It was a brisk November morning, but that didn't stop post members from getting out bright and early at 7:00 am to place flags along the West side of Main Street in the hamlet of Hopewell Junction. The members participating were Jeff Boes, John Call, Rich Galdiero, Len Hart, Kevin Hines, Bill Kriebel, Bill Meyer, John Polasko and Commander Jim Reynolds.

photo by Len Hart

The cold and breezy day began with a breakfast provided by the John Jay PTSA. After the repast, Post members assembled in the parking lot along with the Hudson Valley Bagpipers. Norm Dauerer and Tom Masch provided their Jeeps for the procession. Other Post members participating were Jim Broughton, John Call, Conrad Gagnon, Len Hart, Bill Kriebel, John Lyons, Bill Meyer, Dan Oberhauser, John Polasko and Commander Jim Reynolds. The commander led the ceremony, attended by a large contingent of students. with a talk about the importance of the day.

Community Day was originally scheduled for Saturday, Sep. 23, but due to inclement weather, it had to be rescheduled to Sunday,Oct. 8. As usual, Post 1758 was to lead the parade.

With the parade scheduled to step off at 2:00 pm, marchers had to assemble Near Tinka Lane at 1:30 in order to avoid the street closure. Marchers were Bill Kriebel and Karl Sokol carrying the post's banner, Jeff Boes: rifle, Bill Meyer: Old Glory, Kevin Hines: American Legion Flag, Fred Beck: POW Flag, and Conrad Gagnon: rifle.

Don Burns and Commander Jim Reynolds manned the table in the veterans' tent. Tom Masch brought his WWII Jeep which was a big hit with the kids.

On June 17th members Bill Meyer, Jim Reynolds, John Polasko, and Dan Oberhauser provided an honor guard at the Knights of Columbus Backyard Olympics fund raiser. Over $22,000 was raised to purchase hundreds of wheelchairs through the Knights of Columbus Wheelchair Initiative. These wheelchairs are distributed locally to individuals, to organizations such as Castle Point VAMC and the Hudson Valley Honor Flight, and to churches and schools. This year they were also able to make donations to the DC 10-13 Foundation, Hudson Valley Honor Flight, Special Olympics, Coats for Kids, CCD Programs, and the East Fishkill Fire District.

June 14 was Flag Day. At 7:00 pm, American Legion Post 1758, along with Boy Scout Troop 40 and the Knights of Columbus held its annual flag retirement ceremony. Flags that are torn, faded or just worn out are collected at a collection box in Town Hall, and every year on Flag Day, these flags are retired by burning at the burn pit located behind the East Fishkill Library. In attendance were the town's supervisor and members of the town board, along with many town residents. Firefighters from Hopewell Hose were also on hand.

In attendance: Jeff Boes, Dan Briscoe, John Call, Conrad Gagnon, Len Hart, Bill Kriebel, John Lyons, Tom Masch, Bill Meyer, Jeff Miedowski, Dan Oberhauser, Commander Jim Reynolds and Joe Ryan.

On Monday, June 12th an honor guard consisting of Bill Meyer, John Polasko, Jim Reynolds, and John Lyons presented the colors at Sheriff Kirk Imperati’s golf tournament, After the ceremony our post members were chased down and presented with a $240 donation from the tournament. John Polasko missed out on the photo op....I think he was at the breakfast bar!

June 3 was scheduled to be the day to pick up the flags that were placed on veterans' headstones on May 22, with breakfast beforehand at the Falls Diner in Wappinger. But a threat of rain forced rescheduling to the following Monday, June 5, and since the Falls Diner isn't open on Monday mornings, the breakfast had to be moved to East Fishkill Provisions. After downing their omelets, French toast, etc., the team headed out to St. Denis Cemetery, and after those flags were retrieved, it was on to Hopewell Cemetery at the Reformed Church.

Post members participating were Jeff Boes, John Call, Len Hart, Bill Kriebel, John Lyons, Bill Meyer, John Polasko, Commander Jim Reynolds and Karl Sokol.

Photo courtesy of Glenn Marchi

Left to right: Commander Jim Reynolds, Bill Meyer, Jeff Boes, John Lyons, Jeff Miedowski, Conrad Gagnon, Bill Kriebel, Norm Dauerer and Tom Masch. Also present were Bruce Coneeny, Don Burns and John Polasko.

East Fishkill's annual Memorial Day Ceremony started at 11:00 am at the Community Center with a parade to the Veterans Memorial Park. The post color guard assembled at 10:30 to get assignments and do a bit of practicing with flags and rifles.

After the parade arrived at the park, it was met by town residents that had assembled in a tent set up for the ceremony. Our post chaplain, Jeff Miedowski, gave an invocation followed by some patriotic music and remarks by Commander Reynolds and Col. Glenn Marchi. They were followed by laying of wreaths and a rifle salute by the post's color guard.

Friday, May 26 was our annual Memorial Day Ceremony at John Jay High School. This year started a little different from previous years in that we were invited to breakfast prior to the event, and the entire school was in attendance. Also, Hudson Valley Regional Police provided some "music" by two bag-pipers and a drummer leading the procession. Norm Dauerer and Tom Masch followed with their Jeeps. Commander Reynolds spoke about the importance of the day, and commemorated four Wicopee area men who were World War II casualties.

Post members participating were Jim Broughton, John Call, Norm Dauerer (with Jeep), Conrad Gagnon, Dona Greenwood, Kevin Hines, Bill Kriebel, John Lyons, Tom Masch (with Jeep), Bill Meyer, Jeff Miedowski, John Polasko, Commander Jim Reynolds and Karl Sokol.

Due to forecast inclement weather on Saturday, flag placement was rescheduled to Monday, May 22. The day started with breakfast for the crew at East Fishkill Provisions Smoke Haus & Deli at 8:00 am. After filling up on pancakes, omelets, french toast, etc., they proceeded to St. Denis cemetery to begin flag placement on veterans' graves.

Post members participating where John Call, Bruce Coneeny, Conrad Gagnon, Len Hart, Bill Kriebel, Bill Meyer, Jeff Miedowski and Commander Jim Reynolds.

After covering the St. Denis Cemetery, the crew traveled to Hopewell Reformed Cemetery to complete their task.

It was a chilly and damp Saturday, but Post 1758 members Dan Briscoe, Don Burns, Conrad Gagnon, Bill Kriebel, Tom Masch and Commander Jim Reynolds met at the parking lot behind Walgreens in the village of Wappingers Falls just before noon. Commander Reynolds and Tom Masch were going to drive their vehicles in the parade, so the rest got on board and proceeded to the North Street starting point. Step-off was 1 p.m.

Also present were Dutchess County Commander Dan Morea and Frank Steinbuch representing Wappingers Falls Post 427. Frank and Commander Morea led the parade carrying Old Glory and the American Legion Flag while the rest of the contingent followed in vehicles. Due to the length of the parade route, Commander Morea was unable to complete the march, so Bill Kriebel stepped in to carry the Legion Flag the rest of the way.