VETERANS OF LANSINGBURGH, INC.

777 1st Avenue

Troy, New York 12182

CLUB PHONE: 233-8656 / KITCHEN PHONE: 238-0105

WEBSITE: www.thelansingburghvets.com

APR - JUN 2018 Edition

2018 ELECTION OF OFFICERS:

Nominations for Officers and Board of Directors were held at the March meetings. There are no elections for the Ladies Auxiliary and Sons’ of the Veterans of Lansingburgh. For the Veterans, you have PJ HIGGITT & TOM QUINN running for President as well as seven individuals running for five Board positions. Elections will be held on Monday April 9th from noon until 7pm. Results will be announced during the meeting. You must be a paid up Veteran member to vote. Elected Officers and Board members will be sworn in at their May meetings.

CONGRATULATIONS! / THANK YOU!

Congratulations to BILL ATCHINSON, DENNIS VAN WIE, JACK BYRNE and BRIAN OWENS for being named Veteran Award winners at the FRIENDS OF 112TH

STREET Dinner. All four are Veteran members of the VETERANS OF LANSINGBURGH. Thank you to the SUNDAY DART LEAGUE for their $715.00 donation to the Building Fund. Thanks also to the NORTHEAST NY CHAPTER 59 KOREAN WAR VETERANS for their $1,000.00 donation to the Building Fund, and $488.10 donation to the Purple Heart Club.

VETERAN OFFICERS: PRESIDENT: PAUL HIGGITT, JR. TREASURER: TOM DOIN VICE PRESIDENT: BILL ATCHINSON FINANCIAL SECRETARY: RICH LAYTON SECRETARY: LISA SAUNDERS ASST. FINANCIAL SECRETARY: TOM DOUGHERTY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: LISA HIGGITT TOM ROONEY TOM QUINN RON LAFOUNTAIN HAROLD SCOTT VACANT ELDEN MILLER JIM THEAKOS VACANT

SONS’ OF VETERANS OFFICERS: PRESIDENT: MARK SITTS SECRETARY: MARK BAIRD VICE PRESIDENT: MIKE GUENETTE TREASURER: VACANT

LADIES AUXILIARY OFFICERS: PRESIDENT: PAM BENOIT SECRETARY: KAREN LEN VICE PRESIDENT: ANTOINETTE GUENETTE TREASURER: SHARON STEVENS

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Spring is here and life will come back to the club after a brutal winter. March was not kind to us this year. Soon we will be cleaning up and getting ready for a busy spring and summer.

Our 22nd Annual Memorial Day Parade will be here before we know it. This is our largest event of the year. We do the parade for the local community to help them remember the men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice serving this great nation. Sacrifices like theirs and those who have served and still continue to serve today are the reason why we live in the most free and democratic country in the world. This year, Grand Marshal for the 2018 Memorial Day parade is Command Sergeant Major (Retired) John Willsey. John is a Veteran of the Iraq War. Honorary Grand Marshal is Dave Clum. Dave was a Navy Seabee in Vietnam. Both are members of the Veterans of Lansingburgh as well as many other Organizations and have served their country and communities with pride.

We do the parade so that the memories of our fallen servicemen are not forgotten. I ask that all members help us honor their memory. If you cannot march, I encourage you to ride on one of our floats. Help us show the local community what the Veterans of Lansingburgh are made of. In addition to the parade, we always look for help in preparing for and participating in the Memorial Day weekend activities. We need help prepping for the parade, getting the grounds ready, flag placement on graves, etc. If you are interested, please let us know. We are also doing our semi-annual GI Party on May 12th to give both the inside and outside of our Club and grounds a good cleaning prior to the upcoming events. If you can assist for a few hours, we would appreciate it.

Lastly, keep the men and women who are deployed throughout the world fighting the Global War on Terrorism in your thoughts and prayers. They are doing their part to keep us safe and out of harm’s way. When you see a service member or Veteran, thank them for their service. It doesn’t cost anything and it lets the individual know that someone cares and appreciates what they are doing, or what they have done to help preserve our freedoms.

Respectfully Submitted,

PJ Higgitt, President

LADIES AUXILIARY NEWS:

The Ladies Auxiliary would like to say “THANK YOU” to the Veterans and the Son’ members who helped with the Freedom Flower fundraiser last year. The Freedom Flower fundraiser will be starting soon. Be on the lookout for an opportunity to volunteer. This is a great volunteer opportunity for those who cannot work the club functions. Money raised will be used to benefit the 2018 Memorial Day parade. The following are Auxiliary sponsored events for the upcoming months: DJ’s: 4/6, 5/4, 6/1; Trivia Nights: 4/14, 5/27, 6/15; and Sip n Swirl 6/2. Bring your friends and join in on the fun and at the same time SUPPORT your Auxiliary functions. ALL HANDS ON DECK!! GI Party is on May 12th at 8 am. The more hands working, the less work for all. Help spiff up the club for the Memorial Day Parade. Memorial Day Weekend 5/26-5/28, there is lots to do. Food prep, decorating club and floats, selling merchandise to name a few. Sign-up sheets will be posted in the club. Come on down, help out and remember and honor all those who have lost their lives to make our lives better. If you are not currently receiving email reminders from me and would like to, please provide me with your email address. Let’s remember why we all became Auxiliary members. To honor American Veterans and to help the Veterans of Lansingburgh and we all need to pitch in whenever we can, MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHTER WORK FOR ALL! Thank you for all that you do.

