PROUD WINNER OF POST EXCELLENCE AWARD

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1 PROUD WINNER OF POST EXCELLENCE AWARD AMERICAN LEGION POST 18 PO Box 307, Portsmouth, RI Phone: MEMBER NEWS FROM THE POST ~ Flying InFormation ~ OCT DEC 2016 COMMANDER S BRIEFING What a great summer! I hope all enjoyed vacations and family. Thanks to all who helped with the recent Halloween Bingo at the RI Veteran s Home. I also look forward to seeing you all at the Veterans Day ceremony. The theme for this year s ceremony is wellness through alternative therapies. Some of our senior members are being interviewed for their roles in WWII and other conflicts. It s important that we capture what our local veterans have experienced and sacrificed to secure our success as a nation. In the photo above, I m volunteering at the Military Lounge at T.F. Green Airport. Dave Duggan, Commander duggan55@gmail.com All are invited/encouraged to attend the VETERANS DAY CEREMONY FRIDAY, 11 NOV 9 PORTSMOUTH TOWN HALL Co-hosted by American Legion Post 18 & VFW Post 5390 This year s theme: WELLNESS THROUGH ALTERNATIVE THERAPY Scouts, PHS Music, Bugler, Patriot Guard Rider flag line, reading of winning PHS scholarship essay. Speakers: DARE TO DREAM RANCH (equine & other therapies) & SHRI STUDIO (yoga for active duty military, veterans & their families) POST 18 HOLIDAY GET-TOGETHER WEDNESDAY, 14 DEC 6 HOWARD JOHNSON INN 351 W. Main Rd., Middletown, RI Post 18 members and a guest are invited to join us for a buffet dinner in the conference room at the Howard Johnson Inn as we celebrate the season. Cost is $10 per person and reservations are required. To RSVP, call and leave a detailed message including your name and phone number or ripost18legion@aol.com. Payment of $10 per member and guest will be collected at the door. Kudos to Vinny D Andrea for suggesting we have a year-end party. Hope to see you there! SATURDAY, 17 DEC NOON ISLAND CEMETERY, NEWPORT, RI Location Coordinator: Surface Navy Association; Phone: Wreath Donation Code: RINPAC RI VETERANS CEMETERY, EXETER, RI Location Coordinator: Mike Dalmazzi ; mikedal2008@yahoo.com Wreath Donation Code: RIVCEX

2 BEIRUT MEMORIAL CEREMONY 23 OCT PORTSMOUTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY PORTSMOUTH, RI POST 18 OFFICERS Dave Duggan, Commander Vincent Vin Roche, Sr. Vice CDR CTO1 Dan Dougherty, USNR (Ret.), Jr. Vice CDR Christine Hayward, Adjutant/Webmistress Stephen Doherty, Treasurer Walter Alves, Co-Sergeant-at-Arms David Crow, Co-Sergeant-at-Arms Francis Gutierrez, Chaplain Prof. John P. Mangold, PhD, LtCol, USMC (Ret.), Advisor NOTE: This newsletter is printed in a larger format for those with vision challenges. Please make an effort to speak up at meetings and events for those who are suffering hearing loss due to age or lack of hearing conservation during their service. Any member needing a ride to Post 18 meetings or events can call to make arrangements. This award-winning newsletter has an initial distribution of 825 copies per issue with countless pass-along readership and a web presence. We welcome submission of photos, articles and calendar items from members, other Posts and Units, the Department and veteran-friendly organizations for consideration. Contact: Editor C. Hayward, 47 Eustis Ave., Newport, RI or ripost18legion@aol.com. Member, National American Legion Press Association (NALPA) ( Be green and save Post 18 the cost of production and mailing! Subscribe to receive FI via in full color in an easy-to-share PDF format. It s free; membership not required! Send your address to ripost18legion@aol.com. FLYING INFORMATION OCT DEC 2016 PG 2 The Community College of Rhode Island will host a job prep workshop series on the Knight Campus (400 East Ave., Warwick, RI). Workshop #1: Friday, 4 NOV 2016 from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM; will focus on preparing with business executives/mentors who can translate your military strengths, values and skills into tools for civilian success. Workshop #2: Friday, 9 DEC 2016 from 1 PM to 4 PM; connect with reps at partner companies for job and career opportunities. Mentor companies include: Hasbro, CVS Health, Textron, United Natural Foods and more. To RSVP, Tom Murphy at tom@tommurphy.org. Learn more at I SERVE / SERVED! The Department of Veterans Affairs has partnered with Lean In Women Veterans to launch the campaign I Serve in an effort to highlight women veterans, promote diversity and celebrate the accomplishments women have had in our military. Female veterans are asked to record a 15-second video on their phones reading a specific script: I am (name), and this is what veteran looks like. {pause} I serve/served! Visit likeawomanblog.wordpress.com where you ll find details and instructions on the I SERVE / SERVED campaign. ADJUTANT S REPORT I encourage members to RSVP for the holiday get-together (PG 1). Please make a note of upcoming meetings and events (PG 6) as our routine is a bit different in the fall/winter. FYI, I surrendered my space for the above article and I m happy to do so! Christine Hayward, ADJ/Past CDR ripost18legion@aol.com

