October 2013 • First Call 1

Chris Urban, Commander October 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)

InsideChaplain 2Member Report 2Auxiliary 3

October2 Bloodmobile, noon-53 Monthly Dinner, 6:15 Post Meeting, 7:30 pm Auxiliary, 7:30 pm8 Bingo, 6:3014 Vietnam Vets of Am., 115 Bingo, 6:3019 DAV, noon 22 Bingo, 6:30 pm27 Kids Halloween Party, 1229 Bingo, 6:30 pm

When Vice Commander Jim George spent time visit-ing Army Special Forces veteran Fred Bozek last year, he got to see first hand what Abraham House means to the terminally ill.

The facility at 1203 Kemble St. in Utica provides free care and housing to those trying to live their last days, weeks and months with some quality.

That’s why he is coordi-nating a Post 229 drive to collect donations of money,

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLSThe piercing peal of a small, heavy bell

filled the post hall at the September member-ship meeting, drawing all eyes to an artifact now being housed at Post 229.

Post member Dan Pieloch hit the clapper to demonstrate the robust sound quality of the pedestal-mounted Bell Momento, origi-nally used by the 416th Bomb Wing at the former Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome.

The de-activating wing presented the Bell Momento to Walter Skiba Post 20 of the Polish Legion of American Veterans in 1995 to show gratitude for the post’s support of Griffiss AFB.

And now Walter Skiba Post is presenting the artifact bell to Utica Post 229, announced Pieloch, who is commander of Skiba Post.

The artifact is a symbol of both a call to arms and the willing response of citizens throughout America’s history. In military tradition, the symbol takes on various mean-

ings, but ultimately, like a reverberating bell, reflects the concepts of duty, self-sacrifice, dedication and camaraderie.

Dan Pieloch with the Bell Momento.

HELP FACILITY THAT HELPED DYING VET• Styrofoam cups• Tall kitchen garbage bags• Tissues• Tuna fish (canned with water)Frederick J. “Bo” Bozek

died July 1, 2012, at the age of 67, and was buried with military honors at Arling-ton National Cemetery. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1962 and made it a career, serving with the 10th Special Forces Group until his re-tirement in 1990. Bozek was a member of Utica Post 229.

supplies and care items for Abraham House.

He is asking members of the Post, Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion to drop off donations at the post, on meeting nights or

anytime. In addition to dol-lars, Abraham House needs:

• Air fresheners• Band aids• Blue bags (Utica City - large)• Bottled water (small)• Coffee• Crackers (Saltine or Ritz)• Creamora• Grocery gift cards• Hard candy• Laundry detergent (high eff.)• Paper towesl• Postage Stamps• Soup (chicken, vegetable, etc.)

Jim George

KID GHOUL TIME OCT. 27

First Call • October 20132

Dues are coming in daily. Quota for this year is 575. We currently have 272 paid members, including 10 new, and we stand at 47%.

Pay your dues by November 11, and you will be eligible for the Early Bird dinner on November 22.

Remember; get those dues in before January 1 to avoid the $5.00 increase.

WELCOME ABOARDPatrick NealPhillips BriggsJack LoMedicoBrenda Joyce SmithLawrence ElliotJoseph OuimetteJoseph GuzzettaPaul CampbellMichael RossiJames Gaffney, Sr.

RecruitA Memberby jack lapaglia

Lord I see the changing seasonAll the beauty and the wonder

You allow these eyes to see

The vibrant days of autumnAre visible once more

Leaves splashed red and goldenTake over the décor.

Bids start winging southward

through the hazy skyThe days are getting shorterA harvest moon rides high.

Gone are fragrant flowersFrom many garden beds

Alluring and with splendor

Fair autumn reigns awhile,Until in Winter’s chariotJack Frost arrives in style

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.October 14: Columbus DayOctober 24: United Nations DayOctober 31: Happy Halloween

Chaplain’scorner

Paul Wojcik

This year marks the 25th Anniver-sary of our Early Bird dinner.

