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LEGIONN E W Y O R K SUMMER July 2016 Vol. 3 No. 2 Your American Legion in Action LEGION NEW YORK • 1 • SUMMER • JULY 2016 www.nylegion.org RENDER A BLUE STAR SALUTE LEGION By James V. Yermas, commander NEW YORK Throughout our country’s history, our The American Legion armed forces have fought and sacrificed Department of New York, to achieve and maintain our freedom. The 112 State Street, Suite 1300, Albany, New York 12207. fight continues today in our war on ter- 518-463-2215 rorism. These men and women, and their [email protected] families are being asked do more than ever for all of us. COMMANDER James V. Yermas This past Armed Forces Day (May 21), ADJUTANT the members of The American Legion James Casey rendered what we call a Blue Star salute VICE COMMANDERS – because it not only hails our men and Districts 1 & 9 women in uniform, but also their families fought in bloody battles on Iwo Jima. He Nicholas V. Kleszczewski and the companies in our communities even escorted the Marines who raised Districts 2 & 10 Vincent J. Calimano who support them. the first flag atop Mount Suribachi – a Districts 3 & 4 If you see a Blue Star banner hanging flag raising that drew cheers from the A. Fred Vandebogart at a home, you’ll know that’s a military Americans below. They didn’t just raise a Districts 5 & 6 family and their loved one may be away flag; they raised the spirit of the American Michael H. McDermott fighting force. Districts 7 & 8 protecting us. So please join us in person- Robert J. Wenzel ally thanking our servicemen, our service- After the war Al joined the American NATIONAL EXEC. women and especially their families for Legion. He believed in youth and the COMMITTEEMAN all of their sacrifices. promise he saw in them for America’s fu- William H. Burnett ture. Al became an icon at American Le- ALT. NAT. EXEC. A TEAR AND A SMILE gion Boys State – bonding with thousands COMMITTEEMAN upon thousands of high school youth. Edward Bertrand We had a lot to reflect on this past Memo- TREASURER rial Day. Veterans who are no longer with Like the flag-raising on Iwo Jima, Al’s John C. “Jack” Clancy us. Veterans who made the ultimate sacri- life raised the spirit of America’s future. JUDGE ADVOCATE fice. Veterans who had an impact on us. Charles G. Mills For those veterans who personally MASTER-AT-ARMS Richard F. Calbo touched us, Memorial Day allows us to CHAPLAIN savor their memory. To smile. And then, Rev. Robert J. Sweeney inside, to render a tearful salute. HISTORIAN Al Paviglianti is an example of a vet- Frank Carletta eran who brings both a smile and a tear. PHOTOGRAPHER This World War II Marine, who went to Doug Malin his eternal rest last year at the age of 92, EDITOR Robert Stronach To submit photos, news, ON THE COVER: AMERICAN LEGION COLOR GUARD articles, email the editor at: [email protected] Legionnaires and their color guards have been out in force this spring and summer, from Memorial Day to Flag Day to the Fourth of July. Color guards like this one from 5th Volume 3, No. 2 District’s Utica Post 229 (with SAL member Dave Valentine in front) presented the colors at Summer July 2016 Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremonies and marched in parades. Photo by R. Stronach. LEGION NEW YORK • 2 • SUMMER • JULY 2016 NATIONAL COMMANDER VISITS NEW YORK ‘YOU STAND UP TO DO THE RIGHT THING’ “You stand up to do the right thing” and “make a dif- ference” in people’s lives. That’s why American Legion National Com- mander Dale Barnett said he is excited about what the Legion does for community and nation. Barnett spoke to members of the Legion, Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion (SAL) who packed banquet halls in his four-day swing through the eastern half of New York State. He began his visit in the Herkimer County City of Little Falls National Commander Dale Barnett addresses the Legion Family during his swing through Herkimer County. Photo by Bob Stronach. April 13, then headed to the Capital Region April 14, and In his estimation, the Legion America. Freedom is not tree’s in Floral Park. In the finally downstate to Queens Family is not just members free. Our country needs us evening he spoke at a dinner April 15. of the Legion, Auxiliary right now.” in his honor at Antun’s in Look at the Legion in and SAL, but everyone the The April 13th banquet Queens Village. Selma, Alabama, for an Legion touches through its was at the Little Falls Trav- He wrapped up his New example of standing up for programs – such as young elodge, followed April 14 York tour Saturday morn- what is right, Barnett said Legion ball players, and Boy by a tour of the Watervliet