Chapter 77. Mail Call: Western New York. Tonawanda, New York. Notes From the President By Mike Walker. January - March 2015

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1 January - March 2015 Western New York Chapter 77 Tonawanda, New York Mail Call: Notes From the President By Mike Walker I hope all had good holidays this year. A stuffed Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas and a safe New Year s Eve. Most of all I hope you had a good Veterans Day. The chapter was busy Veterans Day starting with a veterans breakfast in North Tonawanda, a ceremony at the bridge between Tonawanda and North Tonawanda and the service on the waterfront at the memorial. The service at the waterfront was held it at 3 PM so we wouldn t be in the dark as we usually are. Even with the 3 PM time the service was well attended. Also attending were ARVN veterans and their families. I feel that it was nice of them to come. They asked if next year they could join use and present their colors with us. I have no problem with this seeing they are veterans and did fight with us. The chapter has taken on the mission of creating a memorial with the Cobra Helicopter we have. The memorial s location will be in Veterans Park in the City of Tonawanda. As you can the plan includes a brick walkway to the memorial. To fund the memorial the Chapter decided to conduct a brick sale for which individuals can buy and brick and have their name and/or insignia placed on it. It is big project and we need all our members to help. If every member buys one brick we will have enough cash to get the project done. You will find more about this in the newsletter. After reading about the sale you can go to our web site ( and click on the Helicopter Fund (lift hand side of home page) find the form, fill it out, send it and a check made out to the chapter. We also have a Gofundme page. You can make a donation there. I truly encourage all you to assist in making this memorial come to realization. If anyone has questions about it they can me at mw12345@aol.com. One more thing elections are in April.

2 VVA CHAPTER 77 LEADERSHIP (Terms of office are from April 2014 to April 2016) OFFICERS President Mike Walker st Vice President Ed Bodine nd Vice President Tom Konopka Secretary Ron Sado Treasurer Paul Pietrowski Service Officer Bob Garcia NYS Council Pres. AVVA Linda Sopic DIRECTORS Ken Berger (Hon.) Peter Divergillo John Heffernan Eric Reimer Tom Thompson Jim Burns Guy Godios Mike Marchese Joe Pasek SPECIAL DUTIES NY State VVA Paul Pietrowski Mike Walker Council Delegates Ed Bodine (Alternate) Tom Konopka (Alternate) Newsletter Editor Mike Walker STANDING COMMITTEES Agent Orange / Veterans Affairs Color Guard Community Affairs Constitution Committee Scholarship Employment Training & Business Training Golf Tournament Government Affairs Web Master Membership Museum Curator POW/MIA Affairs PTSD Public Affairs Nominating Committee Veterans Benefits VA Hospital Reps. Joe Pasek Paul Pietrowski Paul Pietrowski Larry Covert John Heffernan Tom Konopka Al Schreier Al Brusetti Pat Welch Mike Walker Mike Walker Paul Pietrowski Paul Pietrowski Paul Pietrowski Patrick Welch Larry Covert Tom Konopka Tom Konopka Ed Bodine

3 TYCZ SCHOLARSHIP 2015 was a successful year for the Peter P. Tycz III Memorial Scholarship. Fundraising allowed us to present a record 32 scholarships. Since the beginning of the program in 2005 we have presented 255 $250 scholarships for a total of $63,750. To kick off fundraising for 2016 our annual spaghetti dinner will be held Thursday January 28 at the Tonawanda Senior Center, Main Street Tonawanda from 4:00 PM 7:00 PM. Cost is $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. This event is very important in our efforts to exceed last year s scholarship awards. As in the past, the scholarship is designed for a graduating high school senior who: Resides in Niagara or Erie County Has a relative who is/was a veteran (reservists who have completed 180 continuous days of service are considered veterans) Shows a unique blend of academic achievement and community service Anticipates enrollment in an accredited program of higher education beginning in the fall of Applications for the scholarship may be obtained at the Chapter web site or at the Chapter, 47 Main St. Tonawanda NY 14150, vvachapter77@gmail.com Phone (716) CALENDAR OF EVENTS January 19 Thank A Vet pm will be held at the Tonawanda Senior Center on Main St. Tonawanda. Bring your DD-214 for additional info call , Chris Jacobs Erie County Clerk January 21 VVA 77 BOD meeting 6pm regular meeting at 7pm, pizza after the meeting. January 28 Peter Tycz Scholarship Fund raiser, 4pm-7pm at the Tonawanda Senior Center on Main St. February 18 VVA 77 BOD meeting 6pm regular meeting 7pm, pizza served after the meeting March 17 VVA 77 BOD meeting 6pm regular meeting 7pm, pizza served after the meeting

4 Flag retirement ceremony with Post 264, Elks Lodge 860 and VVA 77. We retired over 500 flags. Paul Rudnicki at the dedication of our food pantry. We decided to name the pantry Captain Paul Rudnicki Food Pantry courtesy of VALOR. Tim Carter presenting a check for $ for the Paul Rudnicki Food Pantry. Tim was representing Masonic Lodge 358. We also received donations from the Vapor Room, Dorothy Watson, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Jim Harzlak Foundation, Joe Basil, Mayor Rick Davis, Chuck Gilbert, Koch family, Tonawanda City Employees and the Pallotine Fathers Bingo players. The Vapor Room, Staci and her mom, Sally, held a basket raffle, their third and raised $ We also purchased a large freezer for the pantry. TOPS Market on Niagara St. in Tonawanda donated 32 turkeys for our Thanksgiving food baskets. Ron Sdao buying tickets for a 43 TV we will be raffling off at the Peter Tycz Scholarship fund raiser on January 28, Thank you to the Eggertsville Fire Hall for the donation of non-perishable canned goods in December. We picked up 71 boxes of food.

