Sgt.Keith A. Coe with Grandmother Ruth E. Coe at his graduation from boot camp in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Keith tried for a long time to get into the Army. He wanted a better life for his family.
He felt that joining the Army was the best way to accomplish that goal.
Keith was a jokester, loved to kid around and had a great sense of humor.
Being older than most of the soldiers he commanded they called him Coe-daddy.
As a sergeant in charge he was the first out of the truck upon arriving in Khalis, Iraq, he
was killed by an explosive device 4/27/2010.
We would like to recognize and
honor our Gold Star Mother Lois Mowry.
She is a Life Member who joined
our auxilliary on October 9, 1973, which makes her a 33 year member.
She lost her son Pvt. William
King Shoup, Age 23. He was killed in the Hong Kong harbor in a plane
crash in 1965, during the Vietnam War.
Welcome to
the VFW Post 369 Ladies Auxiliary. We currently have about
185 members. Our meetings are held on the first Tuesday
of every month at 7:00 pm at the Post located at 5930 Scenic
Ave., Mexico, NY.
What's New?
by Mary Reeser
Several updates have been added recently. Please scroll down so you don't miss any!!! Some recent updates link to dedicated pages.
Ladies Aux 2011 Spring Conference Video (YouTube)
MEXICO VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FIELD DAYS PARADE
On July 14th through the 16th the Mexico Volunteer Fire department held their annual fund raiser, Fields Days. Thursday night they kicked off the event with the parade for the enjoyment of the community. This year the parade had over 150 entries.
Our Mexico VFW Redneck Red-hatters group entered the parade with 16 Ladies Auxiliary Members and 2 ladies who are going to join our auxiliary. The Ladies Auxiliary members who took part are: Janice Gregory, Judy Greenway, Valerie Crouse, Mary Reeser, Debbie Brogan, Lori Orman, Lori Gorman, Connie Gonseth, Janet Phipps-Frank, Bonnie Bartosek, Char Sikes, Dorisanne Mullen, Sandy Coe, Linda Chamberlain, Tina Steele and Queen Mother, Dorothy Smith. The two ladies who will be joining our auxiliary and marched are Kelly Greenleaf and Kathie Parmelee, sisters of Janet Phipps-Frank and daughters of the late Alex Longhway, who was a WWII Veteran and a Life Member of our Post.
Our theme for this years parade was Mexican Senorita’s and our float “Rose’s Cantina” was beautifully decorated by newly elected President Lonnie Dimon with some of the decorations coming from the country of Mexico. The float was drawn by Dick Niles (Bar Stewart) beautiful new bright and shiny RED truck adorned with our huge red hat. Commander, Russ Marsden drove the truck with side kick Paul Gorman giving direction.
Behind our float the veterans also entered our newly refurbished Army Truck driven by son Ron Marsden, Men’s Auxiliary Member and Auxiliary Sister and Ron’s Beautiful wife Lonnie giving him direction! The truck was full of members children in the back who will without a doubt be future members of our post. They will cherish the memories of being in the parade as they grow older, I am sure.
Next was our Golf Cart, driven by AM Vet’s Don Spicer and his side kick AM Vet Rick Buske, was adorned with the POW / MIA Flags. Bringing up the rear of our little parade within the big parade was a beautiful white Ford truck pulling a trailer full of AM Vets doing a membership drive.
Every year the participation from our members gets bigger and better. I am so very proud to be a part of such a great post and organization. AND did I mention that for the 6th year in a row our float took 1st place. We truly ROCK!!!!!!! Way to go sisters!!!!
Hope you enjoy the pictures of this fun event.
2011 State Convention Awards
Mexico VFW Ladies Auxiliary Shines at State Convention
By Kelly M. Freihofer, Writer of local paper the Mexico Independent Mirror
When the members of the Mexico VFW Post #369 Ladies Auxiliary attended the 86th New York State VFW and Auxiliary Annual Convention at the end of June, at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool, they did not realize how many awards were in store for them. Auxiliary President for the past two years, Mary Reeser, was given the highest award in the state; New York State President of the Year. Auxiliary Secretary Janice Gregory was given the National Award for Community Service. And there were many more.
The Mexico VFW Ladies Auxiliary boasts a membership of 178. Mary Reeser has been the president of the organization for the past two years, with her term ending June 30. At the last meeting before her term was complete, she watched seven new members join. She also attended the annual state convention to watch her auxiliary win award after award.
