Saturday morning, December 13 was the day for the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony at St. Denis Cemetery. Post members attending were Commander Lance Ashworth, Drew Bellantone, Dan Briscoe, Jim Broughton, John Call, John Lyons Bill Kriebel and Bill Meyer. Jim Broughton laid a wreath for the Air Force and Drew Bellantone laid a wreath for the Coast Guard.

At the January Post monthly meeting, an $85 donation was authorized for purchase of wreaths for this ceremony.

In attendance were Commander Lance Ashworth, John Call, Norm Dauerer, Rich Flacinski, Len Hart, Kevin Hines, Bill Kriebel, Tom Masch, Bill Meyer, Mike Miller, Alan Nalbandian, Dan Oberhauser, John Polasko, Jim Reynolds and Karl Sokol.

Post members collecting the flags were Commander Lance Ashworth, Norm Dauerer, Rich Flacinski, Len Hart, Bill Kriebel, Bill Meyer, Alan Nalbandian and Jim Reynolds.

Representing Post 1758 were Commander Lance Ashworth, Jim Broughton, Bill Kriebel and Tom Masch. Representing the Town of Fishkill was Deputy Supervisor and Post 1758 member Hal Brilliant.

Post members participating: Commander Lance Ashworth, Fred Beck, John Call, Len Hart, Kevin Hines, Bill Kriebel, Bill Meyer, John Polasko and Jim Reynolds.

The James S. Evans Elementary School in Wappingers Falls hosted a breakfast for local veterans on the morning of November 10. Post members attending were John Call, Len Hart, John Lyons, Bill Meyer and Mike Miller.

The John Jay High School baseball program held an intra-squad scrimmage on Thursday evening, Oct. 23, to honor area veterans. "Manny Bacon" Post provided a Color Guard for the event, and quite a few Post members, along with other veterans from the area, took part. Kevin Hines (U.S. Army), John Call (U.S. Navy), Daniel Oberhauser (U.S. Navy) and William Meyer (U.S. Air Force) served as the Color Guard.

Other Post members who were honored were: (U.S. Army) Commander Lance Ashworth, Mark Graser, John Lyons and Tom Masch; (U.S. Marine Corps) Mike Miller and John Polasko; (U.S. Navy) Fred Beck, Dan Briscoe, Len Hart and Bill Kriebel; (U.S. Air Force) James Broughton.

After the ceremony and during the game, Commander Ashworth spoke with U.S. Navy veteran Ryan Batkay who texted him with a request to join the post. Ryan mentioned 2-3 other military veterans affiliated with the baseball program that may also be interested in joining and asked Cdr. to send him extra application forms. Ryan’s interest in joining AL 1758 underscores the importance of our members participating in outreach events: Our visible presence in the community can and will lead to new recruits that will carry-on the Legion’s long legacy of service to the nation.

October 14 at 2:30pm, the town of Fishkill held a rededication ceremony for the Revolutionary War Fishkill Supply Depot burial grounds. Post 1758 came out in numbers for the event.

Post members in attendance: Commander Lance Ashworth, Fred Beck, Hal Brilliant, Jim Broughton, John Call, Bill Kriebel, Tom Masch, Skip McEwing, Bill Meyer, Ed Morrison, Dan Oberhauser, John Polasko and Jim Reynolds.

On Wednesday Sept. 24, Commander Lance Ashworth, along with John Call, Bill Meyer and Dan Oberhauser, went to John Jay High School to recruit candidates for Post 1758's annual oratorical contest. Many students showed interest in participating, and about two dozen took information packets. Let's hope that this year we get enough participants to make it a real contest.

On Saturday, September 20, 2025, AL Post 1758 participated in the annual East Fishkill Community Day event which kicked-off with a parade through Hopewell Junction. The following post members marched as an Color Guard (Jeff Boes, Rich Flacinski, Bill Meyer, Ed Morrison, and Lance Ashworth) while Scouts from Troop 40 carried the AL Post 1758 banner. Post members Norm Dauerer and Tom Masch drove their period Jeeps in the parade with Fred Beck, Bill Kriebel, and John Polasko as passengers.

