PROUD WINNER OF POST EXCELLENCE AWARD

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1 PROUD WINNER OF POST EXCELLENCE AWARD AMERICAN LEGION POST 18 AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY UNIT 18 PO Box 307, Portsmouth, RI Phone: NEWS FROM THE POST ~ Flying InFormation ~ AUG-SEP 2012 RI Patriot Guard Riders formed a Flag Line at the send off ceremony for RI National Guard s 169th MP Co. as they deployed to Afghanistan for 10 months. (10 AUG 2012) PHOTO COURTESY OF GOLD STAR MOTHER & PGR MEMBER LYNN ST. GERMAIN LUNDH COMMANDER S BRIEFING That s me and my beautiful bride, Solange, with Rev. Matthew Davis (CDR of Post 7) officiating at our recent nuptials at the King Park Gazebo in Newport. We ll be transferring to NAS Lemoore VFA 94 in January. I d like to thank our members for all they do to make me proud! rjerdan@gmail.com CS1 Robert E. Jerdan, USN, Commander BLOOD DRIVE & BOOK SIGNING SUCCESSFUL Along with our friends from VFW Post 5390 and their Ladies and Men s Auxiliaries, Post and Unit 18 co-sponsored a blood drive and book signing at the VFW Hall on Common Fence Point in Portsmouth on 11 AUG Author Frank Grzyb delivered a slide show presentation on his recent book, Rhode Island s Civil War Hospital, which was located at Portsmouth Grove. At right, Sr. Vice CDR/Past CDR Vinny D Andrea having just donated blood and Treasurer/Past CDR George Wardwell pose with the author. We re grateful to the VFW for use of the facility, to Carlton Johnson for taking the lead on promoting the event and to all who gave the gift of life. On Friday, 12 OCT 2012, Sons of the American Legion (SAL) will sponsor a COMEDY NIGHT & POT ROAST Post 43 in Warwick. Dinner will be served at 7 PM; show (4 comedians) starts at 8:15 PM. For tickets, contact Detachment CDR Mel Higgins, Jr. at or Seating is limited, so get your tickets now!

2 ADJUTANT S REPORT Below is Hasbro s Uncle Sam Mr. Potato Head aptly located in Bristol possibly the most patriotic town in the Ocean State and country. Do you fly the flag at your home and office? Visit where you can sign up to receive half-staff flag notifications, pose a question to the flag expert and much more. I recently reached out to 50 member prospects inviting them to join or transfer to Post 18. We appreciate the early renewals and encourage all to recruit an eligible friend today! ripost18legion@aol.com Christine Hayward Adjutant/Past CDR TREASURER S REPORT We re still operating in the black. Woo hoo!!! Having said that, we are mindful that we can t continue to rely on our investment to operate on a daily basis (especially with interest rates so low). A fundraising initiative MUST be undertaken this year. While an annual appeal through the mail is more profitable, a fundraising event offers an opportunity to showcase what we do and recruit new members for both the Post and the Unit. The Wardwell s are once again offering to host a Christmas social at our home in Middletown on Saturday, 15 DEC Details are forthcoming, but please save the date before your holiday dance card fills! With our Commander s impending military transfer, we ll need our Sr. Vice and others to step up to the plate. Your Post does so much with so few. How about offering your time and talents? geoedna@aol.com RMC George Wardwell, USNR (Ret.) Treasurer/Past CDR Three members of Post & Unit 18 participated in the annual Flag Retirement Ceremony hosted by Post 104-Warren and CDR Dave McCarthy. The community turned out to help inspect the flags. Warren s Engine #5 was on hand to help manage the fire pit, and Scouts from Troop 25 posted the colors. Service dog BOZACK made the rounds. WELCOME ABOARD OUR NEW/ TRANSFERRING MEMBERS POST 18 FRANCIS MIKE CONROY (Navy) PFC TIMOTHY MANGOLD, USMC SFC WILLIAM MCCOLLUM, USA (Ret.) EQCM WILLIAM NAPERT, USN (Ret.) JOSEPH RODRIGUES (Army) UNIT 18 MELANE PARANZINO (Gold Star Mother) Do you know someone eligible for membership? Let us know so we can get them on board! Students or Scouts needing community service credit can contact the Post or Unit for age-appropriate projects throughout the year. Parents welcome to join in and supervise their children. (WARNING: We will try to recruit you while you re volunteering with us!!!) FLYING INFORMATION AUG-SEP 2012 PG 2 shannonrfuentes@gmail.com Shannon Fuentes, Secretary

