American Legion Post 50 SAL 50 New York USA
| 2008 Mets Color Guard Outing Event Press Release |
The American Legion
For God and Country
PELHAM POST 50
The Department of New York
Sons of the American Legion, Squadron 50
BOX 293, PELHAM, NY 10803
USA
For Immediate Release: Sunday September 7, 2008
Contact: Ken Kraetzer (914) 630-3457 or kgk914@aol.com
or John Chuhran (914) 380-3877 or jtchuhran@netscape.com
New York Mets Team With U.S. Army and The American Legion
To Honor Veterans, the New York National Guard and Active Military Personnel
-----------------------
American Legion Post 50 Project Pays Tribute to Heroes of Freedom
Pelham, N.Y., September 7 – The sacrifices made by veterans, National Guard troops and active military
personnel will be recognized by the New York Mets today in pre-game ceremonies. This is the fifth consecutive
year that the Mets have worked with the American Legion to pay tribute to those who have served America and
protected our nation. American Legion Post 50 in Pelham has again organized the event.
Representatives of the U.S. Army are on hand to present “Freedom Team Salute” commendations to three
individuals who represent all who have served in the U.S. Army since the force was created 233 years ago. The
program recognizes the essential bond between Soldiers, Family and Community; celebrates the sacrifices made
by all those who support our Soldiers; and honors the millions of Soldier Veterans who have served and who
remain as our living connection to generations of duty, honor and patriotism. Through a simple process, Freedom
Team Salute allows all Soldiers to recognize their Parents, Spouse and Employer (of Guard and Reserve
Soldiers) with a Commendation thanking them for the value they bring to the Army family. The program also allows
anyone to honor a discharged U.S. Army Veteran for his or her service to the nation — no matter where or when
he or she served, or for how long. Details of the program are available at www.FreedomTeamSalute.com.
Every Freedom Team Salute honoree receives an official Commendation package, which includes a certificate of
appreciation and a personalized letter from the Secretary of the Army and Army Chief of Staff thanking them for
their support to today’s Army. The package also includes an official U.S. Army lapel pin and two Army decals. The
entire package is provided at no cost to either the nominating individual or to the recipient.
Today’s recipients are a cross-section of those who have served our country:
• Robert J. McGuirl – a resident of Pelham, N.Y., he served two tours in Vietnam in 1969-70 with the 25th
Infantry Division, 19th Airborne Corps. Awarded the Bronze Star and Army Commendation with two Oak Leaf
Clusters, McGuirl is a past Westchester County Commander of the American Legion and past Post Commander of
Post 50 in Pelham.
• John Dunleavy – a resident of the Bronx, he emigrated from Ireland to New York City in the early 1960s and
served the in U.S. Army in 1964-65 as part of the 65th Engineer Battalion of the 25th Infantry Division. For more
than a decade, he has been Chairman of the oldest and largest parade in the world, the New York City St.
Patrick's Day Parade. Each year, the lead participant in that march up Fifth Avenue is the 69th Battalion of the
New York National Guard, which is appearing on the represented on the field today.
• Loretta Barnaskey – a resident of Eastchester, N.Y., she is the wife of the late John M. Barnaskey, a winner
of the Bronze Star in World War II as a member of the U.S. Army’s 27th Division, 104th Field Artillery Unit. Loretta
is one of the unsung, homefront heroes of World War II, serving as a “Rosie the Riveter” building fighter planes at
a factory in Tarrytown, N.Y. For 55 years, she has been a tireless member of the American Legion Auxiliary who
was recently recognized by the American Legion for having reached the milestone of volunteering 10,000 hours
at the Veterans Administration Hospital Facility at Montrose, N.Y.
Beyond this trio of true American heroes, the Mets and the American Legion today pay tribute to the more than
16,000 men and women currently serving in the New York National Guard. They are our nation’s “Defenders of
Freedom” who serve alongside active members of the Army and Air Force; more than 1,700 members of the New
York National Guard are currently deployed to help provide stability and security to Iraq and Afghanistan. The
New York National Guard also answers the call here in New York during floods, fires, ice storms, blizzards,
tornadoes, blackouts, hurricanes and severe tropical storms such as the one that postponed yesterday’s Mets-
Phillies game to this afternoon. More than 200 American Legionaires are attending today’s game to show their
respect to their Brothers and Sisters in Arms.
