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Pfluger honors Vietnam veterans at Goodfellow Air Force Base

Pfluger honors Vietnam veterans at Goodfellow Air Force Base

Yahoo04-04-2025

Apr. 3—SAN ANGELO — Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) attended the Vietnam War Commemoration Welcome Home and Pinning Ceremony Friday at Goodfellow Air Force Base. This ceremony is an incredible way to recognize and honor Vietnam War veterans with a commemorative lapel pin. This year's ceremony coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War.
"Honoring the brave men and women who have served our nation faithfully is incredibly important to me. Their commitment and sacrifice are unparalleled and it fills me with a deep sense of pride for this country to have the opportunity to recognize these remarkable individuals. A special thank you to the Goodfellow Air Force Base Heritage Committee, the Heritage Chapter — Freedom Through Vigilance Association, the EC-47 History Site, and the incredible staff at Goodfellow for making this ceremony possible," said Pfluger.

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Longtime volunteers to lead Springfield parade
Longtime volunteers to lead Springfield parade

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timea day ago

  • Yahoo

Longtime volunteers to lead Springfield parade

The Springfield Fourth of July Committee has announced Jerome and Regina Oakes as the grand marshals for the 2025 Fourth of July Parade. According to a news release from the committee, Jerome Oakes and Regina Armstrong both grew up in the town of Springfield but the two had not met until July 4, 1976 at Springfield's bicentennial celebration of America's Declaration of Independence. In 1980, they were wed at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Springfield Center. According to the couple, they have always been happy to remain in Springfield, "a place they consider beautiful and peaceful, and where they have both found satisfaction in service to their community," the release stated. Jerome Oakes is a veteran of the Vietnam War and recipient of a Purple Heart medal and other awards of distinction. He is a member of the Richfield Springs American Legion, the Cooperstown VFW and the Utica DAV. An active Boy Scout in his youth, Jerome achieved the rank of Star Scout and was a member of the Order of the Arrow and the Explorers. When the Oakes' twin boys were young, Jerome assisted the Cub Scout troop and coached Little League and T-ball teams. He has been a volunteer fireman in the Springfield Fire Department for 54 years and served as an EMS volunteer for nine years, according to the release. He is the superintendent of Springfield Cemetery, where he is responsible for managing burials, repairing and leveling headstones, excavating cremation plots, selling plots, and assisting with funeral arrangements. He places flags on the graves of veterans for Memorial Day, a service he extends to nearby cemeteries, the release stated. He also serves as custodian at the Springfield Community Center and traditionally carries the flag for the Springfield Fire Department's marching unit in the Fourth of July Parade, "as well as fulfilling many other supportive roles around the event," according to the release. Regina Oakes had a 47-year career at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. As a certified pharmacy technician, she primarily worked at the Cancer Center. Shortly after retiring, she returned to assist during the COVID pandemic, according to the release. For several summers, after completing shifts at the hospital, Regina spent her evenings working at the Cooperstown Dreams Park. She currently serves as an elected member of the Springfield Town Council, bringing almost 16 years of experience to the council, the release stated. She can often be found at the Springfield Community Center overseeing events and leading senior exercise programs and community pickleball, or at the Springfield Landing, where she manages boat slips and park passes. She spearheaded the clean-up and restoration of the old school cafeteria at the community center and launched the Springfield Community Kitchen in the fall of 2023, the release stated. The luncheons held at the center are planned, cooked and served by Regina, assisted by a staff of volunteers. The program is completely supported by community donations. Regina has been an active member of the Springfield Fire Department Auxiliary for 13 years. She also organizes the Springfield Fourth of July Committee's chicken barbecue. "The committee is pleased to honor their dedication and celebrate their positive impact on the community during this year's parade," the release stated. The parade will commence its 111th year at 11 a.m. Friday, July 4 in the hamlet of Springfield Center. This year's parade theme celebrates "We the People." The parade will end at the Springfield Community Center, where a celebration will be held. The festivities will feature music by the Camden Continentals Fife and Drum Corps and the Cooperstown Community Band, Brooks' chicken barbecue, homemade pie, the Springfield Historical Society Open House, children's games, raffles and more. Free parade parking is available at the community center. An evening concert and fireworks display will take place at Glimmerglass State Park, with music by local rock band Scattered Flurries starting at 7:30 p.m. , to be followed by fireworks at dusk. At 3:30 p.m. Sunday, July 6, the Glimmerglass Festival will present the 2025 Springfield Appreciation Concert, featuring musical selections from the festival's upcoming 50th anniversary season. Tickets for the concert ($5 each) and Springfield Fourth of July T-shirts ($15 each) are available at Convenience Corner, at the intersection of state Route 80 and U.S. Route 20 in Springfield Center. All proceeds support Springfield's Fourth of July events. For more information, look for the Springfield 4th of July Parade and Celebration on Facebook, email or call (315)858-0304.

Morton Grove American Legion Post 134 celebrates centennial
Morton Grove American Legion Post 134 celebrates centennial

Chicago Tribune

time3 days ago

  • Chicago Tribune

Morton Grove American Legion Post 134 celebrates centennial

American Legion Morton Grove Post 134 recently celebrated a century of serving military veterans and their families with an anniversary party. Post 134 Commander Andy Haszlakiwewicz told Pioneer Press the May 4 event at the American Legion Memorial Civic Center, which is owned by the village, drew about 140 people including Legionnaires and their family members in the Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion. 'I think everyone enjoyed themselves. They enjoyed getting together and having the fellowship. Some of us were pleasantly surprised how well it turned out,' Haszlakiwewicz said about attendees who were primarily from Morton Grove, Niles and Skokie. He said the event included the color guard presenting the flag, a reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer by Post 134 Chaplain George Vail, of Palatine and applause for Morton Grove resident Joan Kopinski, 95, a member of the Auxiliary since days after her birth. Haszlakiwewicz, 78, said a pin drop could be heard when Major General James Mukoyama, of Glenview, gave a keynote address about moral injury to attendees – who previously served in the U.S. Army, Marine Corps and Navy, and were primarily fellow Vietnam War veterans. 'Many military personnel join the military and it doesn't occur to them that they are a fighting force, and by virtue of having to exercise that force they suffer from moral injury because they may not agree with killing but they have to because they're in the service,' Haszlakiwewicz said. Department of Illinois American Legion Commander Joe Lampert also spoke at the centennial celebration, which Haszlakiwewicz said included a catered dinner and a DJ playing oldies. 'Actually, Joe is a member of our post so we're very privileged and honored to have him as a department commander,' Haszlakiwewicz said. 'He talked a bit about Be the One, which is a program we expound for suicide prevention.' According to Haszlakiwewicz, 16 men who are World War I veterans from the Morton Grove area loosely organized in 1924 to form an American Legion post and conducted their first meeting in January 1925 when they submitted an application for a charter. 'Basically, from the time they sent in the charter they considered themselves already a post. It probably didn't have a number yet because it would be assigned by the national American Legion,' Haszlakiwewicz said. Janine Witko, the new mayor of Morton Grove, touted the Post 134 and its 100-year existence. 'The village is fortunate to have a strong voice for veterans in American Legion Post 134, which has been a pillar for the community for 100 years and hopefully continues to be part of Morton Grove for the next 100 years,' Witko said in a statement. A Legionnaire for more than 25 years, Haszlakiwewicz became a member of Post 134 in 2020 after the Peter Huerter American Legion Post 46 in Wilmette – where he served as commander – disbanded. Haszlakiwewicz said Post 134 has 740 members, including about 300 from the Morton Grove, Niles and Skokie areas, and more than 100 who live out of state. 'The American Legion as a whole continues to recruit new members as much as they can, and we do that also to bolster our membership,' Haszlakiwewicz said. Haszlakiwewicz explained that the post's youngest member is in his 30s and the oldest member is a 104-year-old woman. 'Even though we have a large membership, we still struggle to have people involved,' Haszlakiwewicz said. Former Morton Grove mayor Dan DiMaria, who presided over his last Village Board meeting as mayor on May 13, shared his support for Post 134 with Pioneer Press. 'Morton Grove is made stronger by the American Legion who advocates for all veterans, service members and their families who have protected this nation and I want to congratulate them on celebrating their 100-year anniversary in the village,' DiMaria said in a prepared statement. In addition to community outreach, Post 134 offers a full-service bar for members who may bring a guest, and does a Queen of Hearts raffle drawing on Tuesdays. Haszlakiwewicz said he is looking forward to Post 134 hosting for the Adopt-A-Sailor program on Thanksgiving – for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began – where about 50 recruits from Naval Station Great Lakes come to Morton Grove for a meal, games and a chance to make phone calls to loved ones. 'There are a number of benefits for veterans from American Legion and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,' Haszlakiwewicz said. 'We're like a conduit for those who need help.' Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer.

House of Heroes cleans 78-year-old veteran's home
House of Heroes cleans 78-year-old veteran's home

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Yahoo

House of Heroes cleans 78-year-old veteran's home

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — An army veteran has fallen on tough times, and House of Heroes is helping him have safe access to his home in West Hartford. House of Heroes will be cleaning up the property of a 78-year-old deserving Vietnam War veteran. He has had difficulty accessing his home, and House of Heroes says they're getting the home back in shape. Wolcott police rescue deer from swimming pool The organization was founded in 2012 and has since helped hundreds of heroes. This is their 267th project. There will be about 25 volunteers from Triumph CT helping clean the property. So far, the property has been cleaned inside, but House of Heroes and volunteers will be freshening up the outside of the home. For more information, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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