3 members and one of the students also attended to give us a taste of what it s like to prepare the next generation of leaders. At left, Vin and Peg Murray and Angela Vars. At right, Janet Gill poses with retired Admiral Barbara McGann. On 17 JUL 2012, several members of Post & Unit 18 who are also members of the Navy League attended the Summer Speaker Series featuring CAPT Vern Kemper of Officer Training Command at Naval Station Newport. His key staff POST 18 OFFICERS CS1 Robert E. Jerdan, USN, Commander Vincent C. D Andrea, Sr. Vice Commander David B. Hayward, Jr. Vice Commander Christine Hayward, Adjutant/Webmistress RMC George Wardwell, USNR (Ret.), Treasurer Walter Alves, Sgt.-at-Arms CS1 Ed Agosto, USN, Asst. Sgt.-at-Arms Ken Williams, Chaplain UNIT 18 OFFICERS Christine Hayward, President Veronica Roni Perry, Vice President Shannon Fuentes, Secretary Janet Gill, Treasurer Angela Vars, Chaplain Edna Wardwell, Immediate Past President 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 or Unit 18 meetings/events can call to make arrangements. This award -winning newsletter has an initial distribution of 864 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 veteranfriendly organizations for consideration. Contact: Editor C. Hayward, 143 Evarts St. # 2L, Newport, RI or ripost18legion@aol.com. Proud member of the National American Legion Press Association. Volunteer extraordinaire Tony Cercena is recuperating after undergoing brain surgery to remove a blood clot. He was stricken while volunteering for the recent Tall Ships festival. Tony also recently tied the knot. We wish him and Gloria all the best! Junior Shooter Alex Muzzioli fired his first ever clean outdoor target a perfect 200/200 firing from 100 yards in heavy wind. This was his first trip to the National Smallbore Championships. In his debut performance, he captured the silver medal as the 2nd place sub-junior (14 and under) shooter in the country! We re very proud of our Junior Shooting Team and coaches. Congratulations to Alex who will be attending Tiverton High School in the fall. To learn more, visit FLYING INFORMATION AUG-SEP 2012 PG 3

4 BIKE RUN & BBQ TO BENEFIT THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT Saturday, 15 SEP 2012; sign 10; run leaves Post 11:30 AL Gordon-Greene Post 27, 34 Thelma Dr., Hope Valley, RI Tickets (includes BBQ immediately after run): $20 For tickets or more info, alrpost2ri@gmail.com. Looking for fun things to do on Aquidneck Island? For great ideas, visit Tour the National Museum of American Illustration (Rockwell, Parrish, Leyendecker); enjoy a gourmet picnic, entertainment and pick seasonal fruit at Sweet Berry Farm; take in the sunset and fireworks along the shoreline; view an outdoor movie courtesy of newportfilm. And the best kept secret in town: roof deck movies at Vanderbilt Grace! The Rhode Island National Guard recently hosted the 13th annual LEAPFEST the largest, longest standing, international static line parachute training event and competition. Dual member Janet Gill was treated to a Black Hawk helicopter ride to observe the exercises as paratroopers loaded on to CH-47 Chinooks on the URI campus. Participants tested their skills in the individual and team events against some of the world s best paratroopers. Janet was thrilled to watch from the air! Post 18 members Cyndi Kindell w/bozack and David Crow and Dual Post & Unit 18 members Janet Gill and Christine Hayward were proud to march onto the field at McCoy Stadium s 33rd Annual Armed Forces Night on 26 JUN POST EVERLASTING We re sad to report the passing of member DONALD E. MOORE of Portsmouth at the RI Veterans Home on 23 JUN We ve also learned that member JAMES A. KILE of Tiverton has passed. We pray that their families are comforted by fond memories. Post & Unit 18 are sponsoring two tables at a dinner for the Ride 2 Recovery participants on 10 SEP Additional sponsors are needed. Volunteers also needed to man water and rest stations along the route. For more info, contact Lorraine at or ericandraine@aol.com. To learn more about the MINUTEMAN CHALLENGE, visit Be green and save Post 18 the cost of production and mailing! Get your newsletter in full color in an easy -to-share PDF format. Subscribe to receive Flying InFormation via . It s free! Send your address to ripost18legion@aol.com. Membership not required. FLYING INFORMATION AUG-SEP 2012 PG 4

