Newsletter From VFW Post 369 Ladies Auxiliary President
Mary A. Reeser

July 2011

Summer is the warmest of our four seasons and it particularly is my favorite. The warmth of summer I believe awakens our five senses of sight, scent, taste, touch and sound. The sun rises each morning and warmth touches our faces bringing not only nutritional value but warms our hearts and souls. The sunshine of summer brings the earth alive with a rainbow of color, scents and sound. We can hear the sounds of children’s laughter playing outside, birds singing in the trees, babbling brooks and the smells of sweet scented breezes, freshly mowed grass and foods being cooked on the barbeque grill. Summer is the time of year for having friends and family over for cook-outs and to take advantage of all the different ways one can enjoy the good ole summertime. Enjoying the great outdoors and all it has to offer, yes indeed, summertime is my favorite time of the year.

Summer also brings about many changes at our VFW Post for July is when our new year begins and the new Officers take over. Although I have enjoyed the last two years as your president I had decided to decline that position this year. I am very pleased to announce that I have been elected to the office of Chaplain, for which I had been for three years prior to becoming President. The Chaplain is my favorite office and I promise to devote 110% of my time to it. As in all organizations I feel change is very good and brings about many great fresh, new and exciting ideas, ringing truth to the old adage “fresh blood gets things moving”. This year I feel we have a wonderful blend of the old with the new as well as young members as officers with fresh new exciting ideas. I am sure we will continue to flourish and grow while doing amazing things for our veterans, their families, our community and our schools. The new officers elected for the Ladies Auxiliary 2010-2011 are as follows:

President: Yolonda Dimon, Sr. Vice President: Connie Gonseth, Jr. Vice President: Judy Greenway, Treasurer: Valerie Crouse, Chaplain: Mary Reeser, Conductress: Jessica Ortiz, Guard: Linda Chamberlain, 3 Year Trustee: Jessica Ortiz, 2 Year Trustee: Maryanne Moser, 1 Year Trustee: Suzanne Becker. The appointed officers are: Secretary: Janice Gregory, Patriotic Instructor: Sandy Coe and Historian: Sue Romanowski.

The veteran election results pretty much followed through with a nice blend of the old and the new as well as our young veterans stepping up into the officer positions. They are as follows: Commander: Russell Marsden, Sr. Vice Commander: Paul Gorman, Jr. Vice Commander: Justin Godfrey, Chaplain: James Forkhamer, Quarter Master: Donald Babcock, The appointed officers are: Surgeon: Larry Twiss, Adjutant: Ricardo Luera, Service Officer: Richard Niles, Judge Advocate: Fred Baird, 3 Year Trustee: Chris Folds, 2 Year Trustee: Robert Horning, 1 Year Trustee: Fred Baird.

The Men’s Auxiliary Officers are as follows: President: Ed Watson, Sr. Vice President: Frank McKee, Jr. Vice President: Lonniel Guile, Treasurer: Gary O’Reilly, Secretary: Francis Moshier, Chaplain: Bruce Holliday, 3 Year Trustee: Bernard Reschke, 2 Year Trustee: Raymond Swope, 1 Year Trustee: Stephen Dimon.

Please members lets all welcome them and help them in anyway so that our great organization can continue to do the wonderful things that we have been doing over the past years.

Two years ago coming into the offices of President and Commander, Russell and I dubbed ourselves and our fellow officers as the “Dream Team”, wanting to fulfill our dreams of making our building, grounds and Memorial Field a show place while making wonderful things happen for our veterans, their families, our community, schools, and members. In my heart I know this mission was accomplished and it shows as we look around our beautiful building and grounds. Our Monument Field has really grown and is absolutely breathtaking with the World War I and World War II Wall of Honor, Handicap Walkways with Benches to rest upon and our latest: the Huey Helicopter displayed so proudly and with so much love, honor and respect for all of our Viet Nam Veterans. This indeed was a dream come true for our Commander Combat Viet Nam Veteran, Russell.

Currently in the works is a Memorial Area to honor and remember all American Heroes, The Fallen Heroes of 911, our Firemen, our Law Officers etc. When completed I am sure this will be a showplace as well.

