November/December 2019
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
VOLUME LXXXVII The Reveille, November-December 2019 NUMBER 7 American Legion Auxiliary Foundation Grant Legionnaire by Diane Erickson American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Unit One applied for and re- Al Jaffe ceived a $10,000 grant from the by Will W. Webb American Legion Auxiliary Foun- Alan H. Jaffe (Al) is a native of dation, Veterans Project Fund. The Denver, Colorado, a 1966 graduate grant enabled Unit One to help pur- of George Washington High School, chase a wheelchair accessible van a Vietnam veteran, and the Sergeant for the State Veterans Home, at Fitz- at Arms for our American Legion simons. The vehicle was needed for Post 1. the veterans when they require Al joined the Navy and served his transportation to their medical ap- country from 1968 to 1973. He first pointments. The van is also a cost went to the Great Lakes Naval savings for the community living Training Center and then to EM-A center and will give the residents a Left to right, front row: Brandt Erickson; back row: Justin McMinn, School for training as an Electrici- more comfortable ride when going Mobility of Denver; Melissa Blair-O’Shaughnessy, Recreational Ther- ans Mate. After completing his Al Jaffe to their appointments. apy Director; Diane Erickson, ALA; Donna Thompson, ALAPresident; training, Al was sent to Da Nang, YRBM16, a repair boat. Al’s serv- This effort was a thee-year pro- Joanne Carpenter,ALATreasurer; Georgia Sweeney, ALASecretary; Vietnam. He arrived in Da Nang in ice on this ship involved repairing cess. ALA Unit One had to raise and Kim Longe, Administrator, State Veterans Home at Fitzsimons. November 1969, where he was as- Swift Boats that were patrolling the $2,000 to be eligible to apply for the the paperwork flowed through their would not be possible. signed to the Civic Action Division. Bassac River (Chau Doc) and the grant. Additional funding was raised review and approval process. We were also happy to work with Here he spent his time supporting Mekong River (Tan Chau). While through events such as Mardi Gras, A sincere thank you goes out to other Veterans Service Organiza- South Vietnam civilians by provid- on the repair and maintenance boat, garage sales, and Oktoberfest. In ad- everyone that willingly planned and tions and a special thank you to Post ing aid and support. Al tells the story a mine was destroyed up-river by dition, since the State Veterans Home worked these events and all of those 4666, Veterans of Foreign Wars, for of leaving his two-story office build- one of the crewman on the Swift is under the auspices of the State of who attended these events and sup- their $5,000 donation. Thank you ing only to find out later that a bomb Boats that was on patrol. Al remem- Colorado, many hours of time and ported our mission. Without the sup- all, and by working together with exploded that day in the restaurant bers how fortunate he was when the phone calls had to be made to the port of our Legion family and the entire Legion family and other directly below. mine was spotted. State administrative staff to ensure friends, so many of our projects organizations, we can accomplish In February 1970 he was sent to After his tour of duty in Vietnam, remarkable goals. Thank you. Saigon and reassigned to an Al was sent to a Submarine Tender A Beautiful Gift in Rota, Spain, and continued serv- Our American Legion Post 1 recently received a benevolent gift from A Special Thank You ing as an Electricians Mate aboard the estate of Larry Siegfried. In Larry’s will, he bequeathed to our Post Harry Folk, a member of Post 1, is acknowledged and thanked for the USS Holland (AS-32). In 1972, two beautiful and exotic automobiles, a 2006 Dodge Viper and a 2008 his generous contribution to our Boy Scout Troop 78, during the Court the USS Holland was reassigned to Shelby Cobra. At this time, while the estate is going through probate, of Honor held on August 27, 2019. The Court of Honor is used in Scout- the Navy Base in Charleston, SC, plans will be made to obtain a fair market price for the vehicles and then ing to recognize achievements by Scouts, award merit badges, and where he received his honorable earmark the funds as the “Larry Siegfried Memorial Fund,” to be used honor a Scout with the top achievement of Scouting, the Eagle Scout discharge, with the rank of E5, in for projects under the four pillars of our American Legion charter. award. We extend a sincere thank you to Harry for his contribution. The December 1973. Post 1 is extremely grateful for this benevolent and magnanimous gift. funds will be used for the continued support of our Americanism Pillar, After his discharge, he returned It is a fitting and thoughtful act for members to consider the American which Boy Scouts is under, and help with the funding of their commu- to Denver and worked for Coors Legion as a final tribute in their estate plans. nity projects and other activities. Container Company for a few years before taking over his father’s busi- Veterans Day ness of designing, manufacturing, and selling lapel and commemora- Monday, November 11 tive pins, which he did for over 35 On this day of remembering those who years. 