5 BACK TO SCHOOL CHILDREN S BOOK DRIVE Our friends at BankNewport recently held a book drive in partnership with United Way of RI s Women s Leadership Council and Books Are Wings. Unit 18 donated 100 Our Country s Flag comic books purchased from Emblem Sales. The age-appropriate books and school supplies were distributed during a local backpack give-away in mid-august. At left, David McClure accepts Unit 18 s donation at the bank s Two Mile Corner branch. F I C T I O N D Z A T P M S V N Y R A R B I L E U C C L M O E O R T V K X B Q I J Y E I C N T O O T W I M S A D D T T A I O H E P O D S N U I A I N B L H T C G K A O T A R K T O U D P U R C L I S E T B G L F L A E A A C T T N S Y R H E U A E P B O P I I U L O A D D R R H R V A D Z L I J I I U P N Y E E C E A L N O N S L O E M P R G R G I E G I X V L G K A A D C A D U E F E S T E S P I N E M C L B L R E P A P S W E N A P P E N D I X Y R T E O P WORD LIST READING BOOK LIBRARY TEXT ILLUSTRATION AUTHOR CAPTION VOCABULARY COMICS PAPERBACK MAGAZINE NEWSPAPER INK TITLE LEISURE MEDIA BRAILLE AUDIO DUE STUDY APPENDIX POETRY FICTION BIOGRAPHY GENRE COVER SPINE STORY PAGE FONT HEADLINE PHOTO CREDIT CLASSIC NOVEL BYLINE END PFC Timothy L. Mangold, son of LTCOL John Mangold, USMC (Ret.) and Damaris Mangold, completed basic training followed by 5 weeks of combat training. After graduating from both airborne and rigger school, he was certified as an Aerial Delivery Specialist. Tim just began an overseas assignment in Japan. All of the Mangold Family are now members of Post & Unit 18! GARDEN OF HEROES REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY SATURDAY, 15 SEP AM 1 PM SW LAWN OF THE RI STATEHOUSE Honoring the Memory of SGT Dennis P. Weichel, Jr. & LCPL Abraham Tarwoe FLYING INFORMATION AUG-SEP 2012 PG 5

6 2012 CALENDAR OF EVENTS MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND JOIN US! WEDNESDAY, 5 SEP 7 PM Regular meeting of American Legion Post 18 at VFW Post 5390, 822 Anthony Rd., Common Fence Point, Portsmouth. 6-9 SEP 2012 CARNIVAL at Post 43 in Warwick featuring rides, games and food. Contact SAL Detachment CDR Mel Higgins at or for details. WEDNESDAY, 3 OCT 7 PM Regular meeting of American Legion Post 18 at VFW Post 5390, 822 Anthony Rd., Common Fence Point, Portsmouth. SATURDAY, 27 OCT 1 PM HALLOWEEN THEMED RI Veterans Home in Bristol. Wear a costume, distribute ditty bags, socialize, help vets play their cards and award prizes! DETAILS FORTHCOMING: NOV 2012 Regular meeting of American Legion Post 18 & VETERANS DAY Portsmouth Town Hall. DEC 2012 HOLIDAY SOCIAL/JOINT MEETING of Post & Unit 18. For more info and updates, please visit: where you can download this and archived issues of our award-winning newsletter. NEWS FROM UNIT 18 I hope to establish a regular meeting night and location for the coming year. Social venues seem more popular with the membership. Thankfully, we re able to tackle projects via between meetings. We all seem to have a knack for multi-tasking (I ll chalk that up to being military/military spouses)! We ll be submitting a photo and message for the centerpiece of the table that Unit 18 sponsored for the upcoming Ride 2 Recovery event (see PG 4). It s not too early to shop for the DEPT OF RI Auxiliary s annual Christmas Shoppe at the RI Veterans Home, so please be on the lookout for nice gifts and bargains to ensure every vet can select several items. PH: ripost18legion@aol.com Christine Hayward, President The annual DEPT OF RI picnic was held on 28 JUL 2012 at Post 27 in Hope Valley. George Wardwell attended representing Post 18. The patriotic decorations were festive, the meal was delicious and there were lots of networking opportunities. DEPT leadership will be heading to Indianapolis for the National Convention at the end of the month. FLYING INFORMATION AUG-SEP 2012 PG 6 USA Battle Buddies held their 2nd annual Walk-A- Thon on 11 AUG 2012 at Colt State Park. The event held in conjunction with National Assistance Dog Awareness Week was sponsored by PETCO. At left, an American Red Cross volunteer is flanked by US Army Specialist Ricky Fournier of the 169th MP Company. At far right, USA Battle Buddies CEO and Post 18 member Steve Frye poses with his dad, Chief Bill Frye, USN (Ret.), and CHARLIE ZINO. Didn t walk, but want to donate? Visit: