FebruARY 2013 • First Call 1

Chris Urban, Commander February 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)

Inside

Commander’s Call 24 Chaplains Day 3Chaplain 3 Jan. Joint Meeting 4-6Auxiliary 7Juniors Make Cards 7

MARCH1 Lenten Bingo 5 Bingo, 5:30 pm6 Bloodmobile, noon-57 Monthly Dinner, 6:15 Post Meeting, 7:30 pm Auxiliary, 7:30 pm8 Lenten Bingo 11 Vietnam Vets of Am., 112 Bingo, 6:30 pm15 Lenten Bingo 16 DAV, noon 19 Bingo, 6:30 pm22 Lenten Bingo26 Bingo, 6:30 pm

Take your sweetheart out for a night of dining and dancing -- at Utca Post’s Val-entine Dinner Dance on Saturday, Feb. 2.

Open bar is from 6 to midnight, with Italian buffet at 7 sharp. Dancing is from 8 to 12, with music by Sonny Farrar.

Cost is $22 per person. For reserva-tions, contact Dinner Dance Chair Rose Coniglio at 735-9091 or call the post at 793-9377.

February

2 Dinner Dance, 6-125 Bingo, 6:30 pm6 Bloodmobile, noon-57 Monthly Dinner, 6:15 Post Meeting, 7:30 pm Auxiliary, 7:30 pm11 Vietnam Vets of Am., 112 Bingo, 6:30 pm16 DAV, noon 19 Bingo, 6:30 pm22 Lenten Bingo26 Bingo, 6:30 pm

COME TO VALENTINE’S DINNER DANCE FEB. 2

COLOR GUARDTO COOK UP CHICKEN BBQ

The Utica Post 229 Color Guard will host Chicken Barbeque fund- raiser on Sunday, April 28, Adju-tant Tony Palladino announced.

The BBQ will run from noon until sold out. Meal includes half chicken, salt potatoes, bake beans. Donation is $8.00.

Some 100 advance sale tickets are available for members. Con-tact the post.

REMEMBER THE 4 CHAPLAINS • PAGE 3

Lenten BingoPost 229 is planning to offer

an extra night of bingo on five Fridays in Lent, starting Feb. 22.

First Call • February 20132

Commander’s Call

Chris Urban

bers who have not yet re-newed their annual Legion membership. You can pay you dues by visiting Post 229 or mailing a $35 check to 409 Herkimer Road, Utica, NY 13502. If you would like to pay your dues by using a credit card, all you need to do is visit the following link and follow the instructions:

www.legion.org/renew

WE WANT TO SEND 2 TO NIAGARA FALLS

Every summer the Amer-ican Legion Department of New York holds its Annual Convention; this year it’s in Niagara Falls from July 18 to 20. The Annual Conven-tion is a great learning op-portunity. We want to send two Post 229 members who have never attended the Department Convention before. We will pay for two nights of lodging. If more than two members want to attend, we will draw names out of a hat. This is a great way to learn and become more involved with the legion. Please call the Post or send me an e-mail if you are interested.

NO LENTEN FISH FRIES THIS YEAR

Over the past few years we have struggled hard

Committee’s work, which is the slate of officers. At this meeting, nominations may be made from the floor. After the April 4 Gen-eral Meeting, additional nominations may be made via petitions that are signed by 25 Post 229 members who are “in good standing”; these nominations must be submitted to the adjutant more than 10 days prior to the election. The election will be held at the May 2 General Meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m.

I encourage everyone to attend these meetings and be involved in the impor-tant process of electing next year’s Post 229 officers.

HAVE CREATIVE FUNDRAISING IDEAS?

We distributed close to $38,000 to some 45 recipients (charitable causes including individuals and groups) last year. We would like to be able to help more folks in need, but to do so we need to do more fund-raising. If you have any great ideas, I would love to hear from you; please call or send me an e-mail.

