Message from Commander Will Purcell Dates to Remember

Sept. 6 Vendor’s Market

Sept. 10—State Service Officer to speak at post meeting

Sept. 11 Patriot’s Day—9/11 Service Memorial Service 8 AM

Sept. 12 –Lyons Hospital Picnic

Sept. 13—VVA “Welcome Home Picnic” Free

Sept.18—POW/MIA Candlelight Service

Sept. 20 Cooties Breakfast

Sept. 27—Vendor’s Market

Sept. 28—Menlo visit

Oct. 3rd—VVA Auto Show

Oct. 4—Vendor’s Market

Oct. 18—Cooties Breakfast

Oct. 25—Vendor’s Market

Oct.26—Menlo visit

Oct. 30—Halloween Party

Nov. 1– Deadline Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy and Vendors Market

Nov. 8— Veteran’s Day Parade

Nov. 11 - Six monuments

Nov. 15—Cooties Breakfast

Nov. 22—Vendor’s Market

Nov. 30- Menlo visit

Dec. 5—Vendor’s Market

December 6— Pearl Harbor Services

December 13—Breakfast with Santa and Vendor’s Market

December 20 Cooties Break-fast with Santa

January 31—Four Chaplains Memorial Service

Dear Comrades, Well, we’re back from Wildwood and starting a new term. The Post had a great year last year and both Commander Pat Lipka and Quartermaster Tom Hackett made it to the All State Team. Congratulations are due to both of them and all the post members who helped them achieve All State. We had our annual VFW/American Legion picnic a few weeks ago and a good time was had by all. This year we had a higher turnout than ever before. If you haven’t been to one, come out next year and have fun. Last Friday, August 28th, our Post Chaplain, Mariela Anderson was called to active duty and on Saturday, August 29th, she left for a month of training before deploying to Afghanistan for approximately 10 months. Please keep her and her shipmates in your thoughts and prayers. We would like to send a package to them once a month while they are deployed. If you have anything you’d like to donate/send, drop it at the post. Stay tuned for updates. There’s quite a few events coming up, including the 50th Vietnam Commem-oration Picnic sponsored by the Middletown Township Veteran’s Affairs Com-mittee and Middletown Township, the POW/MIA Remembrance Ritual and the Lyon’s Hospital Picnic. Come out and have a good time! Sincerely, Will Purcell Commander VFW Post 2179

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the USA Middletown Twp. Post 2179 and Ladies Auxiliary

1 Veterans Lane Port Monmouth, N.J. 07758

(732) 787– 0999 Commander William P. Purcell Joint Newsletter Auxiliary President Kristan Purcell September 2015

Meetings

VFW—2nd Thursday of the month—7:30 Auxiliary—2nd Thursday of the month—7:00 Cootie Meeting—3rd Sunday of the month—1:00 following Cootie Breakfast

PAGE 2 VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE USA

Message from President Kris Purcell

COMMANDER WILL PURCELL SR. VICE COMMANDER BUD FORCE JR. VICE COMMANDER ROBERT AMROZEWICZ QUARTERMASTER THOMAS HACKETT CHAPLAIN MARIELA ANDERSON GUARD MIKE CORCORAN SURGEON DONALD KEHOE JUDGE ADVOCATE WILLIAM TRAVIS SERVICE OFFICER DENNIS BEAUREGARD TRUSTEE CHARLES GALLAGHER TRUSTEE TOM CARROLL

Middletown Twp. Post 2179 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

MEET OUR 2015 –2016 OFFICERS Middletown Twp. Post 2179

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

PRESIDENT KRISTAN PURCELL SR. VICE PRESIDENT CARMEN PETERSON JR. VICE PRESIDENT MARTHA MAGRINO TREASURER ROSE GRIEMAN CHAPLAIN LAURA MERKER CONDUCTRESS MARGARET KEMPSON GUARD DEBORAH SMITH TRUSTEE CINDY MALMO TRUSTEE EDITH SPERING TRUSTEE MARGE KEMPSON SECRETARY LORI CANNON

