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BULLETIN DECEMBER 2014

ANNUAL DUES $10.00

REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETINGS

MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS ARE USUALLY HELD ON THE

3RD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH AT 1400 HOURS

21 December 2014 Regular Scheduled Meeting

18 January 2015 Regular Scheduled Meeting

15 February 2015 Regular Scheduled Meeting

Members of the Executive Board will meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the Month at 1930 Hours

Veteran Corps 69th Regiment Mission Statement

The mission of the Veteran Corps, 69th Regiment is to preserve and expound the history and traditions of the Regiment, to provide a venue to inform and foster camaraderie among veterans of the 69th, and to assist the Commander of the

active unit with the morale and welfare of the soldiers and their families.

VETERAN CORPS. 69TH REGIMENT, INC.

THE FIGHTING SIXTY NINTH

ORGANIZED 1874 – INCORPORATED 1918

PHONE: (212) 686-6556

P.O. BOX 98, MADISON SQUARE STATION

NEW YORK, NY 10010

E-MAIL ADDRESS: THE69VETERANS@GMAIL.COM

WEB ADDRESS:

WWW.THE69THVETERANSCORPS.COM

mailto:the69Veterans@gmaiL.COMhttp://www.the69thveteranscorps.com/

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MEMBERSHIP DUES AND 50/50 CHANCE BOOKS: We appreciate the response by the membership to bring their respective dues up to date. 2015 membership fees are now due. For those who may have doubts on their present status, just check the number on your mailing label – it should read at least (14). To help us expedite the deposits and issuance of membership cards, dues and 50/50 payments may be sent to:

Veteran Corps, 69th Regiment, 139 Whitewood Drive, Massapequa Park, NY 11762

COMMANDER’S REMARKS: Makin Day Dinner: On Friday, November 7th, the battalion celebrated the Regiment’s introduction into battle during WWII with the traditional “Makin Day Dinner”. Unfortunately this was the first time it was celebrated without a veteran from that battle at the dinner. Scooter Barclay, a regular attendee had a previous engagement and could not make it, but promised he would try next year. My good friend Jack Munday, who I have been trying to contact via the telephone was not present and was missed by all. No one has a better sense of humor than Jack. But as our Regiment lives on so do the personnel in it also live on. This year along with the remembrance of Makin we recognized the 10th anniversary of the battalion’s deployment for participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom and also the 70th anniversary of the battle of Saipan. The dinner was well attended and for the first time we had to cater most of it due to the kitchen that is under renovation. It worked out well for the most part and we are considering the possibility of doing the same again next year. I have to thank those who helped make it a success. In the kitchen were Bill Henry, Frank Sherry, Philip Rivera, Dennis Hearn, and Peter Vesey. Checking in at the door were John Gundy and Tony Hilinski. The one man team that just got done the many things that had to be done was Joe Whaley. Thank you all.

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Update on other activities: Last month, the Veteran Corps participated in a period of remembrance for the 10th anniversary of the fallen of the battalion in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Veteran Corps provided a Memorial Wreath for each member. The number was 22 wreaths that included the 8 from C 2-156IN “Black Sheep” LAANG that were serving under our colors. I wish to thank the members of the Veteran Corps who contributed to the “Wreath Fund”. On Saturday morning, November 29th, a Memorial Ceremony was conducted at Ft Hamilton, Bklyn for SSG Christian Engeldrum. While that ceremony was taking place a member of the Veteran Corps, Kevin Maxwell traveled from his home in Fredericksburg VA to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington and placed a floral piece and read the poem Rouge Bouquet at SSG Engeldrum’s gravesite. On the afternoon of November 29th, with the Urbina family in attendance, a ceremony was conducted at Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, NY for SPC Wilfredo Urbina. The ceremony included the presentation of a Memorial Wreath, the reading of Rouge Bouquet by COL(ret) Geoff Slack, the playing of Amazing Grace by Joe Brady, Honorary Regimental Bagpiper and the playing of taps by CW3 Louis Dileo, USV-A. (Pictured below).

On Monday, December 1st at 6:30pm, a Memorial Mass was held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 25th Street, Watervliet, NY in remembrance of SGT David Michael Fisher. SGT Fisher was attached to the 69th from D/1-101. Members of the active unit and former members of Task Force Wolfhound and members of the 101 CAV were present for the Mass. On Wednesday, December 3rd, we traveled north to The State Veteran’s Cemetery, located at 317 Bow Lane, Middletown, CT to conduct a Memorial Service at the gravesite of SSG Henry Irizarry at 11:30am. As with all of our services, each was conducted with offering of a prayer, presentation of the Memorial Wreath, the playing of taps and the reading of Rouge Bouquet.

