first the american legioncall! · december 2013 • first call 1 chris urban, commander december...

December 2013 • First Call 1

Chris Urban, Commander December 2013 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)

VETS DAY. PAGE 4.

Inside

Commander’s Call 2Chaplain 2Children’s Party 2EMT/Firefighter 3 Vets Day (Photos) 4-5Wounded Warriors 6Auxiliary 7

december3 Bingo, 6:304 Bloodmobile, noon-55 Monthly Dinner, 6:15 Post Meeting, 7:30 pm Auxiliary, 7:30 pm9 VVA, 1 pm10 Bingo, 6:3014 Kids Party, noon21 DAV, noon 17 Bingo, 6:30 pmJan 1 Bingo, 5:30 pm

POST HONORS TOPEMT, FIREFIGHTER

Sitrin Health Care Clinical Development Vice President Jack-ie Warmuth, Retired Army Sgt. Rick Yarosh and former Army Sgt. Jennifer Fitzgerald-Halligan spoke at the November meeting about the facility’s military rehab program. PAGE 6.

Law-and-Order Chair Paul Wojcik announces EMT of the Year Lt. Dominick Meyers (center) and Firefighter of the Year Deputy Chief Mark Ambrose. PAGE 3.

WOUNDED WARRIOR CARE

by Chris Urban, commanderA very special Bravo Zulu to

the “wounded warriors” who visited us. Everyone at the meeting was deeply moved and humbled by their presentation and the opportunity to interact with them. I am reminded of a quote from a radio address by President Ronald Reagan in 1982. “In James Michener’s book ‘The Bridges at Toko-Ri’, he writes of an officer wait-ing through the night for the return of planes to a carrier as dawn is coming on. And he asks, ‘Where do we find such men?’ Well, we find them where we’ve always found them. They are the product of the freest society man has ever known. They make a commit-ment to the military -- make it freely, because the birth-right we share as Americans is worth defending. God bless America.”

If Michener were writing about current events today, he would be weaving a tale of both men and women who de-fend and serve our great nation by freely joining our military, a commitment that all-too-of-ten puts them in great danger. All veterans understand first-hand that freedom isn’t free.

Very Special Bravo Zulu

First Call • December 20132

Commander’s Call

Chris Urban

First Wedneday BloodRed Cross bloodmobile at Utica

Post 229, first Wed. of month, noon-5.

MY WISH LISTDuring the holiday season

There’s a question often asked“What do you want for Christmas”?

If I were a childI’d quickly reply

“A Doll”’ if I were a girl“A train” if I were a boyBut that time in my lifeHas long since passed

And the gifts I want nowAre treasures that last

Not just through the season,But last all the year through

Being helpful and kind to each otherBeing Christ-like in all that we do

What gifts do I want for Christmas?The gifts baby Jesus brought with his birth

Love in each heart, joy in each soulAnd most of all peace on earth.

Mary Ann Houston

EVENTS IN DECEMBER

Dec. 1 Advent beginsDec. 1-5 Hanukkah continuesDec. 7 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Dec. 10 Human Rights dayDec. 21 First Day of winterDec. 25 ChristmasDec. 31 New Years Eve

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL OUR MEMBERS WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY THIS YEAR.

Chaplain’scorner

Paul Wojcik

KIDS PARTY DEC. 14, SIGN UP BY DEC. 4Utica Post 229 will host its annual

Children’s Christmas Party from noon to 2 Saturday, Dec. 14, with refreshments and a gift from Santa himself for children up to 10 years of age.

A sign-up sheet will be in the post lounge through Dec. 4. Reservations

are necesssary so Santa’s helpers will know how many gifts to bring.

The party is free for children and grandchildren of Legion Family members.

Adults will be asked for a $2 dona-tion for the scholarship fund if they plan to partake in refreshments.

all the monuments. Bravo Zulu to Sharon Lang, Joanne Powers, and our Auxiliary for providing great food to everyone who participated and for providing a great lunch to all veterans who visited Post 229 on Veterans Day.

