Dugout Newsletter - April 2013

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          D.N. Cockerel, by direction

S.2230 New York State Gun Laws and You, a Veteran

From: David N. Cockerel;

To My Comrades, Legionnaires all, Veterans and Citizens.

Recently the Governor signed into law S.2230.  I got a copy of this law from the State Assembly’s Web Site. 

After reading the law I was alarmed, dismayed and angry because with a signature on legislation that was passed in the darkness of night, I may have become a criminal.

I was a good citizen before yesterday, before this “law” was signed by Governor Cuomo.

I now with authorization from Commander Paul Nehrich, present to the Freeport Legion as a Post, also to concerned Citizens of Freeport and New York, my Letter to the Commander of the Nassau County American Legion.

"http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/S2230-2013" is the web site to read the law as enacted.

It is my hope and prayer that the American Legion act with responsible legislators to protect Veterans who have served their country with honor.

"The trite saying that honesty is the best policy has met with the just criticism that honesty is not policy. The real honest man is honest from conviction of what is right, not from policy." — Robert E. Lee 

For God and Country

I Am

Semper Fidelis

David N. Cockerel, 2nd Vice Cmdr. 

Post 342 William Clinton Story

With Consent

Pearl Harbor Remembrance and Veterans Day Observance

Pearl Harbor Remembrance & Veterans Day Observance Ceremony

In the Freeport Memorial Library on December 7, 2012 the American Legion hosted a celebration recognizing Past Commanders of the American Legion and Senior Legion Members who served and continues to serve the Legion and the Freeport Community.

Ken Belefiore, Library Director was Master of Ceremonies and informed us that the Freeport Memorial Library was the first such Library dedicated to Veterans of War in the State of New York.  Although Mayor Hardwick could not attend Trustees Kennedy and Pineyro were in attendance.

The guest speaker, the Honorable Stephen Drummond, Freeport Village Justice along with the Village Trustees did the presentation of the Village Citations to the honorees.   Carolyn Harding did soul stirring renditions of the National Anthem, a Patriotic Medley that included Amazing Grace and God Bless America which those assembled all joined in.

Unfortunately, Gerard Barbosa, Pearl Harbor Survivor who served in the U.S. Navy could not attend due to suffering a heart attack just a few days before the ceremony.  Judge Drummond gave a heart touching reflection of what Pearl Harbor meant in light of the Hurricane Sandy disaster and what seeing the American Flag meant to him after the storm.

We again thank Reverend Carlos Vargas of the Freeport Bible Center for his attendance and Invocation, also Reverend Phillip Prestamo of the First Baptist Church for giving us the Benediction.  It was a wonderful ceremony with much applause for the Legionnaires among us who have proved to be not only the backbone of the Post but backbones of the Freeport Community.

Below is the Program for the Event

For God and Country

David N. Cockerel, 2^nd Vice Commander, Post 342