VFW Dignitaries Attending Convention

Commander Bob Barnhart and Auxiliary President Sally Gagnon at their Commander and President’s Reception at VFW Convention in Binghamton, N.Y. in June 2007.

 ROBERT BARNHART-VFW STATE COMMANDER

Hailing from Kingston, N. Y., Bob enlisted in the Navy Seabees upon graduation where he served with M.C.B. 53.  Serving  as an equipment operator, he served two tours of duty in Vietnam.  While serving in Vietnam, he received the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal aond the National Defense Service Medal.

While Bob was still in the service, Bob joined the Joyce Schirick VFW Post #1386.  Bob, in 1985, helped to restructure and rename Joseph C.  Hassett Memorial Post #686.  He is a life member of the Post.  Bob served three years as Post Commander and received two All State Commander  awards. Bob is a Past District #2 Commander and a Past All State County Commander.   He has served on many committees on both the State and National level.  Bob was elected State Commander at the 88th  Annual VFW State Convention in Binghamton, N.Y.

Bob is retired from Teamsters Local445, employed by USF Red Star Freight.  Besides his involvement with the VFW, Commander Bob still serves the Rosendale Volunteer Fire Department as Officer &Treasurer for over 24 years.  He is Director of the Fireman’s Association and its Pension & Welfare Benefits.  Serving as Treasurer of Teamsters Local 445 Retirees Club and a Member of Dept. of NYSeabees-Island X-9,  Bob finds time to belong to the American Legion Post #1219 of Rosendale/Tillson.

PAUL A. SPERA of Attleboro, Mass., was elected Coommander-in-Chief at the 96 National Convention in Phownix, Ariz. on Aug. 25th, 1995.  During the years of 1964-67, Spera served in the U. S. Army.  He eligibility was earned in Nha Trang Vietnam while serving with the 39th Signal Bn. from 1965-66.

Spera is a membet of Post 144 in Boston, Mass.  He joined the post while he was serving in Vietnam and is currently serving as Post Quartermaster.

Upon discharge, he attended Northeastern University where he studied business administration.  Working for the Department of Labor’s Jobs for Veterans program, he was named the “Outstanding Veteran of the Year”.

He is currently employed by the U. S. Department of Veteran Affairs, as one of six Veterans’ Liasions to the  Secretary

 

  

 

                                                                                                          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                        

PAUL A. SPERA, cOMMANDER-IN-CHIEF,1995-96 VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, will be the National Representative fot the convention in Binghamton, New York.  From 1964 to 1967, Spera served in th U. S. Army.  He served in Nha Trang Vietnam in the 39th Signal Bn. from 1965-66.

He is a member of Post 144 in Boston, Mass and is serving as quartermaster.