Following the parade, the following members staffed the informational table at the main festival: Don Burns, Bill Kriebel, Bill Meyer, Jim Reynolds, and Lance Ashworth with Norm Dauerer’s and Tom Masch’s vehicles served as static displays. Lance’s wife Cindy assisted by operating the popcorn machine.

Separately, post members served as volunteers for other organizations: Eli Cohen (East Fishkill Historical Society); John Call (Knights of Columbus); Vinnie Richards (Hudson Valley Council Band); and John Polasko and Mike Miller (Vietnam Veterans of America).

Each year since the horrific attacks on the World Center, the Pentagon and the attack that ended on farmland in Shanksville, PA, the Town of East Fishkill hosts a ceremony to commemorate the events. The proceedings began at 6pm at the Community Center with the Hudson Valley Council BSA Concert Band performing patriotic music for those arriving early. Our participation began at about 7pm with our Color Guard presenting the Colors.

The Color Guard consisted of Kevin Hines, John Call, Bill Meyer, Dan Oberhauser and Ed Morrison. Other Post members in attendance were Commander Lance Ashworth, Drew Bellantone, Bill Kriebel, Doug McHoul, John Polasko and Jim Reynolds.

A video of this event is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLVstjOve5c. Our participation starts at about the 39 minute mark.

This year's Flag Day was unusually busy as the post had been invited to participate in the Rotary Club's flag dedication ceremony in Unity Park. At 7pm, the flag retirement ceremony began, with Commander Lance Ashworth presiding. Unlike in past years when many Boy Scouts participated, only two came this year, along with several Scout leaders.

Under the watchful eyes of members of Hopewell Hose Fire Company, a fire was started and Post members, Scouts and bystanders were invited to take flags from a large pile and place them in the fire pit. They were also suggested to honor a friend or loved one as they placed their flags in the fire. When all the flags had been retired, the firemen put out any remaining flames and the pit was covered.

Post members in attendance (Left to right): Fred Beck,Jeff Miedowski, Bill Meyer, Commander Lance Ashworth, Dan Briscoe, Jim Reynolds, Len Hart, Karl Sokol, John Call, Mark Graser, John Polasko, Ralph Schwartz and Dan Oberhauser. Not shown is Bill Kriebel.

Flag Day 2025 was the day chosen for the dedication of flag pole and flag put up by the Rotary Club of East Fishkill in Unity Park in the center of Hopewell Junction. On hand to mark the occasion were many local dignitaries, as well as a few Post 1758 member. Following Town Supervisor Nick D'Allessandro and several leading Rotarians, former Post Commander Jim Reynolds gave remarks in dedication of the flag. Then, John Call hoisted it from the half-staff position to the top of the 80' pole. Finally, a "time capsule" was placed in a hole dug in front of the stone with the plaque.

Post members attending (left to right): John Polasko, Bill Kriebel, Dan Oberhauser, Jim Reynolds, Bill Meyer, John Call, Len Hart and Jeff Miedowski. Not shown are Eli Cohen and Doug McHoul.

We were scheduled to pick up flags on Saturday, June 7, but the task had to be postponed due to rain. Sunday turned out to be a better day weather-wise, and we started at St. Denis cemetery at 1:00 pm. The work party was a little lighter than the one putting them in the ground. It consisted of Fred Beck, Jeff Boes, Eli Cohen, Bill Kriebel, John Lyons, Bill Meyer, Ed Morrison, John Polasko and Commander Jim Reynolds.

After we finished at St. Denis, the party proceeded to Hopewell Reform Church cemetery. We had picked up all the flags in a little over an hour, and then John Polasko and Commander Reynolds transported them to the Post's storage locker.

The parade was scheduled to step off from the Community Center at 10 am. Post members Lance Ashworth, Jeff Boes, Bill Kriebel, Jeff Miedowski, Bill Meyer, Dan Oberhauser and Commander Jim Reynolds assembled at the Center in preparation. The Color Guard was comprised of Jeff Miedowski (U.S. Flag), Dan Oberhauser (American Legion Flag), Jeff Boes (Rifle) and Bill Meyer (Rifle).

The parade then proceeded to the Veterans Memorial Park where the ceremony was held. Commander Reynolds was the Master of Ceremonies, and incoming Commander Lance Ashworth spoke. Other post members not in the parade were Dan Briscoe, Don Burns, Doug McHoul, Mike Miller and John Polasko. Dan, Don and John participated in the wreath-laying ceremony

Following the ceremony, a cake was presented to honor outgoing Commander Reynolds. All persons present were invited to have some cake, which was enjoyed by all.

Post members met in the John Jay High School parking lot about 7 a.m. before proceeding to the school library for breakfast. There, they were met by a spread put on by the ladies of the school's PTSA. Joining them were students from the Renaissance Club who had placed American Flags around the school's driveway. The club members joined in conversations with many Post members. After breakfast, the members went back to the parking lot where they assembled in preparation for the ceremony. Joining them was a beautiful Shelby Cobra built by the John Jay Racing Club.

While we were waiting, hundreds of students exited from the school to observe the program. When they had all assembled in front of the school, the ceremony began, with Tom Masch' Jeep in the lead, the Cobra and the Post's color guard following.

Post Commander Jim Reynolds gave a talk on the importance of Memorial Day, followed by remarks by Virgil Capollari, WCSD Board Member who is also a vice commander of the Wappingers VFW. Kevin Hines then raised the flag while a student played "Taps" on his trumpet. The Color Guard then marched to the end of the parking lot where the "Fall out" order ended the ceremony.

Post members in attendance were Lance Ashworth, Jim Broughton, John Call, Rich Flacinski, Kevin Hines, Bill Kriebel, Bill Meyer, Tom Masch (with Jeep), Jeff Miedowski, Ed Morrison, Alan Nalbandian, Dan Oberhauser, Carolyn Pogge, John Polasko, Commander Jim Reynolds and Karl Sokol.

Post members participating in placing flags on veterans' graves met at the Falls Diner in the morning for breakfast in preparation. Following the meal, the group headed to St. Denis Cemetery where they were joined by other groups that had volunteered to assist. They included Boy Scouts, the "Independent Belles," a group or Amazon workers, and representatives of Local 38 of the Sheet Metal Workers.

When the work at St. Denis was completed, they all went to the cemetery next to Hopewell Reformed Church. Thankfully, they got the job done before getting soaked by a heavy rainstorm.

Post members contributing were Fred Beck, Drew Bellantone Jim Broughton, Dan Briscoe, John Call, Mark Graser, Len Hart, Bill Kriebel, John Lyons, Bill Meyer, Jeff Miedowski, John Polasko, Jim Reynolds and Karl Sokol.

At 11:00 am, post members met behind Walgreen's in Wappingers Falls before being transported to the parade staging area on North Street. The parade stepped off a 1:00 pm. We were there to represent Dutchess County American Legion.

Parade participants were Lance Ashworth, Don Burns, John Call, Norm Dauerer (with Jeep), Tom Masch (with Jeep), Bill Meyer, Mike Miller, Dan Oberhauser, John Polasko and Commander Jim Reynolds. Ashworth and Call carried the POW/MIA and Legion Flags in the color guard.

Here's Commander Reynolds' video of the parade.

Full Parade Video.

On Tuesday morning, Feb. 18, John Jay High School held an assembly of students, administrators of schools in the southern portion of the district, and several veterans groups (including Post 1758), to commemorate the POW/MIA flag and to distribute flags donated by veterans groups to the principals of the various schools. Air Force veteran and Wappingers Central School District School Board Trustee Virgil Capollari gave a short history of the flag and explained why it's important that the flag be prominently displayed.

In the afternoon, a reprise of the ceremony was held at Roy C. Ketcham High School for schools in the northern portion of the district. Our post was assigned five seats on the stages at both events. Those seats were filled by Commander Jim Reynolds, Bill Meyer, Jeff Miedowski, Bill Kriebel and Lance Ashworth.