Pamela J. Benoit, AUXILIARY PRESIDENT

(518) 256-0794 / pbenoit3@nycap.rr.com

________________________________ SONS OF VETERANS NEWS:

Hello fellow Sons’ and happy April Fool’s day and Happy Easter! Is the snow gone for good? I for

one hope so, mother nature sure threw a couple of good curves this past winter!

Elections are here and I hope to see each and every Son come out to vote on April 4th

.

As you know the Sons’ have sponsored a DJ once a month all last year. Participation was not that

great so we are going to move it to the 3rd

Friday night of each month, except in June. For these

events to be successful members should and need to participate. It’s free to all Club members and

participation is a must. So look for those dates on the Club calendar and on the Club’s event posters.

There’s a lot going on over the next few months - GI Clean-Up Party in May and the Steak Roast in

June! Both events take a lot of member participation and they are also a good time.

Well enough said have a great spring and as always, I look forward to seeing everyone at the Club.

Mark Sitts, SONS PRESIDENT

Phone: 253-9306

VETERANS OF LANSINGBURGH MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

GRAND MARSHAL, HONORARY GRAND MARSHAL,

VETERAN, ASSOCIATE, and AUXILIARY OF THE YEAR WINNERS

GRAND

MARSHAL

HONORARY

GRAND

MARSHAL

VETERAN

OF THE YEAR

ASSOCIATE

OF THE

YEAR

AUXILIARY OF

THE YEAR

1997 Peter D’Allesandro

Paul Higgitt Jr.

1998 Zannie Smith Michael Van Patten Donald Skaarup

1999 Steven Olmstead

Marty Mahar

2000 Terry McNamara George Garrett

Edward Patrick Jr. Donald Skaarup

2001 Clarence Dart Thomas Sharpe Thomas Sharpe

2002 Paul Gregware Robert VanPelt

Joseph Manupella Joseph Manupella

2003 Bruce Jensen Donald Skaarup Lisa Higgitt

2004 Christopher Douglas Robert Webb Earl LaBounty William Bowles Kathleen Fiffe

2005 Roy McDonald Thomas Doin Humbert Grande William Heffern Alice Patrick

2006 Joseph Taluto Austin Wilcox

Bob Patrick Jack Hallett Dorothy

Higgitt-Horton Patricia Walker

2007 Marissa Strock John Mennillo William Gordon Harry Gully Mary Gavitt

2008 Michael McNulty Myers Smith

Thomas Rooney Todd Konifka Elaine O’Grady John Boyko

2009 Robert Reiter Edward Malone

George Patrick Sr. Mark Sitts Stephanie Kosko Crawford Lattimore

2010 Cornelius Gray Edgar Davey

Robert Gallagher Robert Jubic

Alice Collum John Taylor Robert McAllister

2011 Charlie Johnson Robert Gallagher Hank Miller Jason Peyser Lois Kewley

2012 Frank Wicks Patrick Abrams Kenny Sunkes Steve Williams Patricia Smith

2013 Peter Guenette

(posthumously) Thomas Yaiser Thomas Doin Jack Cooper

Mary Ellen

McCarthy

2014 Timothy Forbes Thomas Dougherty Edward Jackson Edward Goodwill Lori Winne

2015 Daniel Travers Chris Cincio Richard Layton Virginia Kellogg

2016 The O’Grady Brothers Gord Romard Bill Nedoroscik Mark Baird Stella Mirocki

2017 J. Thomas Burtnick Bob Patrick, Sr. Ned Dougherty Joe Krajchik, Jr Ruthie Cooper

2018 John Willsey Dave Clum - TO BE ANNOUNCED AFTER THE PARADE -

PARADE COMMITTEE: We need your help to prepare for this year’s 22nd ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY PARADE. Please see the sign-up sheets on the cooler door. YOUR help is needed to make this event a success. Make a commitment to help YOUR Club! Most important is getting a good turnout to walk or ride in our parade. Plan to attend! If you need to order shirts, see EARL MORRISSEY as soon as possible to ensure he can order before the parade.

