Left:VFW colors.

Right: Left to right: Sandra Flynn escorting Convention Chrm. Al Klein to the podium.

Left to right: Cancer Chairman, Karen Dotson and VFW Delegates Reception Chrm. Pat Gennarelli arranging hundreds of cookies for the delegates of the 84th Annual VFW State Convention Wed. evening June 25, 2008.

Left to right: VFW Ladies Aux. Pres. Sally Gagnon, Dept. VFW Commander Bob Barnhart and Channel 12 host John Bruce.

Left to right- VFW Aux. Pres. Sally Gagnon, radio announcer and WNBF host Roger Neel and Publicity Chrm. for VFW Convention, Dorolyn Perry

In this photo, written history of the war via Binghamton Press and Life Magazine.  A salute to the third oldest regiment, the 5th RTC, is comliments of Ray Warner.  All five phases of the war are featured.Many items in the window were loaned by Bob Fiedler. My thanks to all who helped make these windows possible. 

 This moving tribute to Army Capt. Jack Howey and all Korean War veterans is located on the Water St. side of Boscov’s.  Jack was a Korean War Vet who loved and served his county well. 

Boscov’s has been very generous to the Convention Commitee and we thank them for their committement to our Veterans and their community.  Dorolyn Perry compiled material for the window and received uniforms from the following:  Jack Howey, Army, Bob Rose of Owego, N.Y., Navy, Edwin Wrench, Marines, Apalachin, N.Y and Robert Potter, Air Force.  Inside the display is the Korean Peace Metal from Edwin Wrench and medals from Tom Vassil, of Owego, N.Y. 

I would like to  sincerely thank Bob Fiedler of  Vestal, N.Y. for the posters depicting the 5 phases of the Korean War.  Mrs. Fiedler, while her husband was in Korea, cut articles out of the Binghamton Press and saved them.  Thank you Mrs. Fiedler for supporting your husband during a difficult time. We salute Marion Miller for her fine window display skills and volunteering her time for our Veterans.

Robert Warner, Korean War Veteran, is responsible for the 5th RCT dIsplay.  We sincerely thank everyone who played a part in this emotional display and our all of our Veterans who fought in the Korean War.

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.

Forestport,N.Y. , a town in the Adriondack Mountains region in New York State, is where Department of NY LAVFW President Sally A.  Gagnon calls home.  In 1980, Sally joined the LA #5538 in Boonville on the eligibility of her father, who was a WW11veteran who served in  the Europoean Theatre of operation.  Sally is a  proud life member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. 

Above-Pres. Sally and Commander Bob at Commander and President’s reception June 2007.

Sally served the necessary offices in her Auxiliary, County Council and District.  She received national awards for each of her four chairmanships.  She was installed a Department Guard at the June 2002 State Convention.  At the June 2007 State Convention in Binghamton, N.Y. , Sally was elected  as President of the Department of NY LAVFW.

Sally is active in her community where she is employed as a Legal Assistant in Utica, N.Y.  Sally is a dedicated member of the Ladies Auxiliary and she represents our Department with honesty, dignity and pride as our Department President.

DIANA STOUT is a Past National President from Charleston, West Virginia.  She is currently serving the organization as the National Advisory Committee and as Department Treasurer.   Diana will be our National Representative.

Diana has a background in law which helped her choose her theme for her year of “Liberty and Justice for all”.  That theme was very instrumental during her 2001-02 year of service expecially during the terrorist attacks of September 11,2001. Auxillaries nationwide provided personal care packages, donating thousands of dollars to help victims’families and providing $280,000 for Operation Uplink.   Operation Uplink sends phone cards to service men and women who were called to fight terrorism.

One of her proudest moments were that the $3,000,000 mark was topped for the 14th consecutive year in the Auxiliary Cancer Aid and Research Fund.

Diana is a proud charter member of the Sperry-Davis Auxiliary to VFW Post #91151 of Salem and is currently employed as the General Counsel of the Treasurer’s Office for the State of West Virginia.

The City of Binghamton and the Southern Tier Counties Council of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, will host the 89th Annual State Conventionf of the Department of New York on June 25-29, 2008.  The headquarters hotel for the VFW Auxiliary is the Holiday Inn Arena and the Binghamton Regency for the VFW.

JOINT OPENING -VFW and Auxiliary- Thursday, june 26,  2008.

AUXILIARY OPENING MEETING-Thursday , June26, 2008,@8:30 A.M. Holiday Inn Arena.

VFW OPENING MEETING- FRIDAY, jUNE 27, 2008 @8:00 a. m. -Binghamton Regency.

HOUSING-  ALL HOUSING WILL BE MADE THROUGH THE BROOME COUNTY  CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU. PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO HOTELS POLICY REGARDING PERSONAL CHECKS AS OUTLINED ON HOUSING FORM.  DEADLINE FOR ALL VIP RESERVATIONS IS MAY 19, 2008.

PROGRAM AD BOOK & BOOSTER SHEETS-JACK HOWEY, CHRM.

ADVANCED REGISTRATION-Paul and Linda Bailey, chairman.  Registration fee is $5.00, which includes convention program and badge.

COMMANDER AND PRESIDENTS BANQUET-LOUISE COLE, CHAIRMAN  Thurday, June 26,2008@7 P.M at the Binghamton Regency,  Filet Mignon and Chicken Dinner, $33 per person.  Cash bar cocktails from 6-7P.M.

PRESIDENTS LUNCHEON- Joan Hamar, Chairman Friday, June 27,2008 at the Holiday Inn Arena.