3 BUFFALO SOLDIER THEMED WORD FIND PUZZLE Learn more about these amazing soldiers who contributed to the war efforts, westward expansion, disaster relief, guarding prisoners, escorting stagecoaches and supplies through hostile territories and other dangerous assignments. Research on-line or visit the American History section of your local library. BUFFALO SOLDIERS ARMY CAVALRY INFANTRY HOSTILE TERRITORY STAGECOACH RAILROAD DUTY BORDER DEPARTMENT SURVEY MAP BAND LAW SIOUX RANK WORD LIST DISCRIMINATION BLACK REGIMENT AMERICANS FORT ESCORT POST FRONTIER SCOUTS NATIVE TRIBES WEST LABOR STRIKES FIELD CUSTER PATROL TEXAS DAKOTAS A M E R I C A N S T S O P S S A X E T W T N E M I G E R S C D U J A D N A B L B M A T T G H O L K H C B I K W N E D R R E I T N O R F E O P R A S I U L S R T S S I V Q R I F R K R D P R T T R O F I N T Y E E A V S A A I W X T F R R R I S I N Y G B L D O A O L C U D I L M E F G E R N C A R P M L H R C J O P Y T S V X I A K O A O L M A D R E A R B C T D S A A P R B Y S C O U T S R F C H D T U L S R S I M N F O H B I M F I A T X Y T U D G L W P E D N E C G N B I E V I T A N K R D A K O T A S U B C M T BOOK REVIEW: THE FIELD OF FIGHT Lt. General Michael T. Flynn, USA (Ret.) & Michael Ledeen Middletown, RI native Michael Flynn, former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, teamed up with Freedom Scholar Michael Ledeen to educate readers of the grave danger we face in the war on terror. It offers exceptional military intelligence perspective, compelling facts and some war stories. If you wish to understand the terrorist attacks sweeping the world, there s no better place to start than The Field of Fight. --National Review Newt Gingrich called it sobering. Great holiday gift for the reader on your list! St. Martin s Press; ISBN-13: Available now at Amazon, B & N, etc. CHRISTMAS IN SONG FRIDAY, 9 DEC 7:30 PM ST. LUCY S CHURCH MIDDLETOWN, RI FLYING INFORMATION OCT DEC 2016 PG 3

4 On 1 OCT 2016, Post 18 Treasurer Steve Doherty helped greet and socialize with WWII and Korean War veterans on their way to Washington, DC aboard an HONOR FLIGHT. POST EVERLASTING We are sad to report that 13- year member DONALD LOWDEN passed away on 29 SEP Don served in the US AIR FORCE during the Korea War era. His obituary was very colorful and a great tribute to his life. A donation was made in his memory to Shriners Children s Hospital. When the RI Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) reached out to us for a 3-part mission on Aquidneck Island, Post 18 members answered the call. In all, 9 members stood the flag line and were honored to do so. At left, Robert Stevens. Alex Muzzioli & Josh Watson are both Newport Rifle Club Juniors alum studying at the U.S. Naval Academy. They will be competing in the NCAA Rifle Matches which started in late September. A new Junior Shooting Team is forming at Newport Rifle Club! FLYING INFORMATION OCT DEC 2016 PG 4 CHAPLAIN S REPORT This summer was very rewarding. My wife Linda and I travelled abroad spending two fun-filled weeks in Stockholm, Sweden. The grandchildren are growing so fast. Their parents are both well and were excited to have the grandparents visit. Most days and evenings were spent playing with the kids, pushing swings, connecting train pieces or just hanging out. It reminded me of the importance of family. Today's technology and social media allows absent relatives to remain in the daily lives of their loved ones. I am grateful for Instagram, Facebook, Skype and What's App for the ability to transmit and receive photos, videos and audio messages without the enormous phone bill as in the past. Although I cannot be with the family physically, I am able to interact with them very often. The American Legion is like family to me. I enjoy meeting the members of our post and spending time at meetings, fundraisers, and other social functions. I encourage all of our members to become more involved by attending Post activities. We welcome new ideas and faces. I am available to any of our members for visitations to those who are homebound and may be able to arrange transportation to meetings or functions. May each of you have a happy and blessed holiday season. Francis Cisco Gutierrez, Chaplain or fjgcisco@cox.net MEMBERSHIP REPORT Post 18 has 135 members, and about 100 have already renewed for National HQ will soon send out second notices. Beat em to it and renew on-line at renew. Welcome aboard to two members via transfer: ANDREW FITZPATRICK served in the US MARINE CORPS during the Korea war era. CHARLES HOLDER served in the US ARMY during the Vietnam war era. CTO1 Dan Dougherty, USN (Ret.) Jr. Vice CDR/Membership Chairman dansdahlias633@cox.net