The dinner is on November 22, with an Italian Buffet, and cocktails begin-ning at 6 p.m. A sign-up reservation sheet will be in the lounge, and mem-

bers must sign up by November 15. Dues MUST be paid by Novem-

ber 11 to be eligible for a free dinner. Cost to guests is $10.00 and may be paid at the door.

-- Jack LaPaglia, Membership chairman

The Red Cross Blood Mobile is at the Post on the first Wednesday of

The Children’s Christmas Party will be held on Saturday, Dec. 14, from noon to 2. A sign-up sheet will be in the post lounge by mid-

RENEW NOW, FEAST AT EARLY BIRD DINNER

Members of Utica Post 229 are ac-tive at all levels of The American Le-gion in New York State.

Anthony Palladino is Oneida County first vice commander.

James Haggerty is county chaplain.Frank Cassella is a county executive

board member.

David Wilson is both Oneida County and 5th District service officer.

Paul Wojcik is district law-and-order chair and district chaplain, plus department vice chair for conventions.

Robert Stronach is a department commander’s aide and department PR chair.

POST MEMBERS ACTIVE AT OTHER LEVELS

Post, Auxiliary and SAL mem-bers can sign up youngsters in their family for the Children’s Halloween Party, which takes place Sunday, Oct. 27, from noon to 2. Ages infant to 12 are welcome.

A sign-up sheet will be in the lounge area.

CHILDREN’S HALLOWEEN PARTY OCT. 27

November. It’s for children 10 and under who are children and grand-children of post, auxiliary and SAL members.

SAVE THE DATE: KIDS CHRISTMAS PARTY

NEED MORE BLOOD DONORSevery month from noon to 5. Please consider giving the gift of life.

October 2013 • First Call 3

Auxiliaryroe haggerty, president

Chaplain’scorner

Eleanor M. King

By Rosetta LaPaglia

We held an initiation ceremony in September to welcome three new mem-bers, and several others that had not been previously initiated. Each received an Auxiliary membership pin, a flag pin, a poppy, and a copy of our Standing Rules. The national dues notice may have already been mailed; but if not, you can still send in your 2014 dues ($20) at any time. You can either bring or mail them to the post (Utica Unit 229, 409 Herkimer Rd, Utica, NY 13502). You may also mail them to me, Ro-setta LaPaglia, 616 Coolidge Rd., Utica, NY 13502. I will send you your card. Current-ly we have 40 paid members for 2014.

WELCOME ABOARDAnne-Marie Nandzik Carolyn Niedzielski Ruth Wilcox

New MembersWelcomed

SUNRAYSSunrays come like magicAs nighttime fades away;It seems that God is saying“You have a brand new day.”

The sunrays seem so special,God’s presence seems so near,As though He’s there to tell us all,“You never need to fear.”

Yes, sunrays come like magic;There’s never words to sayJust how God comes to help usIn His own special way.

Let’s take the time to tell HimAnd thank Him every day,‘Cause He’s always standing readyTo hear us when we pray.

AUXILIARY MEMBERS TO WALKIN BREAST CANCER WALKATHON

The Auxiliary is planning to participate in the “Making Strides” walkathon. The American Cancer Society of Utica event is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. at the Ma-sonic Campus at 2150 Bleecker Street. Walkers can choose to walk one, two or three miles.

Breast cancer victims will be beneficiaries of the fundraiser. $50 buys a wig. $75 buys a ride to treatment, and so on. Any-one interested in participating in this community service proj-ect or wishing to help with the fundraiser in other ways can call Dorothy Bailey at 724-4691.

The Auxiliary welcomed new members during an initia-tion ceremony at the September meeting.

First Call • October 20134

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.

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We support the children of America with youth programs such as:

American Legion BaseballJunior Shooting SportsBoys and Girls StateOratorical Scholarship ProgramScoutingAnd other great programs in your community.

Find out more about � e American Legion’s commitment of service to the children of America.

A POWERFUL FORCEfor Our Nation