All of the awards presented at the convention are based on the auxiliary’s accomplishments throughout the year. The accomplishments are the result of the projects done by the local auxiliaries (there are over a dozen in Oswego County), to fulfill the program initiatives formulated at the national level. The NYS President of the Year Award that was presented to Reeser was also based on attendance at officer’s training sessions at SUNY Binghamton, four county meetings, four district meetings, two annual conferences, and the annual convention. Reeser clearly did an outstanding job leading the Mexico auxiliary members in projects and attending the related meetings – a job worthy of the highest recognition in the state.
Reeser also received the Fifth District President of the Year Award. There are eight districts in the state of New York and Mexico falls in the fifth. Again Reeser’s leadership stood out. “I could not have gotten these awards without all of our members behind me and especially the program chairmen. The worked really hard,” explains Reeser.
In addition, Reeser received a special award; the New York State Award for Veteran and Family Support – a Presidential Certificate that only one person receives in the state. This award was presented by the National Veteran and Family Support Director Bernadette Botbyl. “That was thrilling,” says Mary. She also received First Place Veteran and Family Support for the district at the state level.
Mexico’s Ladies Auxiliary Secretary Janice Gregory received the National Community Service Award for her leadership as chairman of the Community Program. Under the auxiliary guidelines this program covers, “Anything pertaining to our community in ways of donations to the needy, schools, food pantries, churches, the Lion’s Club, Operation Reindeer etc.”
Gregory also received the First Place Community Service Award, on the state level, for the Fifth District. These awards are testimony to the level of involvement that the Mexico Ladies Auxiliary has in the local community.
The awards did not stop with Reeser and Gregory. The program state awards that the auxiliary received were as follows: Third Place Legislative Program, Chairman Judy Greenway; Second Place Americanism Program, Chairmen Linda Chamberlain and Suzie Becker; First Place Cancer Aid and Research, Chairmen Yolonda Dimon and Jessica Ortiz; and First Place Hospital and VAVS, Chairman Tiffany Reeser.
The National Recognition Awards that the auxiliary received, beyond the aforementioned, included: VFW National Military Services for Operation Uplink, Unmet Needs & Map, Donations to National Military Services, Health and Happiness Award (for exceeding the quota for the VFW National Home for Children), and the 100 Percent Membership Award.
Working within the 11 designated program areas, the members of the Mexico VFW Ladies Auxiliary have taken the organization to new heights – heights that were recognized at both the state and national levels. The ladies work diligently to meet the needs of the men and women who are currently serving, the veterans, their families, the community and the area youth. They work hard and it shows.
“It all goes to prove that when everyone works together for a great cause, anything can and will happen,” writes Reeser in her year-end letter to the members of the auxiliary. Reeser is currently serving as the auxiliary chaplain for the 2011-2012 year.
Awards on Display
State President Sharlene Allen and National Veteran and Family Support Director Bernadette Botbyl, presenting Mary Reeser with the State President of the Year Award.
2011 SPRING CONFERENCE
On March 18th through the 20th eight sisters, Mary Reeser, Lonnie Dimon, Connie Gonseth, Janice Gregory, Valerie Crouse, Jessica Ortiz, Judy Greenway and Jennifer Haynes traveled to the Marriot Hotel in Albany for the State VFW Conference. On Friday night for the benefit of The Military Assisstant Program they raised $300 in sponsorships and entered the Karaoke Contes. The ladies were all dressed in red, white and blue and took a mannequin dressed in our Commander Russell Marsden's Army Uniform for a Prop. The song they chose to sing was Soldier Boy. Sister Mary Reeser wrote a "Dedication to Our Soldiers" that she read durning the instrumental part of the song. I am happy to report that we came in first place. Way to go Ladies!!!! You make me proud.
Saturday morning we were in meetings and all of the program chairman reported on the progress statewide. One of the highlights of the meeting was meeting one of our veterans who recieved one of the NEADS dogs. He gave a very great speech on how the dog has changed his life. Before getting the dog the veteran could not even leave his home now he has his life back. Our goal was to raise $20,000 the cost of raising and training one dog and we did and are well on our way to raising another so that this year the State of NY Ladies Auxiliaries can do two dogs for our vets.
Saturday afternoon we played Towel Bingo where the proceeds went to Cancer Aid and Research Program. Each auxiliary was asked to bring 2 bath towels each and then we played bingo to win them. Was a great little fund raiser.