ing, April 16, with a visit to in recounting a recent visit and Girl Staters. Arsenal in Watervliet and his alma mater -- the U.S. there. He has fond memories of a banquet at the Holiday Military Academy at West Decades before Selma attending Boys State himself. Inn in Saratoga Springs. Point. Barnett was an army became the heart of a civil “I learned I could make a On April 15 Commander infantry officer from 1974 rights showdown, the Amer- difference.” Barnett headed downstate to 1996 and served in both ican Legion sued the Ku His motto, he said, con- for lunch with local Legion Operation Desert Shield and Klux Klan over a World War sists of three simple, yet Family members at Crab- Operation Desert Storm. I monument that neglected powerful words – “duty, to include the names of honor and country.” veterans of color. A veteran “You have a duty to your is a veteran, they argued. The community, you have a duty Legion won and the names to yourself to make this were added. country better.” “We need to stand up for Honor comes from “wear- our military, we need to ing the uniform” and from stand up for our veterans.” “wearing the Legion cap.” In The national commander other words, “it’s an honor to said he likes to walk with the s e r v e .” American Legion Family – He added: “There is no National Commander Dale Barnett in Queens with wife Donna, Past to hear stories about how the greater country in the world Department Commander V. James Troiola and Department Adjutant Legion changed their lives. than the United States of James Casey. Photo by Doug Malin. LEGION NEW YORK • 3 • SUMMER • JULY 2016 ALTERNATIVE PTSD THERAPY IS NO. 1 PRIORITY HILL DAY COVERS NY LEGION’S TOP LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ALBANY -- Declaring the health and welfare of veter- ans as “first and foremost,” New York State American Legion Legislative Chair- man Harvey McCagg said the Legion’s number one legislative priority in the state is non-drug, alternative therapy for post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) – particularly, HyperBaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). Speaking at the annual Harvey McCagg, Sen. Thomas Croci, Assemblyman Michael DenDekker, Sen. Joseph Addaboo Jr. “Hill Day” legislative break- fast March 1 at the Empire as medical conditions, which on the SUNY Morrisville Military Affairs) committee.” State Plaza, McCagg told may be healed by providing campus. He described his approach some 140 Legion Family extra oxygen to the brain in • $1.1 million in funding for to working on veterans is- members and legislators a hyperbaric chamber. the Veterans Defense Program sues with legislators of both that the American Legion Other legislative priori- (VDP), created two years parties and houses this way: was asking the governor and ties, McCagg said, include: ago to assist veterans in the “I don’t care what uniform state legislature to create • establishing veterans cem- criminal justice system strug- you’re wearing as long as and fund a TBI and PTSD eteries in underserved areas. gling with service-connected we’re shooting in the same Biological Repair Treatment • mandating that school behavioral health issues. direction.” and Recovery Law. districts hold a public forum Several veterans affairs “Every legislator in our With 22 veteran suicides a on whether to provide a vet- legislative leaders also spoke, conference,” he added, “rec- day, the signature wounds erans tax exemption. While with Sen. Thomas D. Croci ognizes the service of our of veterans who served in some districts have provided pointing out that his month- veterans.” Iraq and Afghanistan are an exemption, many have ly drills as a reservist provide Assemblyman Michael G. TBI and PTSD, for which refused to even bring it up a perspective that “helps me, DenDekker, chairman of the the Department of Defense for discussion. I think, in my role as chair- Assembly Veterans Affairs (DOD) and Department of • a $150,000 grant for man of the (Senate Veterans, Committee, also referred Veterans Affairs (VA) refuse American Legion Boys State Homeland Security and to the cooperative spirit on to provide all known effec- veterans issues. tive treatments. Among the He noted that “900,000 most promising, he said, is veterans in the State of New HBOT. Traditionally mild York” “make up 5 percent of TBI and PTSD have been the population.” treated as psychiatric disor- “When you make up five ders with drug therapy, but percent of the population, growing evidence suggests I think you should propor- that mild TBI and PTSD tionately get five percent” of may be the result of multiple the state budget, he said to concussive exposures and applause.