Representing all who serve our country are detachments from the First Battalion of the 69th Infantry Regiment
known for over 145 years as “The Fighting 69th,” and from Jamaica, Queens the First Battalion of the 258th Field
Artillery regiment known since the Civil War era as the “Washington Grays”. Representing the U.S. Navy are
sailors from the U.S. Submarine Base at Groton, CT.
The large American Flag and colors representing various other organizations are presented today by various
American Legion Organizations including American Legion Post 50 (Pelham), Post 8 (New Rochelle), Post 326
(Lake Placid), Post 1033 (Elmont), Post 1404 (Broad Channel), Post 1520 (Albany) and Post 1542 (Patterson);
The American Legion Auxiliary; Sons of the American Legion Squadron 50 (Pelham), Squadron 136 (Mount
Kisco), Squadron 488 (Monroe), Squadron 1520 (Albany), Squadron 1634 (West Babylon), and Squadron 1700
(Endicott).
Further information about today’s ceremony, which was organized by Post 50 in Pelham, is available at the
website www.legionpost50ny.com started by the American Legion Post 50 and Sons of the American Legion
Squadron 50 in 2006. The website can also be found by typing “American Legion Pelham” into major search
engines.
Other groups participating in today’s ceremony include The New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, The
Girl Scouts from The Heart of the Hudson (who earlier donated more than 40,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to
troops serving overseas), and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 439 (New Rochelle).
The American Legion, with 2.7 million members, is the world's largest veteran's association. The Department of
New York is one of The American Legion’s largest state organizations with 1,003 local “Posts” and membership of
more than 170,000 Legionnaires. Post 50 in Pelham, N.Y., commanded in 2008-2009 by U.S.A.F. veteran Frank
Barbieri, organizes Pelham's Memorial Day Parade and has served as a New York City Fleet Week host the past
six years. Throughout the year, Post 50 conducts a variety of other projects to support veterans and the local
community. In 2005, Post 50 initiated ceremonies commemorating the 60th anniversary of the end of the Italian
Campaign of World War II at the American Battle Monument Commission maintained military cemeteries at
Florence and Nettuno, Italy. In June 2009 Pelham SAL will lead a trip to Normandy France for the 65th
Anniversary of D-Day. More information is available at www.legionpost50ny.com
(-30-)
For God and Country
PELHAM POST 50
The Department of New York
Sons of the American Legion, Squadron 50
BOX 293, PELHAM, NY 10803
USA
For Immediate Release: Sunday September 7, 2008
Contact: Ken Kraetzer (914) 630-3457 or kgk914@aol.com
or John Chuhran (914) 380-3877 or jtchuhran@netscape.com
New York Mets Team With U.S. Army and The American Legion
To Honor Veterans, the New York National Guard and Active Military Personnel
-----------------------
American Legion Post 50 Project Pays Tribute to Heroes of Freedom
Pelham, N.Y., September 7 – The sacrifices made by veterans, National Guard troops and active military
personnel will be recognized by the New York Mets today in pre-game ceremonies. This is the fifth consecutive
year that the Mets have worked with the American Legion to pay tribute to those who have served America and
protected our nation. American Legion Post 50 in Pelham has again organized the event.
Representatives of the U.S. Army are on hand to present “Freedom Team Salute” commendations to three
individuals who represent all who have served in the U.S. Army since the force was created 233 years ago. The
program recognizes the essential bond between Soldiers, Family and Community; celebrates the sacrifices made
by all those who support our Soldiers; and honors the millions of Soldier Veterans who have served and who
remain as our living connection to generations of duty, honor and patriotism. Through a simple process, Freedom
Team Salute allows all Soldiers to recognize their Parents, Spouse and Employer (of Guard and Reserve
Soldiers) with a Commendation thanking them for the value they bring to the Army family. The program also allows
anyone to honor a discharged U.S. Army Veteran for his or her service to the nation — no matter where or when
he or she served, or for how long. Details of the program are available at www.FreedomTeamSalute.com.
Every Freedom Team Salute honoree receives an official Commendation package, which includes a certificate of
appreciation and a personalized letter from the Secretary of the Army and Army Chief of Staff thanking them for
their support to today’s Army. The package also includes an official U.S. Army lapel pin and two Army decals. The
entire package is provided at no cost to either the nominating individual or to the recipient.
