AMERICAN LEGION POST 18. Flying InFormation ~ News from the Post ~ NOV/DEC 2010

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1 AMERICAN LEGION POST 18 PO Box 307, Portsmouth, RI Phone: Flying InFormation ~ News from the Post ~ NOV/DEC 2010 Our friends at the Newport County Boys & Girls Clubs ( have been making cards for deployed service members. The Lt. Governor s annual OPERATION: HOLIDAY CHEER will ship 600 care packages to RI troops. For wish list and other details, visit Drop off date: 11 DEC 2010; pack and ship date: 18 DEC 2010 at the Armory, 1051 N. Main St. in Providence. Volunteers needed to help pack boxes. Kathy Johnson, Americanism Chair from the DEPT OF RI American Legion Auxiliary, is making Pocket Stars to be included in the packages! REMINDER: PLEASE DON T DRINK & DRIVE! DESIGNATE A SOBER/ SAFE DRIVER. COMMANDER S BRIEFING While in Washington for the NERA Conference, my wife and I attended the Veterans Day services at the National Cemetery. The amphitheater was packed with 5,000 spectators. Keynote speaker Vice President Joe Biden brought us to tears with his praise for our Nation s veterans and the sacrifices so many have made. I understand our local ceremony was very well attended, and I thank Cub Scout Pack 50 for providing our Color Guard and VFW Post 5390 for providing the flags for same. As we approach Thanksgiving, let us give special recognition and appreciation for so many that have gone before us and those who continue to serve! My personal Thank You is once more extended to those of you who participate in our Post & Unit activities and to new members who have recently joined or transferred in. As most of you know, I am a big proponent of . It allows us to notify you of upcoming events, changes in schedule, meeting locations or requests for assistance. When I used Morse Code in the Navy beginning in 1961, I thought that was the premiere method of communicating and that it would be around forever. No way it is only used by amateur radio operators now. Let Christine or me know of your current address so we can get you in the loop. If you haven t already done so, please get your membership renewal in 100% retention is our goal. Remember, Active Duty personnel qualify for membership, so encourage them to join. There are many opportunities for giving this season; please support a worthwhile charity in your area. Happy Thanksgiving! geoedna@aol.com RMC George Wardwell, USNR (Ret.), Commander POST & UNIT 18 MEETING AND SOCIAL When: Saturday, 11 December 4 PM Where: 1 Hickory Ave., Middletown, RI Post & Unit 18 members, prospective members and guests are invited to the home of our Post Commander and Unit President. Please bring non-perishable items for local food pantries and the newly opened Operation Stand Down home in Johnston for female veterans named in honor of RI native CPL Holly Charette. To learn more about Holly, visit

2 JUNIOR SHOOTING CHAMP DELIVERS PRESENTATION Dani Makucevich was right on target when she educated Post & Unit 18 members at our 6 OCT 2010 meeting. Accompanied by a Power Point presentation, Dani recalled her early years of involvement with the sport. Both of her parents are also champion shooters. Her knowledge of the equipment, techniques and rules, memories from competition matches all over North America, and nicknames for her rifles were informative and entertaining. It was refreshing to hear a young person speak with such passion about her sport. Afterwards, those in attendance received a gift from Dani an actual target she had shot! The team was presented with a donation of $250 to help support their annual budget, and Dani was presented with a gift card for $100 to help replenish gear she has out-grown. Another member of the team, National Air Rifle Champion Catherine Green who is attending Texas Christian University, was also sent a gift card. At left: MS1 Robert Jerdan, USN (Co-Chair of Post 18 s Junior Shooting Sports Program), Michele Makucevich (team coach/ri State Junior Shooting Director), Danielle Dani Makucevich (champion shooter) and RMC George Wardwell, USN (Ret.) (Post 18 Commander). Several members of Post & Unit 18 attended the Artillery Company of Newport s Autumnfest Dinner/Fundraiser on 6 NOV Below: SFC John Duchesneau (Post 7-Newport) presents American Flag flown over Camp Delta in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the Colonel Commanding of the ACN Robert Edenbach. John recently returned from serving in GTMO. The Artillery Company is seeking new members. To learn more, visit ADJUTANT/TREASURER S REPORT Guess what I hear every morning at 0800? The National Anthem can be heard both from my home and at my office. We ve actually had guests at the hotel remark that they were awakened by a guest in the room next door playing the Star Spangled Banner to which our desk agents cheerfully reply that it s coming from nearby Naval Station Newport. Speaking of the hotels, in partnership with the Howard Johnson Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites and Residence Inn by Marriott, guests received a flag pin and note card that included the Legion logo and our Post 18 web site on Veterans Day. Flag and yellow ribbon pins were also distributed to guests attending the Veterans Day ceremony at Portsmouth Town Hall. A wish list from the Operation Stand Down Home for female vets includes non-perishable groceries. Canned and dry goods will be collected at our December meeting/get-together for that and a local food pantry. ripost18legion@aol.com Christine L. Hayward, Adjutant/Treasurer 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 name and address to: ripost18legion@aol.com. Membership not required. FLYING INFORMATION NOV/DEC 2010 PAGE 2