I am honored to be serving as Auxiliary President for my second year and, once again, I promise to do my best to serve the Auxiliary, as well as our Post. I look forward to working with our new (returning) com-mander (and my wonderful husband), Will Purcell, and all the members. Our auxiliary was successful at our Department convention in Wildwood this past June; Stefanie Peterson won an award for her Cancer Awareness program, Carmen Peterson was elected to the post of State Conduc-tress, and Lori Cannon was elected to the National post of Council Member #3, representing Maryland and New Jersey. We are so proud of them! I would like to encourage our members to attend meetings, which are held on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. -- our next meeting is September 10th (which also happens to be my birthday!) If you know of someone who might like to attend a meeting but has difficulty with transportation, please let me know and we'll do what we can to help. MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Our annual POW/MIA Remembrance will be held this year on Friday, Sep-tember 18th at 7:30 p.m. The post serves Friday night dinner (6 - 8 p.m., cost is $10). If you don't feel like cooking, you can join us for a nice meal before the service. Dinners include salad, bread, the entree, and des-sert. Membership has been and continues to be an area of concern for the auxiliary. Unfortunately, we have lost a significant number of members over the last few years. If you know of someone who is eligible to join our auxiliary, please have them reach out to us - or let me know and I will personally reach out to them. Also, in case you are not aware, there has been a significant change to the VFW Auxiliary. As of August 21st, we are no longer known as the Ladies Auxiliary, as men are now eligible - and encouraged - to join. For further in-formation please read the important message on page six.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me - my phone number is 732-787-5224 and my e-mail is kpurcell197@yahoo.com. May God bless America and keep our troops in His care until they come home safely. And let's have a wonderful year together!

PAGE 3 VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE USA

The annual VFW Post 2179 and AL Post 515 picnic was a great success. Ticket sales increased from last year. Everyone had a great time. Activities for the kids were face painting, balloon darts, and water guns. There was also a snow cone machine. I want to thank all the volunteers for showing up early on a Saturday morning to help prepare for the picnic, and also to all the volunteers that showed up on Sunday to help out on Picnic Day. Let’s hope we can have even greater success next year.

Comrades, As Senior Vice Commander, one of my responsibilities is to organize and manage the annual Veteran’s Day Parade. This year the parade will be held on November 8th, at on o’clock in the afternoon. This year’s theme is “Courage, Sacrifice, and Duty—Honoring our Military Veterans. The parade is dedicated to the Viet Nam Veterans in recognition of the 50th anni-versary of the beginning of the war. The Grand Marshalls are Pat Lipka and Kristan Purcell. Come out and march or ride (rides are available) in the parade. Hot dogs and refreshments will be at the Post Home after the parade. We are in need of volunteers to drive our members who are unable to walk the parade route. We are also in need of other volunteers as street monitors at Bayview School where the pa-rade begins. Please contact me at 732-319-5925 if you are available to assist. A sign-up sheet will also be posted on the bulletin board at the Post. I am looking forward to a productive year working with our Commander, Will Purcell and the membership of Post 2179. If I can be of assistance to any member, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above number. Bud Force

VFW POST 2179

VENDOR MARKETS SCHEDULE September 6th and 27th

October 4th and 25 November 1st and 22nd

December 5th (Saturday) and 13th (Sunday)

Message from Senior Vice Commander Bud Force

Message from Jr. Vice Commander Bob Amrozewicz

PAGE 4 VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE USA

Post Service Officers Report

For the past nine years I have been serving as the post service office and will continue to assist our Veterans with their claim and keep our post informed of any action by the VA or any changes that affect the quality of life for veterans . On September 10, 2015 I have Bernie McElwee the State Service Officer for the VFW is scheduled to talk at our post meeting on Veterans claims. Bernie agreed to take claims between the hours of 4:00pm and 7:30pm, Check post bulletin board for signup sheet to make your appointment. The Colonel

Membership Report As your new membership chair, let this serve as a reminder to pay your 2016 dues. Thanks to Ken Urban and Bud Force for verifying of DD214’s on file. Headquarters required us to do a self audit on all membership applications and DD214’s on file. The results were that we had a number of DD214’s missing. Letters were sent to all members that had no DD214 attached to their applications for membership. We still have some members that have not complied to the post request of sending in their missing DD214, if you are one of them please forward it to us, VFW 2179 , 1 Veterans Lane , Port Monmouth , NJ 07758. Attn: Dennis Beauregard. Don’t forget to renew your annual membership, if there is hardship please give me a call at 908-902-8789 The Colonel

POW/MIA CANDLELIGHT SERVICE “We call them comrades, they are unable to be with their loved ones and families, but THEY are not forgotten so long as there is one left in whom your memory remains. Let us remember – and NEVER forget their sacrifice. These are the men who went when called, giving their all to keep our freedom and now want to come back HOME.” In remembrance of POW/MIAs, VFW Post 2179 and Ladies Auxiliary will conduct their

33rd Annual POW/MIA Candlelight Service on Friday, September 18, 2015 at 7:30 at the Post home, One Veter-ans Lane and 460 Highway 36, Port Monmouth, NJ. We ask that you join us to remember, reflect, and revere the men and women who still have not come home so that they may be laid to rest. Refreshments served following services. Please RSVP by September 13, 2015. Loyally, Carmen S Peterson Americanism Chairman, VFW LA