2020 have served, and thinking about all who Al has been a member of Post 1 are currently serving, the LCW Post 1 for over seven years and Sergeant Color Guard will post the colors and pres- at Arms for about three years. When ent the Five-Hat Ceremony at 1 p.m. asked why he enjoys being a mem- Pre-New Year’s There will be a guest speaker and Knights ber of our Post, he said it was the of Columbus from Risen Christ Church will camaraderie, being able to help oth- be in attendance. A meal will be served er veterans, and have a means to Eve Party after the program. continue to serve his community. This year Post 1 will be Certificate Of Appreciation Presented Commander Carlos Peralta recently presented a Certificate of Appre- hosting a party on ciation to Chris Mulqueen for the extraordinary support given by Chris to Post 87. Post 87 has been without a building for their American Legion Saturday, December 28 meetings and functions, for about a year. Commander Peralta wanted to recognize Chris for the help he has given to Post 87, while being at Post in place of a New Year’s Eve party. 1, and cooking and serving meals, room and sound set-up, coordinating the purchase of food, and being available to solve problems when need- A $10 ticket will include: from 6-7 p.m. Buffet ed. Commander Peralta hopes Dancing to Memories Ballroom Dance Band from 7-10 p.m. to move into his new building within the next few months. He This will be open to all members and their guests. and his fellow Legionnaires are Ticket sales will begin mid-November at the bar. grateful for all that Chris has done for them. Commander Tom Yagley, LCW Post 1; Chris Mulqueen; and Commander Carlos Peralta, H.L. Jones Post 87. Visit Our Website LCWPost1.org for information on upcoming events and activities. Page 2, THE REVEILLE, November-December 2019 Commander’s Corner Honoring Veterans Of The Colorado by Commander Tom Yagley Residential Community At Fitzsimons Voiture 97 of the 40/8 held their on August 17, 2019. The residents After the concert of patriotic songs Veterans Day occurs on November 11 every year 16th annual cookout for the resi- were entertained during a one-hour and music, the Voiture 97 and in the United States in honor of the “eleventh hour dents of the Colorado Veterans Res- concert, with music performed by American Legion family volunteers of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918 idential Community at Fitzsimons the Sousa Band. served a wonderful meal to the Sousa that signaled the end of World War I, known as Arm- Band members and the residents of istice Day. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for the “Community at Fitzsimons.” Our an annual observance, November 11 became a na- beloved veterans were served ham- tional holiday beginning in 1938. Veterans Day burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and pays tribute to all American veterans — living or chips, along with baked beans and dead — but especially gives thanks to living veter- watermelon provided by Fitzsimons. ans who served their country honorably during war Thanks to Voiture members Chef or peacetime. de Gare Randy Ackerman, Brandt This year, during our LCW Post 1 Veterans Day Erickson, Al Taylor, Jim Atkins, Event, we will show our appreciation for the Korean War Veterans. Please Tom Yagley, Spencer Mumma, Jeff see announcement in this Reveille. Post 1 will participate in the Denver Pitchford, Tony Jones, John Hol- Veterans Day Parade, November 9, which starts at 10 a.m. If possible, at- land, and Glen Stenson. A special tend, bring your family and friends. thanks goes to the Legion family All our various events were successful due to the professional and ded- members listed as follows: Diane icated effort from our Legion Family; our great volunteers rock. Recently Erickson, Marilyn Vroman, Chris our Post 1 Labor Day Open House and 25th Anniversary at Yale Avenue Mulqueen, and Louise Davis. With was well received. A quick and enthusiastic thank you to everyone: Jenny, respect and appreciation to anyone Sherry, Paul, Cheryl, Marilyn, Mark, Nick, Al, Jean, Jenny, Ken, Donna, not named above, but was a volun- Tony, Chris, Edrie, Georgia, Kathi, Cousin Tyler, and our Centennial teer, let it be known that your help Chair Patrick.