3 BEIRUT MEMORIAL The annual ceremony marking the anniversary of the Beirut Bombing was held on 23 OCT 2010 at the Portsmouth Historical Society. Family members of the Rhode Island victims gathered with the public and representatives from various commands at Naval Station Newport. Shirley Zdanuk was recognized for initiating the memorial and organizing the event for the past 27 years. Unit 18 member Lis Mullen s brother and brother-in-law both died in the attack on the Marine Barracks in Several members of Post 18 attended the ceremony. CHRISTMAS SHOPPE Saturday, 4 December 9 RI Veterans Home, Bristol WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA Saturday, 11 December RI Veterans Cemetery, Exeter Angel Food Ministries has seven locations in Rhode Island. Now taking orders for Thanksgiving and Christmas boxes. You can even sponsor a box for a military family. To learn more, please visit WELCOME ABOARD OUR NEW/ TRANSFERRING MEMBERS POST 18 REP. ELECT DAN GORDON (USMC) UNIT 18 PATTI ROBERTSON Do you know someone eligible for membership in the Legion or Auxiliary? Let us know so we can get them on board! 2011 POST 18 OFFICERS/CHAIRS George Wardwell, Commander/Photographer Vincent C. D Andrea, Sr. Vice Commander CS1 Robert Jerdan, USN, Jr. Vice Commander Christine Hayward, Adjutant/Treasurer/ Webmistress/Editor/Historian Walter Alves, Sergeant-at-Arms David B. Hayward, Asst. Sergeant-at-Arms Ken Williams, Chaplain 2011 UNIT 18 OFFICERS/CHAIRS Edna Wardwell, President Shannon Fuentes, Vice President Veronica Roni Perry, Secretary Damaris Mangold, Treasurer Christine Hayward, Historian Angela Vars, Chaplain 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 855 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. FLYING INFORMATION NOV/DEC 2010 PAGE 3

4 Rhode Island College student James Mullen interviewed Unit 18 member Roni Perry. Tasked with writing about social groups, he chose the American Legion Auxiliary. Research focused on reasons for joining, programs and the decline in membership. We hope he shares his findings! AMERICAN LEGION NIGHT AT PROVIDENCE BRUINS Watch the Bruins take on the Manchester Monarchs at The Dunk on Sunday, 5 DEC 4:05 PM. Tickets only $14 ($1 per ticket will be donated back to Children & Youth). For info, call x 35 or visit FLYING INFORMATION NOV/DEC 2010 PAGE 4 SCOUTING THEMED WORD FIND At left, Scouts muster for Color Guard duties at Portsmouth Town Hall on Veterans Day. For students in Grades 1 through 5 Cub Scout Pack 50 (Cynthia or Cub Master Dave Davies at ). For students in Grades 6+ Boy Scout Troop 1 (Scout Master Jamie Cawley at Rjcci@aol.com) or Boy Scout Troop 82 (Scout Master Justin Mostert at jmostert@cox.net). For more info, visit: WORD LIST or SCOUTING BOY GIRL CUB DAISY E N A T U R E B U C W R A N K G Y S I A D O G N I T U O C S Y R B O D Y S N E J L S A E C E O M H I K E I O M R P G R H N D L E A D E R S H I P H U O R A D G R Y O U T H G E O T L U S N D W I T T S P M A C N A O S I A V R T N I D B G C E R J A M B O R E E T N U L O V S S B E O U Z A V R Z P E O D H P M P Q I S O L E B E W K A I I A L T E D X B R O W N I E P R J I V T O O F R E D N E T S I C H A R A C T E R M C S B O T R A I N I N G S S E N T I F DEN PACK TROOP COOKIES WEBELOS HONOR EAGLE LEADERSHIP TENDERFOOT AMBASSADOR VOLUNTEER TRAINING JOURNEY CHARACTER VENTURING ADVENTURE CAMP HIKE NATURE FITNESS YOUTH JAMBOREE CITIZENSHIP MERIT BADGE RANK BROWNIE SCHOLARSHIPS MIND BODY SPIRIT