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Organization Name __________________________________________

Representative’s Name ______________________________________

Will attend: Yes _________ No ______________ How many will attend: _______________ \

Participate in Massing of the Colors ____________ Will you make a wreath presentation:_____ Please Mail this response to:

Middletown VFW & Ladies Auxiliary 2179 One Veterans Lane & Hwy 36 Port Monmouth, NJ 07758 ATTN: POW/MIA Candlelight Service

PAGE 5 VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE USA

The VFW and Auxiliary help to sponsor three scholarship programs that involve middle school to high school age stu-dents.. You can go to the VFW website and obtain an application for either program by clicking on Community, then Youth and Education: www.vfw.org

VOD – Voice of Democracy Is open to all high school students grades 9 – 12, including home-schooled and private or parochial schools. This is an oral essay contest that is recorded on to a CD or stick, no cassettes are accepted. It is a 500 word essay on the theme that is chosen for the year. Theme: My Vision for America. Deadline is midnight, November 1, 2015 to the Post Home or to the Chairman. Patriot’s Pen Is open to all 6 – 8 graders in public, parochial, private or home schooled students This is a 300 word written essay on the theme that is chosen for the year. Theme: What Freedom Means to Me. Deadline is midnight, November 1, 2015 to the Post Home or to the Chairman

Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest This contest is open to all high school students in grades 9-12 whether, public, parochial, private, or home schooled. Artwork must be on canvas or paper. Digital art will not be accepted. Judging will be based on patriotic theme and technique. You can obtain an application at the VFW Auxiliary website by clicking on programs and then Scholarships: www.vfwauxiliary.org Deadline is March 31, 2016 to the VFW Auxiliary Chairman

Continuing Education Scholarship

This last Scholarship pertains to any Auxiliary member (who has belonged for at least one year), her spouse, her daughter or son. Must be 18 years to enter, complete the application and submit an essay of 300 words or less. Application must be received at National Headquarters by February 15th. The application which will explain what you are to do can be obtained from the VFW Auxiliary website

Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award

This award is geared to teachers to recognize their personal achievements with their students in promoting Americanism in the classroom. There are three levels of recognition: elementary school, middle school and high school where the teachers teach citizenship educations, America’s history and traditions effectively. This is not a contest for the “best” teacher, but one who promotes ideals and Americanism in the classroom. Both the Post and Auxiliary together can recognize one outstanding teacher in each level. Deadline for this is February 15 for the Post level. If you know of such a teacher, submit a nomination of said teacher to the Post by February 15, 2016.

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE USA PAGE 6

Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post 2179 - Actively looking for NEW members!

IMPORTANT NEWS

At the recent National Convention held in Pittsburg, PA, the VFW approved the change to their By-laws to create a gender neutral Auxiliary. The Ladies Auxiliary to the Vet-erans of Foreign Wars of the United States is now the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Auxiliary (VFW Auxiliary). This change officially went into effect August 21, 2015. As of that date all spouses, parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, children and grandchil-dren of a person who was or is eligible for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is eligible for membership in the Auxiliary. Everyone wishing to join the Auxiliary must complete an application, provide proof of eligibility and be voted into mem-bership by the membership of the Auxiliary they wish to join. There is NO change in the pro-cess of becoming an Auxiliary member. The change is that male relatives of eligible veterans now can apply for membership in the Auxiliary.

Our Goals

The members of the VFW Auxiliary 2179 seek to support our nation’s veterans by serving active-duty military personnel and their families. Together, the VFW and Auxiliary assist our veterans in VA medical centers, also assist homeless veterans and other non-hospitalized vet-erans and current military personnel, along with their families, needing food, clothing, trans-portation or other assistance. We also look to better our communities through volunteerism and patriotic education. We support various programs for students such as, Voice of Democ-racy Audio Essay and Patriotic Art Contest for students in grade 9 thru 12 and the Patriots Pen Essay contest for 6th 7th and 8th grade students. We also support scout troops, athletics and children in need in our community. If you know someone who is eligible, ASK them to join. The fee for New Members to join is $25.00. For more information or to obtain an application for membership, contact Rose Grieman at 732-716-1550.

Just a reminder:

Have you paid your 2016 Auxiliary Dues yet? Annual dues are

$18.00,please send your check payable to VFW Auxiliary 2179 to Rose Grieman, 1108 Syc-amore Ct., Whiting, NJ 08759. A Dues Notice was mailed out to Auxiliary Members in the beginning of July. Thank you to the members who responded.