MORE BRAVO ZULUS

Bravo Zulu to Paul Wojcik for all his efforts in awarding the annual Top Firefighter and Top EMT Awards at the November 7th general meeting. The recipients and their families had a great time and the media cover-age was good. Bravo Zulu to Bob Stronach for arranging the visit at our November 7th meeting by several from the wounded warrior program at Sitrin Health Care. Bravo Zulu to Mike Cavanaugh and the Post 229 Color Guard for presenting Jackie Warmuth (VP for Clinical Develop-ment at Sitrin) a monetary donation to the military rehab program.

Merry Christmas and nothing but good health and happiness in the New Year!

For God and Country.

NEW BUDGET VOTEThe Budget Committee and the

Executive Committee have prepared next year’s budget; we will pres-ent and vote on it at the December general meeting (Thursday, Dec. 5 at 1930 local). This year’s budget is leaner (we cut costs again and maintained our donation levels). The budget is balanced, but we could use some additional fund-raising ideas to increase our revenue. If you have any ideas, please contact me.

BRAVO ZULU

Veterans Day observance was superb again this year. Bravo Zulu to Chaplain Gary Howard and Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Morrell for their inspirational prayers at every monu-ment. Bravo Zulu to the City of Utica and the Utica Police Depart-ment for granting us the permits and providing the police escorts. Bravo Zulu to Ron Bucciero and CEN-TRO for providing two buses and drivers that transported everyone to

Member RenewalsPost has 393 paid members so far

for 2014, reports Jack LaPaglia.


UTICA – A four-year-old girl is alive today thanks to the efforts of Utica fire-fighters and paramedics who responded to a fire last Feb. 22 at Andrean Terrace Apartments. Utica Post 229 honored two of those first responders as Firefighter of the Year and Emergency Medical Technician of the Year at the membership meeting on Nov. 7. The hon-orees are:

• EMT of the Year Lt. Dominick Meyers, who as-sisted, while off-duty, in providing emergency care for the unconscious child.

• Firefighter of the Year Deputy Chief Mark Am-brose, who has been involved in a number of rescues, in-cluding that of the 4-year-old Andrean Terrace resident.

• Post 229 Law-and-Order Chair Paul Wojcik presented the awards, along with Fire Chief Russell Brooks.

Lieutenant Meyers, Brooks noted, was instru-

Law-and-Order Chair Paul Wojcik, Fire Chief Russell Brooks, EMT of Year Dominick Mey-ers, Firefighter of Year Mark Ambrose, and First Vice Commander Jim George.

post honors emt and firefighter of year

mental in inserting and maintaining an I/O line and “was the ‘go to’ guy in the rear of the ambulance dur-ing transport.” Meyers was appointed to the Fire De-partment in 2002, became a paramedic a year later, and was appointed fire lieuten-ant in 2010. He supervises five paramedics and runs a platoon that operates three ambulances and an engine company.

Deputy Chief Ambrose

“has received numerous awards for life-saving res-cues,” Brooks said. “He is be-ing recognized for command decisions that were made at the fire” where “a four-year-old child was rescued and revived.” Appointed to the Fire Deparment in 1989, Ambrose was promoted to lieutenant in 2000, captain in May of 2012, and deputy chief in July of 2012. Since 2008 Ambrose has been in charge of the Fire Depart-

ment’s EMS Division. Am-brose also “demonstrates his commitment and dedication to the community,” the chief said, “by volunteering for several community events, such as Ride for Missing Children, Breast Cancer Ride, and several charity golf tournaments.”

The awards ceremony fol-lowed a dinner attended by Legionnaires, auxiliary mem-bers, and the families of both honorees.

Mark Ambrose Firefighter of Year

TV news crews from WKTV and WUTR interviewed the honorees.