Today’s recipients are a cross-section of those who have served our country:
• Robert J. McGuirl – a resident of Pelham, N.Y., he served two tours in Vietnam in 1969-70 with the 25th
Infantry Division, 19th Airborne Corps. Awarded the Bronze Star and Army Commendation with two Oak Leaf
Clusters, McGuirl is a past Westchester County Commander of the American Legion and past Post Commander of
Post 50 in Pelham.
• John Dunleavy – a resident of the Bronx, he emigrated from Ireland to New York City in the early 1960s and
served the in U.S. Army in 1964-65 as part of the 65th Engineer Battalion of the 25th Infantry Division. For more
than a decade, he has been Chairman of the oldest and largest parade in the world, the New York City St.
Patrick's Day Parade. Each year, the lead participant in that march up Fifth Avenue is the 69th Battalion of the
New York National Guard, which is appearing on the represented on the field today.
• Loretta Barnaskey – a resident of Eastchester, N.Y., she is the wife of the late John M. Barnaskey, a winner
of the Bronze Star in World War II as a member of the U.S. Army’s 27th Division, 104th Field Artillery Unit. Loretta
is one of the unsung, homefront heroes of World War II, serving as a “Rosie the Riveter” building fighter planes at
a factory in Tarrytown, N.Y. For 55 years, she has been a tireless member of the American Legion Auxiliary who
was recently recognized by the American Legion for having reached the milestone of volunteering 10,000 hours
at the Veterans Administration Hospital Facility at Montrose, N.Y.
Beyond this trio of true American heroes, the Mets and the American Legion today pay tribute to the more than
16,000 men and women currently serving in the New York National Guard. They are our nation’s “Defenders of
Freedom” who serve alongside active members of the Army and Air Force; more than 1,700 members of the New
York National Guard are currently deployed to help provide stability and security to Iraq and Afghanistan. The
New York National Guard also answers the call here in New York during floods, fires, ice storms, blizzards,
tornadoes, blackouts, hurricanes and severe tropical storms such as the one that postponed yesterday’s Mets-
Phillies game to this afternoon. More than 200 American Legionaires are attending today’s game to show their
respect to their Brothers and Sisters in Arms.
Representing all who serve our country are detachments from the First Battalion of the 69th Infantry Regiment
known for over 145 years as “The Fighting 69th,” and from Jamaica, Queens the First Battalion of the 258th Field
Artillery regiment known since the Civil War era as the “Washington Grays”. Representing the U.S. Navy are
sailors from the U.S. Submarine Base at Groton, CT.
The large American Flag and colors representing various other organizations are presented today by various
American Legion Organizations including American Legion Post 50 (Pelham), Post 8 (New Rochelle), Post 326
(Lake Placid), Post 1033 (Elmont), Post 1404 (Broad Channel), Post 1520 (Albany) and Post 1542 (Patterson);
The American Legion Auxiliary; Sons of the American Legion Squadron 50 (Pelham), Squadron 136 (Mount
Kisco), Squadron 488 (Monroe), Squadron 1520 (Albany), Squadron 1634 (West Babylon), and Squadron 1700
(Endicott).
Further information about today’s ceremony, which was organized by Post 50 in Pelham, is available at the
website www.legionpost50ny.com started by the American Legion Post 50 and Sons of the American Legion
Squadron 50 in 2006. The website can also be found by typing “American Legion Pelham” into major search
engines.
Other groups participating in today’s ceremony include The New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, The
Girl Scouts from The Heart of the Hudson (who earlier donated more than 40,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to
troops serving overseas), and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 439 (New Rochelle).
The American Legion, with 2.7 million members, is the world's largest veteran's association. The Department of
New York is one of The American Legion’s largest state organizations with 1,003 local “Posts” and membership of
more than 170,000 Legionnaires. Post 50 in Pelham, N.Y., commanded in 2008-2009 by U.S.A.F. veteran Frank
Barbieri, organizes Pelham's Memorial Day Parade and has served as a New York City Fleet Week host the past
six years. Throughout the year, Post 50 conducts a variety of other projects to support veterans and the local
community. In 2005, Post 50 initiated ceremonies commemorating the 60th anniversary of the end of the Italian
Campaign of World War II at the American Battle Monument Commission maintained military cemeteries at
Florence and Nettuno, Italy. In June 2009 Pelham SAL will lead a trip to Normandy France for the 65th
Anniversary of D-Day. More information is available at www.legionpost50ny.com
(-30-)
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