PAY YOUR ANNUAL DUES... ONLINE

We still have a small number of Post 229 mem-

to raise money with our Lenten Fish Fries. There’s a great deal of competition in the area (Price Chopper and the Deerfield Fire De-partment are very close by), our costs have really risen, and the fish fries are pretty labor-intensive (all the par-ticipants are volunteers and we haven’t had enough of them). It just doesn’t make sense for us to continue the Lenten Fish Fries.

NEVER ENOUGH BINGO VOLUNTEERS

Last year we had over 4100 people play Bingo on Tuesday nights; Bingo netted us over $30,000 in profit. We can always, always, ALWAYS use more volunteers for Tuesday evening Bingo; you can be a big help even if you only volunteer two hours of your time one Tuesday evening each month.

Our Bingo proceeds are responsible for most of our charitable donations. It would be really great to have more volunteers. If you can give us a little of your time on Tuesday late afternoon/evening, then please contact the Post and leave your name for Bingo Chairman Jim George.

For God and Country...

BUDGET AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW

The Budget Committee and the Executive Board worked hard to produce a balanced budget that increased income and decreased spending. The budget was passed at our December 6 General Meeting. Any Post 229 member may review the budget with any Post 229 officer. If you would like to review the budget, please call the Post or send an e-mail to set up a date and time.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

At our February 7 General Meeting, the adjutant will review the details of the nomination and election process (this information comes from our by-laws). The adjutant will run an election of the Nominating Committee from members who are present at this meeting (which starts at 7:30 p.m.). At our March 7, 2013 General Meeting, the adjutant will update mem-bers on the progress of the Nominating Commit-tee. At our April 4, 2013 General Meeting, the adjutant will present the results of the Nominating

FebruARY 2013 • First Call 3

Give BloodAmerican Red Cross bloodmo-

bile is at Utica Post 229 on the first Wednesday of the month from noon to 5.

VVA Meets on 2nd MondayVietnam Veterans of America,

Utica Chapter 944, meets at Post 229 on the second Monday of the month at 1 p.m.

Take the “sun” out of sunshine Put it in a sunny smile

It will cheer a lonely person And make living more worthwhile

Take a hand that needs some helping Lead it on a happier road

It will ease those heavy burdens By your sharing half the load

Take your heart thats filled with love Gladly give it all away

It will overflow to others And keep rushing back each day.

Take the time to speak to neighbors A “hello” to show you care

You may need a cup of sugar For you no cupboard will be bare.

SOME DATES TO REMEMBER Feb. 1 National Freedom Day Feb. 2 Groundhog Day Feb.12 Lincoln’s Birthday Feb.13 Ash Wednesday Feb.14 Valentine’s Day Feb.18 President’s Day Feb. 22 Washington’s Birthday

Chaplain’scorner

Paul Wojcik

By National American LegionOn Feb. 3, 1943, the United States

Army Transport Dorchester – a con-verted luxury liner – was crossing the North Atlantic, transporting more than 900 troops to an American base in Greenland. Aboard the ship were four chaplains of different faiths: Reverend George Fox (Methodist), Jewish Rabbi Alexander Goode, Reverend Clark Pol-ing (Dutch Reformed) and Father John Washington (Roman Catholic).

Around 12:55 a.m., a German U-boat fired a torpedo that struck Dorchester’s starboard side, below the water line and near the engine room. The explosion instantly killed 100 men and knocked out power and radio communication with Dorchester’s three escort ships. Within 20 minutes, the transport sank and more than 670 men died.

As soldiers rushed to lifeboats, the four chaplains spread out, comforting the wounded and directing others to safety.

One survivor, Private William Bed-nar, later said, “I could hear men crying,

HEROIC 4 CHAPLAINSREMEMBERED FEB. 3

pleading, praying. I could also hear the chaplains’ preaching courage. Their voices were the only thing that kept me going.”

Another survivor, John Ladd, watched the chaplains’ distribute life jackets, and when they ran out, they removed theirs and gave them to four young men.