Dominick MeyersEMT of Year


Flag bearer Jim McGuire stood against a cold graying sky, lit by a soon-to-fade ray of sun. Part of the Post 229 Color Guard, he repeated hefting the American Legion colors during Veterans Day ceremonies -- first outside Utica Post 229 and then at six monuments around Utica. Retired Army Chaplain Col. Gary Howard and retired Chap-lain’s Assistant Sgt. First Class Timothy Morrell offered prayers. Veterans and dignitaries took turns placing wreaths. And veterans rendered salutes to the playing of Taps.

“It’s our duty,” McGuire said of his in-volvement in veterans activities, includ-ing serving in the color guard, rain or shine. Two days earlier on Saturday, the Color Guard marched in the Central New York Veterans Parade in Syracuse in the cold and rain. They got wet again Sunday in the Whitesboro Veterans Parade. It didn’t dampen the sense of brotherhood, the compelling need to pay tribute to the scrifices of men and women in uniform. “In war you had inclement weather. You didn’t stop. You kept moving forward.”

Sergeant Morrell, who is a member of Utica Post 229 even though he hails from Philadelphia, said he likes to tell people about all the monuments to veterans in Utica. They’re amazed, he said, that people would travel from one monument to another and another to pay their respects.

“Neither one of us can imagine doing anything else on Veterans Day,” said Colonel Howard.

Oneida County Clerk Sandra De-Perno, Utica City Court Judge Ralph Eannace, and Utica Fire Chief Russell Brooks placed the wreath at the Sol-

National Commander James Koutz poses with Post 229 member Paul Wojcik, who, as 5th District chaplain, gave the invocation at both the lun-cheon and banquet (right).

VETERANS DAY SALUTES

‘IT’S OUR DUTY’diers and Sailors Monument at Oneida Square.

Then, on the Memorial Parkway:• Tom Buono of the Vietnam Veter-

ans of American and Gold Star Mother Mary Wheeler laid a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial;

• Utica Post 229 members Tony Palladino and Dave Wilson (a DAV na-tional executive committeeman) put the wreath at the POW/MIA Memorial;

• a trio of World War II veterans -- Phil Capraro, Tom Talerico and Stan VanAlstyne -- placed the wreath at the World War I/World War II/Korean War Monument.

Next was the Purple Heart Memorial Park in West Utica, where a wreath was placed by Darrel Shanne, commander of Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 490; Shirly Eadline, an Air Force veteran representing Congress-man Richard Hanna; and Marine Corps Veteran Vin Egresits, senior vice com-mander of Purple Heart Chapter 490.

The final stop was at the other side of the city in East Utica at the Post Office on Pitcher Street. Tom Buono, Mary Wheeler, Shirley Eadline and Purple Heart/VVA member Joe Fraccola laid the wreath.

The day began and ended at Utica Post 229, starting with coffee and doughnuts and concluding with lunch. Two buses provided by Centro Bus were filled with veterans and family members for the journey to Utica’s monuments.

“I’m proud to be here,” quipped Viet-nam War veteran Wil Gaspa.

Color Guard Captain Mike Cava-naugh put it this way: “We’re military veterans. We’re proud to serve... It’s what we do.”

Jim McGuire


“I look in the mirror and I don’t look the same as when I went to Iraq... But I know who I am.”

That’s how wounded war-rior Rick Yarosh began his presentation at the November membership meeting. The retired Army sergeant said he was grateful for many oppor-tunities that lay before him.

“I don’t know how I don’t have PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)” -- after a roadside bomb blew up his Bradley Fighting Vehicle in Iraq on Sept. 1, 2006. En-gulfed in flames, he suffered burns over 60 percent of his body. He lost part of his hands, both ears, part of his nose, and his right leg had to be amputated.

He came to Sitrin Health Care to undergo therapy that would help him play golf, and Sitrin hired him part-time to work with veterans suffering from post traumatic stress.

“I’m their battle buddy. I’m there for them.”

Yarosh spoke along with former Army Sgt. Jennifer Fitzgerald-Halligan, a veteran of Iraq and a military consul-tant for Sitrin’s military rehab program; and Jackie War-muth, Sitrin’s vice president for clinical development.