5 For video, visit courtesy of S. McGee! Post 18 hosted the Veterans Day ceremony at Portsmouth Town Hall. Representative Elect Dan Gordon, a former Marine, spoke on sacrifice. The guest speaker was Viet Nam era Army veteran Cynthia Kindell on the topic of NEADS-Canines for Combat Veterans. In Newport, the guest speaker was CAPT J. Cunha of the Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS). The family of Army SGT Michael Paranzino of Middletown was recognized. Sadly, Michael was KIA in Afghanistan on 5 NOV To learn more or donate to Canines for Combat Veterans, please visit Below: Ten volunteers from Post 18, Unit 18, Post 104 and Unit 11 hosted our famous HALLOWEEN THEMED BINGO at the RI Veterans Home on 30 October The residents enjoyed the ditty bags (laundry bag, socks or hat, toothbrush, tissue, treat, postcard with stamp), the games and the prizes. FLYING INFORMATION NOV/DEC PAGE 5

6 NEWS FROM AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY UNIT 18 It s time to start raking the leaves; looks like all of our neighbors leaves are in our yard, too! Damaris and I enjoyed greeting the shoppers at Clements Market for our Poppy Awareness event. Christine and Roni took over at the half way point, and I understand they ran out of poppies at 11:30! I hadn t participated in that since I was a kid. Back then, the Legion gave us a percentage of the donations. I remember handing out poppies in front of the YMCA and the First National on Broadway in Newport. I m looking forward to the holiday get-together (let s not be politically correct...it s a CHRISTMAS PARTY!!!) at our house on Saturday, 11 DEC We ll start at 4 PM with a joint meeting, then the revelry begins. Please bring your appetite and a treat to share. As we count our blessings, we must also remember those less fortunate. With the sluggish job market and the seasonal layoffs in this summer vacation destination, more families will need help this winter. I volunteer at a soup kitchen. I know that food pantries need to restock after making Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets. We ask that you bring at least one non-perishable food item to our home on 11 DEC The items will be shared with a local food pantry and the Operation Stand Down Home in Johnston for women veterans. See you at the CHRISTMAS SHOPPE at the RI Veterans Home on 4 DEC 2010! PH: NENAROO@AOL.COM Edna Wardwell, President ABOVE: Roni Perry, Christine Hayward, Edna Wardwell and Damaris Mangold man the Poppy Awareness table on 7 NOV A total of $444 was collected of which $200 is earmarked for Canines for Combat Veterans. We d like to thank the management and patrons of Clements Market and the law firm of Houlihan, Managhan & Kyle for their generosity CALENDAR OF EVENTS MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND JOIN US! SATURDAY 9 AM (Eastern) - VETERANS RADIO PROGRAM. Tune in and hear the 1 hour live show and/or download archived programs at SUNDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 6 PM Newport Elks honors VETERAN OF THE YEAR Virginia Ginny Hanson. A member of Post 18, Ginny continues to take a leadership role in several veterans organizations. Tickets are $15. For info, contact Don Moore at or npt104sec@verizon.net. SATURDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2010 MISGIVINGS (a divine comedy) at VFW Hall, 52 Underwood Ln., Middletown. Dinner (choice of stuffed chicken breast or roast beef) will be served at 7 PM; show starts at 8 PM. Tickets: $20. For more info, contact Bill or SATURDAY, 4 DECEMBER 9 AM CHRISTMAS RI Veterans Home, Metacom Ave., Bristol. Help vets make gift selections and wrap gifts from 9 AM until done. SATURDAY, 11 DECEMBER 4 PM POST & UNIT 18 MEETING & SOCIAL (see PG 1) SATURDAY, 18 DECEMBER 9 AM OPERATION: HOLIDAY CHEER pack & ship day (see PG 1) WEDNESDAY, 5 JANUARY 7 PM Regular meeting of Post & Unit 18 at VFW Hall, 822 Anthony Rd., Portsmouth, RI. For more calendar items, please visit FLYING INFORMATION NOV/DEC 2010 PAGE 6