Our Picnic Pavilion has had a complete makeover with new kitchen and all cement flooring throughout. No more stones in the sandals while trying to dance ladies, woohoo!! Cement walkways to the restrooms wide enough for the wheelchairs were also made. A great new wooden swing set for our children and a Volley Ball Court for entertainment of all ages. Fill is still being brought in for our softball field which we hope to be in use by our Ladies Softball Team by next year.

A recap of other things that we have done for our veterans: Every month we have taken a car full of personal care products, books, magazines, lap robes as well as raised money through raffles to go toward the internet services, sweat suits, DVD’s coffee and supplies and whatever else our Syracuse VA Hospital veterans were in need of. Mexico Middle School’s C & L Class, run by teacher, Susan Soscia, students has made us four quilts this year that we delivered to four very lucky hospitalized veterans.

New Haven Elementary School invited the veterans and ladies auxiliary to a wonderful Veterans Day Program with music, flowers, cards and many, many thank you’s to our veterans! We have given Scholarship money to the graduating seniors of Mexico Academy and the Jr. ROTC as well as awards in the National Program Voice of Democracy winner at our post level, Mexico Senior Ian Brooks. We also have given out Americanism Awards to students in the Mexico Middle School.

We have adopted three Adopt A Troops over the past two years and our current one is of 30 Army Soldiers in Afghanistan with local Mexico Alumni, Marc Skilinski. Our organizations sent Christmas Trees to overseas soldiers and purchased Wreaths to be placed on veterans graves.
We have raised a lot of money at various fundraisers and raffles for our VFW National Programs: Cancer Aid and Research, Youth Activity, Community, Veteran and Family Support, Hospital and VAVS, Americanism, Ways and Means Programs and The President’s Special Project which this year was the NEADS Dogs (dog’s for disabled veterans). She had set the goal to raise $20,000 (the cost of one dog) for a disabled veteran. By Spring Conference we had raised enough across the great State of NY that both a man and a women veteran received a NEADS Dog and by the close of the State Convention enough donations were submitted to purchase two more dogs with a total of over $80,000 raised or 4 dogs. AMAZING LADIES!!!!!!

I am very proud to announce that our Ladies Auxiliary was 100% in Donations and Participation on all of the Programs as well as 100% in Membership. WOW, what an outstanding accomplishment. Our hard work paid off when I attended the VFW State Convention this year held at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool on June 22 thru the 26th. The Mexico VFW Post 369 Ladies Auxiliary was not only in the house, we ROCKED the house with our awards.

PROGRAM STATE AWARDS presented by State President, Sharlene Allen that we received were as follows: 3rd Place Legislative Program, Chairman Judy Greenway ; 2nd Place Americanism Program, Chairmen Linda Chamberlain and Suzie Becker; 1st Place and $25.00 Cancer Aid and Research, Chairmen Lonnie Dimon and Jessica Ortiz; 1st Place and $25.00 Hospital and VAVS, Chairman Tiffany Reeser; 1st Place and $25.00 Community, Chairman Janice Gregory; 1st Place and $25.00 Veteran and Family Support, Chairman Mary Reeser. I also was presented with the Presidential Certificate for the Veteran and Family Support Program for the State of New York for this program. Only one auxiliary receives this award across the state. What an honor. TEARS!!!!

NATIONAL RECONITION AWARDS presented by National Veteran and Family Support Director Bernadette Botbyl, we received were as follows: Local Community Service, 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 %100 Membership Award.

On Wednesday evening I was presented the 5th District President of the Year Award by Oswego County Council President Joan Tucker and 5th District President Linda Flanigan. They presented me with $25.00, a leather cover for my Auxiliary Book and a beautiful card. TEARS, again!!!!!!

As if my heart wasn’t already bursting with pride on all of our accomplishments on Thursday at the Presidents Luncheon I was presented The New York State President of the Year Award by State President, Sharlene Allen. WOW, I never even saw this one coming! I accepted this highest honor on behalf of our entire auxiliary membership as without all of your hard work, devotion, loyalty, love and respect that you have shown me over these past two years as your president I could not have ended up with this high honor. I could not have asked for a greater bunch of beautiful ladies or gotten the job done without each and every one of you. Sisters, I love you all not only as sisters but as friends. Lots more TEARS!!!!!

This all goes to prove that when everyone works together for a great cause anything can and will happen. The “Dream Team”, indeed, Dreams Do Come True with a lot of hard work and a lot of determination and the power of unity. It has been a great two years and I am looking forward to next year working with you all as your Chaplain.

Before closing I just wanted to remind everyone that we still have collection boxes in the canteen for: used cell phones for our soldiers, canned and dry goods for our local food pantry, donations of books, magazines, personal care products, etc for our hospitalized patients at the Syracuse VA Hospital and items for our Adopt A Troop of 30 Army Soldiers serving in Afghanistan. Local Mexico Alumni Marc Skilinski is serving in this unit. So stop by and drop off donations to any of theses great causes.

Also please remember to send in the tickets for our Annual Fundraiser Super Crazy Cash Give-Away on September 10th. Tickets are coming in slow and this is the Veterans biggest fundraiser that goes towards keeping our building and grounds looking beautiful.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS, YOUR CHAPLAIN MARY REESER

Messages from Commander Russ Marsden

Russ and the VFW Officers asked that I pass on these messages and updates to you on some of the post events and happenings.

Enhancement of Veterans Memorial Field

Perhaps you have noticed that there is some activity going on at our Veterans Memorial Field now that good weather is here. This year we are adding a Wall of Honor Roll Memorial that should be ready in time for Memorial Day.

Two new Flag Poles are coming, VFW Flag and the other for The United States Coast Guard. Now each branch of service will be there.

Several spots left for Memorial Blocks to be placed at $50 a Block. So if you have a veteran or someone you would like to purchase a block in memory of please pick up a form at the VFW.

Russ has many scouts out looking to obtain a UH-1 Helicopter or better known as the “Huey“ for display at our site. Most widely used helicopter, arriving in Viet Nam in 1963, used for MedEvac, command and control, and air assault; to transport personnel and materiel; and as gun ships. These are very hard to come by but Russ will never give up until he has found one. Anyone who knows Russ that with his hard work and determination it is only a matter of time and we will have our Huey!

Memorial Day 2010

The Ceremonies for Memorial Day start with a Parade starting at 10 O’clock sharp. Line up is still at the old post site on Main Street. Anyone wishing to participate in the Parade please contact the post to sign up. There will be sheets there as well as in the local newspaper. Prizes are awarded. The parade stops at the WWI Monument (located by Kinney Drugs) for a Gun Salute and placing of a wreath then continues onto the Mexico Cemetery for Services. Immediately following we will have our own services at our Veterans Memorial Field and open house for all those who participated and attended. Post furnishes Meat Trays, Meat Balls and Rolls and asks all members to bring dishes to pass. We really need your help here as it gets bigger every year.

Hopefully, if all goes well we will be having a surprise unveiling on Memorial Day at our Veterans Memorial Field.

Work Parties

With the ongoing work and enhancement at our Veterans Memorial Field there is always something to be done. So any member who is not busy and wishes to stop by and lend a hand when they see any activity at the site please do so, many hands make less work!!!

Soon we will be opening up the Pole Barn too for what looks to be a very busy summer for the Pavilion. Much help will be needed there also.

Volunteers are also needed to put together the new huge Wooden Playground Set that has been purchased for the enjoyment of our children.

In case you haven’t noticed we now have a Volley Ball Court out behind the Pavilion as well. We are waiting on the Budweiser Supplier to furnish us with a 30 Foot net.

If anyone knows of any available fill dirt please send it our way as we need lots before we can finish the Softball Field.

Along with this letter I am enclosing tickets for our Crazy Cash Drawing to be held on September 11 th at 1 0’clock and drawing to be held at 3. This is the Veterans largest fund raiser and we are counting on all members to purchase or sell these tickets. Tickets need to be returned as soon as possible and no later than June 30 th so we know where we stand.

You can see by this letter all the great things that are and have been happening at our post. The veterans have done great by our veterans, community, schools and our post and grounds. Always improving and making dreams come true. Russ would like to personally thank each and every member of our community and post for making this happen!