PARADE CHAIR, PJ HIGGITT

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE: Applications have been available at the local schools and at the Club. Completed applications are due by April 5, 2018 (No Exceptions!) The monetary award will be presented to the winner immediately after the MEMORIAL DAY PARADE during the award ceremony at the Vets Club. Donation checks should be made out to the VETERANS OF LANSINGBURGH and sent to: The Veterans of Lansingburgh, ATTN: Scholarship Committee, 777 1st Ave., Troy, NY 12182.

Lisa Higgitt, Scholarship Chair

WANTED: BARTENDERS! (OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS VETS/SONS/AUXILIARY) Interested? Pick up an application. See Rich Layton with any questions!

JACK HUNT BUFFET - March 31st (12-4 pm)

HAPPY EASTER! - April 1st - CLUB IS CLOSED Enjoy this day with your family and friends!

$100 Club Drawing to

benefit the Parade!

May 5th (12-4 pm). See a bartender if you want to sign up for a

ticket. *WE ARE ALSO

DOING A RAFFLE AND

WE NEED YOUR

DONATED ITEMS!

In an effort to clean the inside/outside of the

Club prior to the parade our

Semi-Annual CLUB G.I. PARTY!

Is MAY 12th from 8 am- Noon.

ALL MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE.

Club will be closed to those not cleaning during this time.

MOTHER’S DAY & FATHER’S DAY!

Join us for Brunch on: MOTHER’S DAY (May 13th) and

FATHER’S DAY (June 17th)! We’ll be serving food from 8:30-11:30. We’d love to see you. Please also consider helping in the kitchen to prep/cook/serve/clean. Thanks!

GRAVESIDE CEREMONY /SATURDAY, 26 MAY (9 A.M.) We depart our club at 9 a.m. (rain or shine) for the Oakwood Cemetery where we lay a wreath at the monument near the flagpole at the crematorium. The staff of Oakwood Cemetery holds a brief service. Thereafter the procession will move to the Veterans plot in Oakwood Cemetery and flags will be placed on the graves of the deceased veterans by our club members and volunteers from the Boy Scouts. After Oakwood Cemetery, we proceed to other monuments within Lansingburgh to place wreathes. The ceremony concludes with a wreath laying ceremony on the Hudson River at the Vets Club, whereby flowers are tossed into the Hudson River in honor of each of the Armed Services.

PARADE ROUTE - MONDAY, 28 MAY (11 A.M.) The parade starts at 11:00 a.m., rain or shine. The parade route is from 123rd St. and 5th Ave., South to 115th St. and 5th Ave. Turn down 115th St. to 2nd Ave. North on 2nd Ave. to 121st St. and 2nd Ave. The Reviewing Stand will be located on the East Side of 2nd Ave. in front of Standard Manufacturing Co.

WALL OF HONOR: We will again be offering Memory Cards to honor Veterans. They will be posted at

the Club during our Memorial Day weekend. The cost is $10 and can be purchased from the Bartenders.

BBQ GRILL RAFFLE - TO BENEFIT THE BUILDING FUND WEBER - 4 burner gas grill

See a bartender to take a chance ($5 ea / $20 = 5 chances) Drawing on Memorial Day - May 28th

SIP -N- SWIRL- Saturday, June 2nd

SPONSORED BY: The Ladies Auxiliary!

Cost will be $25 per person Tickets and more information will be available soon!

STEAK ROAST - Saturday, June 16th

(1 pm - 5 pm)

SPONSORED BY: The SONS of the Veterans! Limited Tickets on sale - Tickets include entertainment, hamburgers, hotdogs, draft beer, soda, steak, potato, corn and more! See Mark for more information. Must be 21 to attend/ No coolers!

KITCHEN REPORT: Thanks to all who have helped out during the last few months! I am ALWAYS looking for help in the kitchen. No need to wait for a phone call! Stop by or call me if you want to book a party, help in the kitchen, or have any questions. Please use the KITCHEN PHONE (518-238-0105).

Paul Hayes, Head Chef

APR 06 – STEAK APR 08 – BRUNCH APR 13– PORK CHOPS APR 20 – TURKEY APR 27 – ROAST BEEF MAY 04 – MEAT LOAF MAY 11 – BAKED HAM MAY 13 – MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH

MAY 28 – FISH JUN 01 – ROAST PORK JUN 08 – STEAK JUN 15 – ROAST BEEF JUN 16 – SONS’ STEAK ROAST (Must have a ticket) JUN 17 – FATHER’S DAY BRUNCH JUN 22 – TURKEY JUN 29 – FISH

MOST FRIDAY NIGHTS: Chicken wings, chicken tenders, subs, wraps, soup, burgers, fries

From the Editor:

Go to our website - www.thelansingburghvets.com) or view Event posters at the

Club to stay up-to-date with all club activities, events and veteran links.

Interested in taking over the newsletter? See me! LISA HIGGITT