“It was the finest thing I have seen, or hope to see, this side of heaven,” he recalled.

As Dorchester sank, the chaplains were seen linked arm in arm, praying.

Fox, Goode, Poling and Washington were posthumously awarded the Distin-guished Service Cross and the Purple Heart, and in 1948, Congress declared Feb. 3 to be Four Chaplains Day. The four chaplains were also honored with a U.S. postage stamp that year.

2013 marks the 70th anniversary of their heroic act.

Learn more about the four chaplains by visiting The Immortal Chaplains Foundation (www.immortalchaplains.org) and The Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation (www.fourchaplains.org).

First Call • February 20134

O-D POPULAR IN WAR ZONE“The Observer Dispatch was very

popular over there,” noted Tom O’Toole (right) while talking about his Korean War tour of duty prior to the start of the January post meeting.

It arrived faster than letters from home, he said, and was usu-ally never more than a couple of days late.

After the home town paper was passed around, he added, it performed one more wintry function-- keeping the seats warm in the latrine.

***

COMBINED JANUARY MEETING FEATURES OFFICER REPORTS

COMBINED MEETING FEATURES REPORTSThe January meeting was a combined post and auxiliary

function, with several officers giving annual or updated reports.

Retiring law-and-order and parade chair Paul Wajcik (left) noted that in the past couple of years, two police honorees went on to receive New York Department awards (an officer and the Utica PD). The Me-

morial Day Parade, Wojcik added, is a huge effort with all the marching units

comprising five separate divisions.

The monthly Red Cross blood station at Utica Post 229 collected 182 units of blood from July to December, Treasurer Jim Haggerty reported. The Red Cross is at the post from noon to 5 on the first Wednesday of the month.

Service Officer Dave Wilson (left) said the VA was expanding the definition and coverage of trau-matic brain injuries (everything from concussions to penetrating wounds to the head). Some 250,000 service

members suffered traumatic brain injury from 2000 to 2012.

Membership Chair Jack LaPaglia said the post was at 85% of reaching its quota of 575 members for 2013. Auxiliary Membership Chair Rose Co-

niglio said the unit was 78.25% toward its goal of 202 members, and then added a challenge: “Jack, I’m going to beat you.”

FebruARY 2013 • First Call 5

Executive Board member Tom O’Toole (far left) spoke of the post’s operations, not-ing it was open 362 days a year and closed for Easter, Thanksgiv-ing and Christmas. Bingo is at the post 52 weeks of the year. With 264 regular bingo guests, players walk out of the post with $105,000 in prize money. Bell jar ticket sales yield $245,000 in prize money for players.

“There are about 45 organizations we support,” O’Toole said. They involve youth, veterans or other charitable causes. “We donated well in excess of $30,000 to these organizations.”

Membership Chair Jack LaPaglia (right) with Lotto Chair Dick Greco and Auxiliary Member Eleanor King.

Scholarship Committee Chair Vincent Zaleski (right) said the post was now accepting scholarship ap-plications for high school students planning to attend col-lege in the fall. Students need to be children or grand-children of Legion Post Family mem-bers.

For an appli-cation, contact or drop by the post.

Continued on Page 6

A few of the Post and Auxiliary members at the January meeting. From left: Stewart Bailey, Frank Cassella, Al Kohler, Auxiliary Presi-dent Peggie Kohler and Auxiliary Membership Chair Rose Coniglio.

First Call • February 20136

Vice Commander Len Lascala, Adjutant Tony Palladino and Commander Chris Urban.

Vice Commander Len Lascala mentioned a com-munity organization that rehabilitates homes for low to middle income families -- Rebuilding Together Mo-hawk Valley.

The group is looking for projects and volunteer work-ers for the April time-frame. For more info, go online to rebuildingtogethermv.org.

Commander Chris Urban said the post sponsors three to four students to Boy’s State each year, and was working with Notre Dame High School to select this year’s candidates.