Saturday night we attended the Gold Chevron Ball Service Officers Banquet where we got to meet and listen to the speechs of the National Commander In Chief of the VFW, Richard L. Eubank, National VFW Ladies Auxiliary Chaplain, "Sissy", our Department Commander Jack Veasy and Department President Sharlene Allen and also the students who entered and won at the state level of Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pen. Food and company was great. After dinner we made it our goal to visit all of the Hospitality Rooms in the hotel. It is a great way to meet members and make new friends from the other districts and talk about fund raising events.
Upon our arrival home on Sunday afternoon we were greated our front on our posts sign "Congratulations Ladies Auxiliary 1st Place" from our veterans. What a nice suprise!!!! We love our post and as if that were not enough on Wednesday night our Commander presented us all with a Medal with our names and first place on them and a huge sheet cake. The veterans helped us to fund the costs of our attending the conference. To show our appreciation to the Commander Russell we brought him back a Denim Shirt with Viet Nam Veteran embroided on it.
Please enjoy the photos.
REMINDER: Election of Officers will be held at our next scheduled meeting on Tuesday April 5th at 7PM. Hope to see you all there.
PROJECT: WRITING SUPPLIES FOR HOSPITALIZED VETERANS - JANUARY 20TH, 2011
Sister Kim Marks made a Basket filled with her Hot Jam and Goodies and raffled it off in the canteen for a profit of $200. She wanted the proceeds from the Jam Raffle to go to the Syracuse VA Hospitalized Veterans. As asked to do for Spring Conference by Program Cherie Coe, we purchased and will be delivering next week to the Syracuse VA Hospital $200 worth of writing materials such as pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, colored pencils, markers, envelopes, stamps, paper, spiral notebooks, journals, crossword and word search books, sketch books etc. Please see attached photo of items purchased. What a great way to help our hospitalized veterans pass the time as they are healing.
PROJECT: QUILTS FOR HOSPITALIZED VETERANS JANUARY 20TH, 2011
Sisters Mary Reeser, Janice Gregory, Tiffany Reeser and Ashley Henderson went to Mexico Middle School today by invitation of Technology / C&LS teacher, Susan Soscia to pick up two homemade quilts by her students that they had decided they wanted to give to hospitalized veterans at the Syracuse VA Hospital. Sister, Mary Reeser will be delivering the quilts to the VA next week. Kelly Freihoffer from the Mexico Independent Newspaper was there to take photos of the girls handing over the quilts. The quilts were absolutely beautiful and it will be two very lucky veterans who get to be wrapped in them. They were put together with so much love that the girls showed a little sadness parting with them. One of the students is the granddaughter of Veteran and Bar Stewart, Dick Niles. See attached photos of students the quilts.
Ladies
Auxiliary Officers
President:
Yolonda Dimon
Sr. Vice President: Connie Gonseth
Jr. Vice President: Judy Greenway
Treasurer: Valerie Crouse
Chaplin: Mary Reeser
Conductress: Jessica Ortiz
Guard: Linda Chamberlain
3 Year Trustee: Jessica Ortiz
2 Year Trustee: Maryanne Moser
1 Year Trustee: Suzanne Becker
Appointed Positions:
Secretary: Janice Gregory
Patriotic Instructor: Sandy Coe
Historian: Sue Romanowski
Front Row Seated: Jr. Vice President, Judy Greenway, Sr. Vice President Connie Gonseth, President Lonnie Dimon, Treasurer Valerie Crouse
Top Row: Secretary Janice Gregory, 2 Year Trustee Maryanne Moser, Conductress and 3 Year Trustee Jessica Ortiz, Patriotic Instructor, Sandy Coe, Guard: Linda Chamberlain, 1 Year Trustee: Suzanne Becker, Chaplain Mary Reeser. Missing from Photo: Historian Sue Romanowski
Membership
in the Ladies Auxiliary VFW shall be limited to wives,
widows, mothers, foster and stepmothers (who have performed
the duties of parent), grandmothers, daughters, granddaughters,
foster and stepdaughters (who attained that status prior
to age sixteen (16) and for whom the duties of parent were
performed), sisters, half sisters, foster and stepsisters
(who attained that status prior to age sixteen (16) of
persons who were, or are eligible for membership in the
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Members
must be citizens of the United States and not less than
sixteen (16) years old. Women eligible for membership in
the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States shall
be eligible for dual membership in the Auxiliary.