5 DARING TO DREAM by Rhonda Ziehl, USAF, RI Blue Star Moms On a comfortable Friday afternoon, I had the good fortune to meet with Karen Dalton at her Dare to Dream Ranch on Snagwood Road in Foster, RI. When you arrive at the ranch you are met by two super friendly dogs, Bear and Bella, who wag themselves silly while the three goats, Frick, Frack & Frank, are also bleating their greetings. As we walked through the barn with the fresh smell of shavings and hay, Karen explained her vision for converting the barn into a woodworking workshop once they build an indoor riding arena with attached barn that would have a loft apartment above for a qualified veteran to stay for free as the caretaker for the property. We arrived at the first paddock to see a gorgeous Percheron/Gypsy Vanner Draft cross named Sergeant Xander and his sidekick Corporal Buzz. Xander is a bit skittish with his own trust issues, so a slow approach and soft voice are best for making friends with this beautiful, huge horse. Next door is Captain Blue, named for his brilliant blue eye. He is as friendly as Seargent Xander is reserved. He was having fun moving the miniature horses Freedom and Spirit out of the way so he could eat their hay. Spirit enjoyed trying to nibble my hair through the fence while I was petting her and Blue. Hard not to relax and just chat in the peaceful surroundings. We visited the two senior, yet still very noble, Arabians named Ishrab and Tabitha. I had the pleasure of watching Steve Frye, two-time Iraq Combat Vet, not only riding Sergeant Xander, but also learning to train him. Steve only began riding and working with horses 4 months ago! I was impressed to watch his ease haltering Sgt. Xander in the paddock, saddling him and especially riding him. 4 months is not a long time for someone to learn to ride, build trust with a horse who has trust issues and build your own confidence in the saddle. I was able to watch Steve achieve all of this with confidence and pride! As Karen and I strolled through the wooded paths listening to the quiet we discussed her dreams for future expansion of the facility, the paddocks, the rings and the trails. She shared some of the positive results of Veterans, and their families, who have already visited the Ranch for equine therapy (equine assisted coaching/ground therapy), yoga, horticulture therapy and nutrition education, woodworking, and fly tying/fishing. On a quiet, sunny Friday afternoon we both Dared to Dream of our hopes for veterans and their families who will visit in the future and benefit from the many programs offered at D2DR. The USS ZUMWALT (DDG 1000) stopped at Naval Station Newport on her way from Bath Iron Works shipyard to her commissioning. US ARMY FIELD BAND CONCERT FRIDAY, 18 NOV 7:30 PARK THEATRE, 848 Park Ave., Cranston. Free for veterans; $11 for civilians. Call Ray Dube at the box FLYING INFORMATION OCT DEC 2016 PG 5

6 CALENDAR OF EVENTS MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND JOIN US! SATURDAY, 5 NOV 2016 WATERFIRE SALUTE TO VETERANS ( VETERANS DAY FRIDAY, 11 NOV PORTSMOUTH TOWN 8 AM Meeting of Post 9 AM VETERANS DAY CEREMONY (indoor ceremony followed by outdoor wreath laying) NOTE: WE ARE DARK /NO MEETING IN DECEMBER WEDNESDAY, 14 DEC 6 PM POST 18 HOLIDAY Howard Johnson Inn, Middletown, RI; catered by Clements Marketplace (details on PG 1; RSVP required). TUESDAY, 3 JAN 7 PM Meeting of Post VFW Post 5390, Common Fence Point, 822 Anthony Rd., Portsmouth (weather permitting) For more info and updates, please visit where you can download this and archived issues of our award-winning newsletter. SUNDAY, 13 NOV 1 PM VETERANS MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM, PROVIDENCE, RI All Rhode Island veterans receive free admission to REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR - an 84-minute documentary narrated by Tom Selleck. Additional tickets available for $13; proceeds benefit the World War II Foundation. See the sneak peek before the film officially premieres in December marking the 75th anniversary of the attack. For more info, visit: A heartfelt thank you to the volunteers at Post 18 s signature event at the RI Veterans Home HALLOWEEN BINGO on 22 OCT 2016! L to R: Dave Duggan, Billie Dietz, Christine Hayward, David Crow, Cisco Gutierrez and Dan Dougherty. Missing from photo op: Vin Roche. The vets had a great time. At left, a panoramic view of the on-going construction at the RIVH. NATIONAL VETERAN SMALL BUSINESS WEEK 31 OCT 4 NOV 2016 (APPLY MAILING LABEL HERE FOR WINDOW ENVELOPE) FLYING INFORMATION OCT DEC 2016 PG 6 Kick-Off Event: Monday, 31 OCT 2016 from 9 AM to 11 RI Division of Veterans Affairs, 560 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick. Learn about resources to grow your business (funding, training, etc.), mentors and more! Registration is required Contact: Brian LaFauci at blafauci@cweonline.org or call