PAGE 7 VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE USA

Chaplain’s Message Mariela Anderson is currently serving as Post 2179 Chaplain while Laura Merker holds this po-sition for the Ladies Auxiliary. Mariela is currently deployed but Auxiliary Chaplain Laura Merker can be reached at (732) 888-1813. Please contact her if you know of a comrade or sister in need of good wishes.

COOTIES PUP Tent 38 Breakfast!!!!

Come out and join us for breakfast held the third

Sunday of the month from 8:00 until noon.

Vietnam War Commemoration

Vietnam Era Veterans 50th Anniversary

FREE “Welcome Home Picnic” FREE

When: September 13, 2015. 12:00 – 5:00 pm Posting of the colors at noon

Rain or shine Picnic Location: VFW Post 2179 1 Veterans Lane Port Monmouth, NJ 07758 Picnic Menu: Soda, Water, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Bake Beans and Watermelon.

FREE FREE FREE

Thinking of You Judy Araniecke

Charles Gallagher Laura Merker

Dennis Jacques

Post Chaplain Mariela Anderson who is being deployed to Afghani-stan. She and her shipmates are in

our thoughts and prayers.

Please bring your family and grandchildren, will have games and prizes

Bingo is alive and well on Mondays at noon and Tuesday nights at 8:00. Doors open at 6. Come on out and play and bring a friend!!! The kitch-en is open serving sandwiches, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, grilled cheese, hotdogs, French fries and snacks. Two dollars will get you in the door! As always, if you don’t like to play, we can use help in the kitchen or on the bingo floor. Con-tact Will Purcell or Mariela Anderson (Tuesday bingo) or Lori Cannon (Monday bingo) for de-tails.

Having a Party or Event???? Are you planning a family gathering (wedding, engagement, birthday or shower) or maybe even a corporate event? If so, why not consider hosting it in one of the great rooms located in the VFW Post 2179? There are many options available to suit your needs from classroom seating to formal dining. Depending on the size room you need, we can comfortably seat 300+. Let us help you make your event something to remem-ber. For more information, call Pat O’Grady at 732-232-0279.

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE USA PAGE 8

VFW Auxiliary Project

The Auxiliary is working on a project to make 65 lap robes for the Christmas Bingo Party at the Vet-erans Home in Menlo Park. We are asking anyone who crochets or knits to please volunteer to make one or more lap robes. The size needed is approxi-mately 45” by 45” and mixing and matching differ-ent colors, using leftover yarn, is great. The Auxil-iary will either supply the yarn or reimburse, with receipt, of yarn purchased. We are asking anyone having extra yarn (used or unused) to drop it off at the Post. Please contact Laura Merker, Hospital Chairperson, at 732 888-1813, with any questions you may have.

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE USA PAGE 9

Post and Auxiliary Supports Marching Band

VFW Post 2179 and Auxiliary received a thank you from Christopher Duffet, nephew of Auxiliary member Martha Magrino, for their generous support of the Old Bride High School Marching Band who represented the East Coast of the United States as they traveled to Normandy, France for the 70th Anniversary Remem-brance of D-Day. The Old Bridge High School Band was only one of five in the Nation to attend. According to Christopher, the bands were welcomed graciously and even performed a few spontaneous concerts in town.

VFW Post 2179 Honors Middletown Twp. Police Dept.

Middletown Police Department Appreciation Day Breakfast May 9, 2015 at VFW 2179. Commander Pat Lipka, Chief of Police Craig Weber, Committeemen Gerard P. Scharfenberger, and Anthony P. Fiore.

Auxiliary Donates The Poppy Lady to Middletown Public Schools and Library

The Auxiliary of Post 2179 has donated a copy of The Poppy Lady to the pub-lic schools and library of Middletown Township. This novel tells the story of Moina Belle Michaels and her service to the soldiers who fought in World War I and the wars to come. Below is a synopsis of the book from Amazon.com: When American soldiers entered World War I, Moina Belle Michael, a schoolteacher from Georgia, knew she had to act. Some of the soldiers were her students and friends. Almost sin-

gle-handedly, Moina worked to establish the red poppy as the symbol to honor and remember soldiers. And she devoted the rest of her life to making sure the symbol would last forever. Thanks to her hard work, that symbol remains strong today. Author Barbara Elizabeth Walsh and artist Layne Johnson worked with experts, primary documents, and Moina's great-nieces to better understand Moina's determination to honor the war veterans. A portion of the book's proceeds will support the National Military Family Association's Op-eration Purple®, which benefits children of the U.S. military.

MILITARY RECORDS Request for Military Service Records, Military Personnel Files, Veterans Records, Discharge Papers, Separation Documents DD214.

