Monthly Archives: October 2016

Oct. 29: It was a great week for “Heroes to the End” and United Veterans Beacon House. This past Monday night, I picked up a $200 check at the home of Vietnam Veterans of America chapter 82 president Steve Bonom; the chapter bought 10 books to auction off at a fundraiser. That night I also spoke at Merrick American Legion Post 1282, sold eight books for $160 and amazingly received a donation from the post of $500. Thursday night at…..

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Oct. 28: Our 4th annual Veterans Salute Gala was a huge success last night at Carlyle on the Green at Bethpage State Park. There is a possibility that United Veterans Beacon House will reap more than $125,000 from the event attended by more than 200 people supporting our mission of housing and servicing homeless veterans and others. It was great to see our board members, staff and spouses there as well as representatives from sponsors such as Astoria Bank, Coldwell…..

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Oct. 27: I’ve been invited to speak at the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial in April in Camden, N.J. Director of sales and marketing Jack Willard extended the invitation and offered the possibility of selling copies of “Heroes to the End” in their bookstore. The ship was stationed off the coast of South Vietnam in 1968-69.

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Oct. 26 I’m looking into a new area for possible speaking invitastions: military museums and libraries. I’ve asked to be invited to talk about “Heroes to the End” at the Pritzker Military Museum and Library in Chicago, the War College and the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle, Pa., the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. and the USS New Jersey in Camden. I’m open to suggestions for other military organizations around the country that I might…..

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Oct. 25: As my book tour grinds on, I’m finding increasing generosity from military organizations, especially Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Posts. The latest example came last night when I spoke at Merrick American Legion Post 1282. At a meeting of about 20 members, the group listened to my 15-minute talk about “Heroes to the End,” lined up to have me sign eight books that they bought and then asked me to step out of the room for…..

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Oct. 19: I decided today to order more books from my publisher after last night’s talk at the Vietnam Veterans of America chapter 82 meeting in Hicksville. I chatted with the members there and sold 5 books during the dinner hour before the meeting. Then I gave a 10-minute talk, got a round of applause, and chapter commander Steve Bonom surprised me by announcing that the post would buy 10 books to raffle off at one of their events. I…..

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Oct. 17: My wife Lynn and I had a good time on Oct. 15 at the 60th anniversary dinner of the Mineola Athletic Association at the Knights of Columbus hall. My son, Peter, played baseball and spring and fall soccer in the program. I was an assistant coach and board secretary during that period in the late 1990s. The event was coordinated by Ken Weiss, whose son Greg was in the program during the same time. We enjoyed talking to…..

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Oct. 14: Some politicians pay lip service to caring about veterans. Others really do care. North Hempstead Town supervisor Judi Bosworth is in the latter category. Her feelings showed at today’s sixth annual North Hempstead “Thank You to Our Veterans” Breakfast Conference at Clinton G. Martin Park in New Hyde Park. It was attended by about 250 veterans and spouses. Bosworth allowed time for providers of service to veterans to speak briefly about their organizations. I, as United Veterans Beacon…..

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Oct. 4 The feeling of brotherhood was overwhelming on Sept. 29, when I attended the 72nd Gold Star Mass at Chaminade High School in Mineola as part of my 50th reunion celebration. The Mass, celebrated by Air Force major Timothy Hirten, honored our 56 alumni killed during service to their country. I sat with Steve Bovich, a classmate who said he had served 29 years in the Air Force and spent the last 15 years as a contractor. I also…..

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