Monthly Archives: November 2016

Nov. 19: My wife Lynn and I were invited to the Whitestone Masonic Lodge last night for their Veterans Appreciation Night dinner and meeting. I was invited by Forrest Woodward, whom I had met last year when I spoke at a meeting of the New York-New Jersey chapter of the First Cavalry Division Assn. in New Jersey. After lodge members who are veterans shared their stories, I spoke for 25 minutes about my Vietnam service and my memoir “Heroes to…..

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Nov. 18, 2016: It is really encouraging to see so many Long Island companies getting involved with veterans. At our Oct. 27 4th Annual Veterans Salute Gala at Bethpage State Park’s Carlyle on the Green, United Veterans Beacon House grossed $186,165, including $145,450 in sponsorships and donations from companies such as Astoria Bank, Coldwell Banker, Northwell Health and PSE&G. That night I met Nicholas Culpepper of PSE&G Long Island’s Veterans Employee Resource Group. He told me of the utility company’s…..

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Updated Nov. 14: Nov. 15: Herricks Community Center, 999 Herricks Rd., New Hyde Park, 12:15 p.m. Nov. 16: JASA Long Beach Senior Center, 75 E. Walnut St., Long Beach, 10 a.m. Nov. 17: Syosset American Legion Post 175, 68 Berry Hill Rd., Syosset, 7 p.m. Nov. 18: Whitestone Masonic Lodge, 149-39 11th Ave., Whitestone, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 22 Vietnam War Veterans Assn., North Bellmore American Legion Post, 1298 Newbridge Rd., North Bellmore, 7 p.m. Dec. 5: East Meadow VFW Post…..

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Nov. 11: I was a little glum on Nov. 9 when my book talk at Cold Spring Harbor Library drew only two people, both Vietnam veterans who bought copies of “Heroes to the End.” But one of them, Jerry Kessler, invited me to Huntington Country Club for a luncheon on Veterans Day. About 100 club members, in an event organized by club head pro Jim Smoot, invited 24 outpatient veterans through Northport VA Medical Center to play golf, have lunch…..

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Nov. 10 post: Sept. 11, 2001, Nov. 8, 2016: the two worst days of my life. I had to seek refuge at my church, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock, for three hours yesterday as stunned congregants met for meditation and calm, rational discussion of the presidential election results. Seeking normalcy, I had a Board meeting at United Veterans Beacon House in Bay Shore yesterday morning, followed by a book talk at Cold Spring Harbor Library. Only two people…..

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Nov. 7 I took part in a thrilling and rewarding event at my church on Nov. 5. I was one of about 40 cast members involved in a cabaret at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset that raised about $3,000 for high school music scholarships. I sang “Riders on the Storm” by The Doors and “The End of the Innocence” by Don Henley and took part in five other songs with other cast members, singing “Tradition” from…..

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