National Personnel Records Center 1 Archives Drive

St. Louis, Missouri 63138

Veteran’s Honorary Designation New Jersey thanks our military veterans who proudly served to protect our freedom. To honor you, a special designation has been created for display on your driver’s license or non-driver ID card.

On March 1, 2015, in an effort to provide this recognition to you as quickly as possible, the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) began issuing custom-designed stickers to those veterans who wish to display them on their driver’s licenses or non-driver ID cards. The MVC will notify those of you who requested these stickers at a later date when a perma-nently imprinted veteran’s designation is available.

You may request your honorary veteran’s recognition sticker in person or by mail.

In person

Visit any MVC agency and bring both of the following documents to receive your veteran’s recognition sticker. The sticker will come with instructions for attaching it properly to your driver’s license or non-driver ID card.

Your current NJ driver’s license or non-driver ID card AND Original or photocopy of your honorable military discharge or General Discharge under Honorable Conditions documents to show satisfactory proof of your veteran’s status: Original or photocopy of DD-214, DD-215 OR Original or photocopy of official county-issued veteran’s ID card OR Original or photocopy of federal activation orders showing service under Title 10, section 672 or section 12301 of the United States Code OR Original or photocopy of report of Separation of Active Duty (honorably discharged or General Discharge under Honorable Conditions prior to 1950). By mail

Send all three of the following documents to receive your honorary veteran’s recognition sticker. The sticker will come with in-structions for attaching it properly to your driver’s license or non-driver ID card.

Photocopy of your current NJ driver’s license or non-driver ID card AND Photocopy of your honorable military discharge or General Discharge under Honorable Conditions documents to show satis-factory proof of your veteran’s status: Photocopy of DD-214, DD-215 OR Photocopy of official county-issued veteran’s ID card OR Photocopy of federal activation orders showing service under Title 10, section 672 or section 12301 of the United States Code OR Photocopy of report of Separation of Active Duty (honorably discharged or General Discharge under Honorable Conditions prior to 1950) AND A self-addressed stamped envelope (must be included). Mail all three items to: NJMVC 225 E. State Street PO Box 129 – Veterans Trenton, NJ 08666

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE USA PAGE 11

Post Pool Tournament

Starting October 11, 2015 1:00 pm each Sunday for 10 weeks

Call: Bill Us or see Joe Lipka at Post bar. 732-687-0212

See sign up sheet on bulletin board

Friday

Night Dinners

Don’t feel like cooking on Friday nights? Then join us for our Friday night dinner.

We offer a variety of choices for your pleas-ure. Dinner is served from six to eight o’clock P.M. and we have take-out available. Please check the VFW 2179 Facebook page for the menu. If you have a large party you can call ahead and we will reserve a table for you. Children under 12 can have chicken fingers with fries free! Check us out!!!!

Join us in the Lounge!!!!

Sunday Football—Refreshments and good cheer every Sunday afternoon. We have 6 giant TV’s capturing the action from every angle!!

Wednesday Alley Bowling League or our Left— Right—Center games. Great Laughs a good time by all.

Karaoke is Back!!! Saturday nights at 7:00. Join us for songs, laughs, and a great time!

Friday Night Dinners—great meals at a reasonable price. Live entertainment starting in October, the first Friday of the month!

Bingo—Monday at Noon Tuesday at 7:00 P.M.

50/50 Post 2179 runs a monthly 50/50. You can purchase a chance at the

bar. Drawing is the last day of each month. Contact Don Kehoe at 732 895-7321 for fur-ther information.

Middletown Twp. Post #2179 and Ladies Auxiliary One Veterans Lane Port Monmouth, New Jersey 07758

The VFW / Ladies Auxiliary Newsletter now available by e-mail!

To receive your newsletter electronically, simply e-mail your name, address and e-mail address to VFW2179@verizon.net. The newsletter will be sent to all members who have submitted an email address.

Moving???

Send new address to:

VFW Post 2179 One Veteran’s Lane Port Monmouth, New Jersey 07758

Having a Party or

Event??? VFW HALL

RENTAL Reasonable Pricing All amenities, food, lin-ens, beverages, wait staff etc. Call Pat O’Grady

(732) 232-0279

NEWS AND NOTES

Phone: (732) 787-0999 (732) 787-9897 Fax: (732) 787-8622 Email: VFW2179@verizon.net

“I will support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” —U.S. Armed Forces Oath of Enlistment and Office

Every Monday Noon

LADIES AUXILIARY Every Tuesday

8 P.M. VFW # 2179

Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, French Fries, Coffee and

Tea available

Volunteers welcome!