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Upcoming activities: On Tuesday, January 6, 2015, we will again travel north to Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Sunset Lake Rd., Liberty, NY to conduct a Memorial Service at the gravesite of SPC Kenneth Von Ronn at 11:30am. Again our services will be conducted by members of the active battalion and we will be involved by presenting the Memorial Wreath. On Saturday, January 10, 2015, COL Slack, LTC Flynn and CSM Meltz will attend a Memorial Service in Houma, LA for the eight members of C/2-156IN LAANG who served with Task Force Wolfhound in Iraq. The Veteran Corps has provided 8 Memorial Wreaths to be presented at that ceremony. To all members of the Veteran Corps: All members of the Veteran Corps are invited and encouraged to attend any of the Memorial Services for those who made the Ultimate Sacrifice while serving with Task Force Wolfhound or for those 69th members who made the same Sacrifice while serving under the colors of a sister unit. Those of you that are receiving the Bulletin via email are being informed in a timely manner. Those of you who are on USPS we will do our best to have the information in a more timely manner. There are 9 more Memorial Services to be conducted in the coming months; listed below are planned dates and we will be giving more specific information in following Bulletins: 16 Jan 2015, SPC Alain Kamolvathin 17 Jan 2015, PFC Francis Obaji 2 Mar 2015, SPC Azhar Ali and SPC Wai Phyo Lwin 21 Jun 2015, SGT Anthony Mangano 26 Jun 2015, SGT Mark Palmateer 7 Aug 2015, SGT Anthony Kalladeen and PFC Hernando Rios 2 Oct 2015, SPC Jason Von Zerneck

ROUGE BOUQUET: Go to Sleep, Go to Sleep, Slumber well where the shells screamed and fell Lay your rifles on the muddy floor You will not need them anymore Dangers past; now at last Go to Sleep!

Joyce Kilmer HHC 165th Inf (KIA 30 Jul 1918)

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NOMINATIONS: PETE VESEY (718) 470-6550 Nominations for positions as an Officer of the Veteran Corps or a member of the Executive Board of the Veteran Corps will take place at the December Meeting. Officer positions are for a 1 year term Board Member positions are for a 3 year term

Therefore all Officer positions are open for nominations every year. There are 12 Board Members with 4 positions open for nominations each year. We have high hopes of recent members of the battalion join us and becoming involved in positions as an Officer or Board Member of the Veteran Corps. Those interested please keep in mind our goals are to assist the Active Battalion Commander and his soldiers in any way feasible for us to do, to maintain today’s Veteran Corps and to never forget our past and its members.

ATTENDANCE AT MONTHLY MEETINGS: There has been a decline in the attendance at our membership monthly meetings probably for various reasons: Possibly hearing due to security directed by higher headquarters admission to the armory would be difficult. Although we do not have an entrance pass any longer, LTC Flynn has assured me that he would arrange it so the armory would be available on the 3rd Sunday each month. So far he has done that. Another reason, the Giants and Jets are both out of it now. I had arranged with Rex Ryan and Tom Coughlan to have losing seasons so our football members would be available for our Sunday meeting, and lastly, and most probable it’s just too troublesome traveling to the city for the meeting. But I ask you all to make the effort. There are 365 days in the year, we ask for 10 afternoons a year. The next meeting is our Christmas Meeting and Frank Sherry is planning something special. I would like to mention Frank and his team - Bill Henry, Philip Rivera and Warren Towns - who prepare a tasty meal every month so that after the meeting we can join together and enjoy their labors, have a few drinks and wait as Dennis Hearn draws the winning 50/50 awards for the month.

SEE YOU ALL SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2014!

50 / 50 DRAWINGS:

Month 1st Place 2nd Place

October FSF-Donation Frank Trombino

November Peter Reilly FSF-Donation

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LETTERS and CONVERSATIONS: Bob Bracken: Bob who as attending a funeral at Calverton Cemetery noted

one of the honor guards was wearing the 69th DUI. Bob was impressed by his appearance and performance.

Kevin Maxwell: Kevin who lives in Fredericksburg, VA these days, stays in

constant touch with me via the phone. He is also an active member with various contributions of his time and talents, for example, traveling to Arlington National Cemetery to perform a Remembrance Service for SSG Engeldrum while we were conducting one at Ft. Hamilton.

Mike Guiry: I would like to thank Mike, who also hails from Fredericksburg,

VA, for his continuous contributions to the Family Support Fund, Thank you Mike. I was with COL Slack yesterday and he was asking for you.

Herb Ryan: Had received a note from Herb informing us of a change of

address. His home in Breezy Point had taken quit a hit from Sandy. Since then, Herb has suffered a mild stroke but is recovering. As he said his handwriting indicates a little shaking but it is very understandable but his speech has not been affected, as I had a great conversation with him at the Makin Day Dinner. Herb our prayers go out to you for a speedy and complete recovery.

SERVICE OFFICER’S SICK REPORT: Maurice Savage 3 McCartney Drive, Albany, NY 12211-2315 Tom Gordon Gino Merli Veterans Center, 401 Penn Ave, Scranton, PA

18503 John Marino 1078 N. Broadway, N. Massapequa, NY 11758 Harry Snyder 13931 Encantardo Cir., Ft. pierce, FL 34951

May we join in prayer that our sick have a complete and speedy recovery!

In case of illness or death of a member, please call our Service Officer, Frank Sherry at (516) 536-6756 or leave a message on our recording machine at (212) 686-6556 in a timely manner. If known, please list the Company and dates of service in the Regiment. Please direct all correspondence to: Veteran Corps, 69th Regiment, Inc, P.O. Box 98, Madison Square Station, New York, NY, 10010.

Other contact information: Email address for the commander is: tomandlilfitz2@verizon.net

mailto:tomandlilfitz2@verizon.net

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Wishing you and your families – a safe and happy holiday season!

A Happy Hanukkah

A Very Merry Christmas

And A Healthy Happy New Year!

I wish to thank all who assisted in the preparation and distribution of the Bulletin.

TOM FITZSIMMONS – COMMANDER tomandlilfitz2@verizon.net

mailto:tomandlilfitz2@verizon.net