5 Chapter 77 of the Vietnam Veterans of America kindly requests a donation of adult beverages (wine or liquor) to be raffled at the Peter Tycz Scholarship fundraiser spaghetti dinner, January 28, Sergeant First Class Tycz was a US Army Green Beret who died in the line of duty in Paktika Province Afghanistan in We have chosen to honor this Tonawanda native with a memorial scholarship for numerous reasons including his local ties, involvement in the community, devotion to his family and country, and exemplary military service. He was the son-in-law of a chapter member and is survived by his wife and five daughters. Since 2005 we have awarded 255 $250 scholarships for a total of $63,750 to deserving high school seniors in Erie and Niagara counties who went on to an accredited program of higher education. We receive over 90 applications per year from outstanding students but funding only allows for scholarships per year. Your donation will greatly help to provide a higher education to deserving local high school seniors. Thank you for your consideration. John Heffernan Chairman, Scholarship Committe NEWSLETTER BOOSTER FORM The following need to renew your booster: Dennis Dragan, Keith Young, James Vallery, Russ Deveso, Edward Pace, Bob McTiche, David V. Jarczewski, Robert Kimaid, David R. Battaglia, Natham A. Nordin, Dan Brady, Gerry Serviss, Ed Stricikland, Terry Strassburg, Matt Bennett, Jim Burns. NEWSLETTER BOOSTER FORM Fill out and submit with a check for $12 payable to the chapter. Name: Branch: Unit: Year:

6 VA NEWS By Tom Konopka Parking at the Buffalo VA on Bailey Avenue has been a problem for many years. A few years ago a parking ramp was constructed to alleviate this problem. The VA asked Erie County to lend it an unused portion of the Grover Cleveland Golf Course to use during construction. The VA paved, marked and fenced this unused land and used it for parking. The completion of the parking ramp relived much of the problem and the land lent by Erie County is now primarily used for staff parking. The increasing influx of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans to the many hospital clinics has made continued use of the Erie County land a necessity. A request was made of Erie County to donate the land to the VA. The County Executive, Marc Poloncarz has steadfastly refused the request and the Legislature has refused to consider the request and pass a resolution donating this unused parcel to the VA. Our NY State representatives are ready to pass the requisite state resolution, but, first need action by Erie County. We now know what Erie County leaders think about Veterans. THE BRICK CAMPAIGN By Ed Bodine We need you help!!! Chapter 77 has acquired a Cobra helicopter. We have a location at Veterans Park in the city of Tonawanda. Now we need to get the money together to display it. We need about $50,000 to make this happen. We are going to sell bricks which will be placed in the walkway to the helicopter. Now we have over 625 members. If each of us would buy a brick that would help us reach our goal. We are selling two different colors bricks one color is for Veterans and the other is for the general public. The bricks come in 3 different sizes. A 4X8 costs $100, 8X8 is $175 and 12X12 is $250. Please consider buy one for yourself or even your family members. The form for the bricks is on our website ( or if you have any questions please contact myself, Mike or Paul. Dr. Kerry Donnelly, a VA neuropsychologist, recently received a VVA Certificate of Achievement and VVA medallion for her work in treating Veterans and her recently completed tenure as chairperson of the Institutional Review Board that evaluates human research studies at the Buffalo VA. Everyone who has internet access is encouraged to sign up for the My healthevet program on the Buffalo VA website and to also check for local VA events. Links to healthcare information and services available at the Buffalo VA are also available. Note: Only a sample brick polarengraving.com will not be on the bricks

7 MEMBERSHIP Our membership is now up to 630 members! We had a many new members take advantage of the special $ life membership. At last count we had over 75 members that also signed up for the special. Welcome home to new members: Dan Emke Ted Fox Bill Glor Norm Hamilton Roger Keller Tim Kenney Dennis Kluge Tom Kutas Dan Lemar Joe Morath Ed Schieffelin Richard Stachnik AVVA MEMBERS Sheila Jensen, Jackie Smilinich and Kathy Tober SICK CALL Dennis Eggers is still at ECMC and has a long recovery ahead of him. Tom Bucur is at the Buffalo VA receiving radiation; please keep these members in your thoughts and prayers. TAPS Members who have answered final roll call. Edwin Paprocki Thomas Sherman

8 Vietnam Veterans of America WNY Chapter Main St. Tonawanda, NY Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #2 Tonawanda, NY APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP Please send this application, with you dues payment and a copy of your DD-214 to: VVA Chapter 77, 47 Main St., Tonawanda, NY Name Male Female Date of Birth Address address City State Zip Telephone number Sponsor (optional) Membership Type: Individual 1 year $20 Individual Member 3 years $50 Life Member: $250 (age 49 and under) $225 (age 50 55) $200 (age 56 60) $175 (age 61 65) $150 (age 66-71) $100 (age 71+) Time Payment Plan: $50 down, $25 per month Eligibility: Membership is open to U.S. armed forces veterans who served on active duty (for other than training purposes) in the Republic of Vietnam between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975, or in any duty location between August 5, 1964 and May 7, You must submit a copy of your DD-214 with this membership application. Signature: Date: I am a spouse, family member or friend of a Vietnam veteran and would like membership information about the Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America. I would like information on membership for permanently hospitalized Vietnam veterans. I would like information on membership for incarcerated Vietnam veterans. I want to help Vietnam veterans and their families. Please accept my tax-deductible donation: $10 $20 $50 Other: $ (VVA is a non-profit, veteran s service organization. Programs and services are funded by member dues and public donations.)