Fitzgerald-Halligan was deployed twice to Iraq, work-ing side-by-side with combat forces while assessing needs of the Iraqi people and help-

ing to rebuild schools and clinics. She was involved in a firefight, earning her combat action badge, and now likes to work with veterans experi-encing post traumatic stress.

Warmuth described Sitrin’s comprehensive holistic ap-proach to healing wounded warriors and their families.She mentioned horse-back therapy and adaptive sports, including wheelchair para-

lympics. She spoke of plans to expand wounded warrior care with a lakeside lodge and therapeutic center.

Members of the Color Guard were so moved by the presentation that they decided to donate to Sitrin’s wounded warrior program. Color Guard Captain Mike Cava-naugh presented the trio with a check for $340, representing money they recently raised.

‘I LOOK IN THE MIRROR... I KNOW WHO I AM’

Mike Cavanaugh presents check on behalf of the Utica Post 229 Color Guard. From left: former Army Sgt. Jennifer Fitzgerald-Halligan, retired Army Sgt. Rick Yarosh, and Sitrin Vice President Jackie Yarmuth.

After the presentation on wounded warrier care, post members got a chance to chat with each of the speakers. From left: Sgt. Rick Yarosh, Stew Bailey, Jim George, former Sgt. Jennifer Fitzgerald-Halligan, Len Lascala and Sitrin VP Jackie Warmuth.


Auxiliaryrosaria haggerty, president

President’s MessageROE HAGGERTY

Dear Auxiliary Members,

It was a privilege to attend Veteran’s Day ceremonies. The Legion, Auxiliary, Juniors, SAL and Utica Post Color Guard participat-ed honoring American’s veterans and military.

Congratulations to Dorthy Baily, Community Service chairman for a job well done -- $1800 was raised for Breast Cancer Awareness and members joined together for this cause. I would also like to thank Theresa Jensen for chairing the Children’s Halloween Party. Dona-tions were made to the Ziyara Zanies Shriners Clowns and Toys for Tots Christmas programs.

A presentation by the Sitrin Health Care wounded warrior program was given prior to the November meeting. Our area is fortunate to have these services. It was voted to make a $100 donation to the program.

By Rosetta LaPaglia

Who is eligible to join the American Legion Auxiliary? A woman asked if she could join through her living brother who had been in the Armed Forces, but is not a member of the American Legion. In this instance, she would not be eligible for the following reason:

Eligibility is limited to mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters and grandmothers of Legion members, and to a woman whose family member served in the Armed Forces during a war-time period, and is now deceased. Dates of veteran eligibility are listed on each application.

Simply, if you are join-ing through an eligible veteran who is living, he or she must belong to any American Legion post. If your eligible veteran is deceased, then you are eligible through him or her automatically. In addi-tion, those women who of their own right are eligible for membership in the American Legion may also belong to the Auxiliary.

TO DATE, we have 135 paid members, for a per-centage of 62.43%. Wel-come to our new members!

Audra AceyRuth WilcoxMary AceyTammi AlsanteRena LambShereen NewmanThalea Hunter

WHO CANJOIN THEAUXILIARY?

The December 5th meeting will be short followed by our annual Christmas Party. Ev-eryone is asked to bring a snack or desert to share. If you have never attended a meeting before, this would be a great time to meet other members.

Let us be thankful for our families, friends and for our veterans. Soon Christmas will be here, please take time to enjoy the season.

Yours in service.

Laying wreath on Veterans Day.

Some of the Auxiliary’s Breast Cancer Awareness walkers.


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 [email protected].

Chaplain’scorner

Marie Dodge

T thankful, thank youH health, happiness, help, hopeA angels among usN neighborsK kindness, knowing, kinshipS service, sacrifice G giving, gifts, goodnessI I can, I willV Veterans, visits, victory I individualityN nourishment, nature, nationG God, goodness

BE THANKFUL YEAR-ROUND

POST 229 COLOR GUARDBUSY ON VETERANS DAY

The Utica Post 229 Color Guard attracted the attention of a WKTV news videographer at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Veterans Day.

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