or visitation within the country of Vietnam or on its inland waterways during the Vietnam era. Comprehensive information about the 14 rec-ognized illnesses under VA’s “presumption” rule for Agent Orange is also located on the webpage.

In practical terms, Veter-ans with qualifying Vietnam service who develop a disease associated with Agent Orange exposure need not prove a medical link between their illnesses and their military service. This presumption simplifies and speeds up the application process for benefits.

For questions about Agent Orange and the online list of ships, Veterans may call VA’s Special Issues Helpline at 1-800-749-8387 and press 3.

When a claim is filed by a Veteran, surviving spouse or child, VA will determine whether the Veteran qualifies for the presumption of expo-

sure based on official records of the ship’s operations. Ships will be regularly added to the list based on information confirmed in these official records.

Even if a Veteran is not filing a claim, a Veteran may conduct his or her own research and submit scanned documentary evidence such as deck logs, ship histories, and cruise book entries via email to 211_AOSHIPS.VBACO@va.gov.

Service on board ships anchored in an open water harbor, such as Da Nang Har-bor, or on ships on other open waters around Vietnam dur-ing the war, is not considered sufficient for the presumption of Agent Orange exposure. For Veterans interested in obtaining deck logs, contact the National Archives at College Park, Md., at http://www.archives.gov/dc-metro/college-park/researcher-info.html.

The Agent Orange Claims Processing System website located at https://www.fast-track.va.gov/AOFastTrack/ may be used to submit claims related to the three conditions added to the list of Agent Orange presumptives last year (Parkinson’s disease, hairy cell and other chronic B-cell leukemias, and ischemic heart disease).

The VA says this website makes it easy to electroni-cally file a claim and allows Veterans and their physicians to upload evidence support-ing the claim. It also permits online viewing of claim status.

Service Officer Dave Wilson

January 2012 • First Call 7

AuxiliaryTheresa Jensen, president

President’s MessageTheresa Jensen

Dear Auxiliary Members,

Christmas has past and we are now in a New Year. I hope everyone had a blessed and safe holiday.

In Jauuary we will be having our joint meeting with our Legionnaires. A full report of the activities our unit has done will be given. Auxiliary members, please attend.

I’d like to thank all the auxiliary members that helped with the Christmas Party and also the many members that volunteer to help all year long. “Thank You.” Help is always needed for BINGO.

Ladies, let’s have another great year!

Please bring a non-perishable item to our January meet-ing. Items will be given to the Veterans Outreach Center in Utica. See you in 2012.

By Rose A. Coniglio

We still have 150 paid renewals/memberships.

With our quota for 2012 at 219, we are more than half way there.

Please send your $15 dues for 2012 to:

Rose A. Coniglio607 Jay St., Apt. C2Utica, NY 13501If you have not renewed

for 2011 yet, please send those dues, too, so I can accept your 2012 dues.

Thank you!

MembershipRenewals

One of the primary missions of The American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary is to make sure that veterans and their families receive the support and recognition they deserve. Every member of the Legion is a wartime veteran. Veterans know how important it is to receive the support of fellow citizens during and after military service.

Saying thank you is not always enough to truly honor America’s newest generation of warriors and veterans. Their unique needs require that we support

and recognize these needs and take action to make a difference for these brave men and women. Every citizen of the United States benefits from their service, and should join with The American Legion Family in supporting them.

We should all be aware that the real and unique issues women veterans face is critical in today’s military environment. We must press to make sure that these issues are addressed during and after their military service.

The unemployment rate of transitioning service

members is growing and The American Legion is in the trenches working with employers to hire returning veterans by partnering in job fairs and offering small business workshops for veterans.

Through programs such as Heroes to Hometowns, The Legion is involved in numerous ways to aid and support the wounded warriors and their families. There are many ways you could support a wounded warrior in your community.

The Family Support Network and Temporary Financial Assistance

programs support military families during times of deployment when help can be needed most. What can YOU do to support the families of our military personnel?

It is the responsibility of all Americans to support our troops and their families during and after service. With 2.4 million members, The Legion is working every day to ensure valuable and free service is available within their communities for this purpose. The Legion Family asks all Americans to join their effort in this important area.

THANK AND SUPPORT VETERANSA LEGION EDITORIAL

You can take your sweetheart out for dinner and dancing at the post’s Valentine’s Dinner Dance on Saturday, Feb. 18.

Social hour starts at 6 with open bar. Dinner is at 7, featuring an Italian buffet. Dancing is from 8 to midnight, with the band, Mystique.

Tickets are $22. Contact Dinner Dance Chair Rose Coniglio at 735-9091.

Valentine’s Dinner Dance

First Call • January 20128

Utica Post #229The American Legion

409 Herkimer Rd.Utica, NY 13502

First Call is a monthly publication of Utica Post 229 American Legion,

409 Herkimer Rd., Utica, NY 13502, whose mission is to serve veterans, members and local communities.

Yearly membership includes First Call, published 10 times a year.

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

-PAID-Utica, NY

Permit No. 566

Since its founding in Paris in 1919, The American Legion has been an advocate for America’s veterans, a friend of the U.S. military, a sponsor of community-based programs for young people and a spokesman for patriotic values.

Editor: Robert Stronach. Send news, announcements and photos to FirstCall@uticapost229.org.

SOLDIERS SHOW APPRECIATION TO ‘PLATOON MAMA’Military liaison Pat Dodge thought Post 229 was adopting a platoon deployed to Afghanistan, but her motherly attention to the soldiers -- sending numerous boxes of goodies and an abundance of cheer -- resulted in the 10th Mountain Divi-sion soldiers adopting her as their “platoon mama,” reports Staff Sgt. Isabel Tio (above right), who visited the post with Sgt. 1st Class Kenny Clark to present Pat with a bouquet of roses and a special certificate of appreciation. SEE PAGE 3.