Being commander has been an “interesting job,” he said, with “something new every-day” -- from a leaky boiler to a security issue.

Regarding the latter, he said the installation of security cameras in areas of the post, including the park-ing lot, has been an expense

Continued from Page 5.

“that’s been really good for us...and that’s paid dividends” in resolving disputes and identifying perpetrators.

There are a number of committees and a number of people who work on behalf of the post, Urban noted. “There are a tremendous number of moving parts.”

Adjutant and Color Guard Chair Tony Palladino said the color guard team per-formed in the Central New York Veterans Parade in Syracuse in November and received a thankyou letter from state Assemblyman William B. Magnarelli, one of the sponsors.

He also read letters from organizations thanking Utica Post 229 for its support. Among them:

• The Salvation Army, • Abraham House, • Thea Bowman House, • Hank Brown’s Children’s

Party.

Utica Post 229 Color Guard Squad marches in the Central New York Vet-erans Parade, which took place last November in Syracuse.

FebruARY 2013 • First Call 7

AuxiliaryPeggy Kohler, president

Chaplain’scorner

Marie Dodge

A NEW YEAR’S PRAYER

Dear Lord, please give me…A few friends who understand me

And yet remain my friends.A work to do which has real value,

without which the worldwould feel the poorer…

A mind unafraid to travel,even though the trail be not blazed.

An understanding heart…A sense of humor.

Time for quiet, silent meditation.A feeling of the presence of God.

And the patience to waitfor the coming of these things,

with the wisdom, to know themwhen they come.

W.R. HUNT

President’s MessagePeggie Kohler

Dear Auxiliary Members,

Auxillary members attended the Mid-Winter Con-ference.

We will be electing our nominating committee at February meeting. The committee nominates officers for the 2013-2014 Legion year.

I want to wish all the veterans and their families a Happy Valentine’s Day.

I need to let the Auxillary members know about the death of Lorraine Derella.

Yours in service...

THANK YOU TO......Smith Packing for the

Christmas gift for the Chil-dren’s Christmas Party.

JUNIOR MEMBERS MAKE CARDS FOR VETS

HOLLAND PATENT — Junior and Senior members of the Oneida County American Legion Auxiliary gathered Dec. 1 at Leon R Roberts Post 161. They made 400 Christmas cards for veterans in Oneida County nursing homes. The cards were put on the Christmas gifts provided by Oneida County American Legion Auxiliary to show their apprecia-tion for serving our country. Front row from left, Makkara Briggs, Madeline Briggs, Catherine Aney and Josephine Aney. Back row from left, Melissa Briggs, Mary Briggs, Ash-ley Rider, Nikki Rider, Debbie Roberts and Rosaria Haggerty.

GET WELL Pat Dodge, Marie Dodge

SYMPATHY to the family of Lorraine Derella

By Rose A. Coniglio

We have 158 paid members, to date. Five are new. With a quota of 202, we are at 78.25 percent of goal. We need 44 more to reach 100 percent (renew-als and/or new member-ships).

We hope to reach our goal in February.

Dues are now $20. Make checks out to American Legion Auxiliary Unit 229 and send to:

Rose A. Coniglio607 Jay St., Apt. C2Utica, NY 13501

WELCOME NEW MEMBER

Angelina R. Aceto

Membership:time to renew

Six-year-old twins Catherine and Josephine Aney, who are Junior Auxiliary members, joined other Aux-iliary and Junior members at Leon R. Roberts Legion Post 161 in Hol-land Patent Dec. 1 to help make 400 Christmas cards for veterans in nursing homes. The twins were accompanied by their grandmother, Auxiliary Member Rosaria Hag-gerty. A photo of the group appeared in the Jan. 1st edition of the Observer-Dispatch.

If you haven’t already, please re-new your membership for 2013.

RENEW

First Call • February 20138

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.

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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.

January’s joint membership meeting. More photos, pages 4-6.