Veterans of Lansingburgh, Inc.
777 - 1st Avenue
Troy, New York 12182
PHONE: (518) 233-8656
WEBSITE: www.thelansingburghvets.com
APR - JUN
2015 Edition
COLONEL (RET) DANIEL J. TRAVERS, U.S. ARMY
2015 GRAND MARSHAL
ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL – THANK A VET TODAY
TO ALL THOSE WHO SERVED, AND ARE SERVING TODAY, WE THANK YOU!
OFFICERS:
President: Paul Higgitt, Jr.
Vice President: Bill Atchinson
Secretary: Lisa Saunders
Treasurer: Ned Davey
Financial Secretary: Rich Layton
Asst. Financial Secretary: Al O’Brien
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Pat Abrams
Tom Doin
Tom Dougherty
Bob Gallagher
Lisa Higgitt
Bill Nedoroscik
Tom Rooney
Dennis Van Wie
Tom Yaiser
LADIES AUXILIARY OFFICERS:
President:
Alice Collum
Vice President: Ruth Cooper
Secretary: Ann O’Brien
Treasurer: Kelly Konifka
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Spring is here and the Club has begun to come back to life after an extremely cold and long winter. It is time
to start cleaning up and getting ready for a busy spring and summer.
It will soon be time for our 19th Annual Memorial Day Parade. The parade committee has already been at
work for a few months preparing for the Memorial Day weekend activities. This is our largest club event of
the year. We do the parade for the local community, to help them remember the ultimate sacrifice that
many of our comrades have made so that we can continue to live in the most democratic and free nation in
the world. This year, the Grand Marshal for the 2015 Memorial Day Parade is Colonel Dan Travers. The
Colonel is retired Army and a combat veteran of the war in Iraq. Born and raised in Lansingburgh, he has
been a member of our Organization for many years. Honorary Grand Marshal is Major Christopher
Cincio. Chris is a Major in the Lincoln & Welland Regiment, lifetime member of the Veterans of Lansingburgh
and has been a participant along with his regiment in our parade for the past eighteen years.
We do this parade so our fallen comrade’s memories are not forgotten. I’m requesting that all members
wear your colors and help honor those who have served. If you can’t march I encourage you to ride the
floats. We have two floats for the Veteran, Associate and Auxiliary members. Help show the community
what the Veterans of Lansingburgh are made of. In addition to the parade, we can always use help in
preparing for the Memorial Day Weekend activities. We need help with the various parade committees and
with fundraisers, flag placement on graves, etc. If you are interested, please contact Bill Gordon or Lisa
Higgitt the Parade Chairs. We also do our semi-annual GI Party to give both the inside and outside a good
cleaning prior to the upcoming festivities. If you can assist for a few hours, we would really appreciate it.
Lastly, keep the men and women who are deployed throughout the world fighting the Global War on
Terrorism in your thoughts and prayers. They are doing their part to keep us safe and out of harm’s way.
When you see a service member or Veteran, thank them for their service, it doesn’t cost anything and lets
that individual know that someone cares and appreciates what they are doing, or what they have done to
preserve our freedoms.
Respectfully Submitted,
PJ Higgitt,
President
LADIES AUXILIARY NEWS
Dear Auxiliary:
As we enjoy the upcoming Spring months I would like to keep you informed of the upcoming Auxiliary
activities and events:
April 4th – Annual Jack Hunt Buffet (12-4 pm) The Auxiliary will have a Basket of Cheer and $100 in Lotto
scratch offs to raffle.
May 2nd - Is the Club’s $100 ticket drawing. A raffle of donated items will take place immediately after the
drawing. We are looking for all Auxiliary members to make a donation to raffle. We are looking for 2 or 3
Auxiliary members to collect items, set this up and help run this, it’s always a day of fun!
May 9th – The semi-annual Club GI (clean-up) party to help clean the Club. Everything from the inside to the
outside of the Club needs to be cleaned. Please plan to volunteer a few hours of your time.
The annual Graveside Ceremony will be held on May 23rd, and the 19th Annual Memorial Day Parade is
May 25th. If you would like to help with the parade please plan to attend the parade meetings (April 13 &
May 11), or see Lisa Higgitt for more information. The required uniform for both events is the Club white
shirt and black slacks or skirt. Additional help needed includes decorating, selling Club merchandise, 50/50
etc. Please remember that our Memorial Day is important to our veterans and the community. Girls let’s
have a big turnout in helping!
The Ladies Auxiliary will again host an essay contest for the students of Lansingburgh in grades 5, 8 and 11.
This year’s essay is entitled “What Freedom means to me”. Awards will be presented at the Awards
Ceremony immediately following the Memorial Day Parade on May 25th.
I would like to welcome our newest Auxiliary members. Debbie Whitman, Ann Lynch, and Carrie Baldwin.
Please take the time to introduce yourself to her and make her welcome! Our monthly meetings are held the
2nd Monday of the month at 6 pm. Attendance at our meetings is very important to keep everyone
informed. A special thank you to all Auxiliary members who have helped out this year. Great job girls!
Alice Collum,
Auxiliary President
Home: 235-6486
VETERAN’S OF LANSINGBURGH CLUB REPORTS
PARADE COMMITTEE
The Lansingburgh Memorial Day Parade was restarted by the Veterans of Lansingburgh in 1996 after a 19
year absence. Previously, the parade was funded by the City of Troy, but was discontinued due to fiscal
constraints. The purpose of the Memorial Day Parade and the Memorial Day weekend activities is to take
the time to honor the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States of
America. Below is a list of our 19th Annual Memorial Day weekend events. Complete Bios are at the Club.
GRAND MARSHAL
HONORARY GRAND MARSHAL
DANIEL J. TRAVERS
CHRISTOPHER F. CINCIO
Colonel (Retired) U.S. Army
Major Canadian Army Reserves
GRAVESIDE CEREMONY /SATURDAY, 23 MAY (9 A.M.)
We depart our club at 9 a.m. (rain or shine) for the Oakwood Cemetery where we lay a wreath at the
monument near the flagpole at the crematorium. The staff of Oakwood Cemetery holds a brief service.
Thereafter the procession will move to the Veterans plot in Oakwood Cemetery and flags will be placed on
the graves of the deceased veterans by our club members and volunteers from the Boy Scouts. After
Oakwood Cemetery, we proceed to other monuments within Lansingburgh to place wreathes. The ceremony
concludes with a wreath laying ceremony on the Hudson River at the Vets Club, whereby flowers are tossed
into the Hudson River in honor of each of the Armed Services.
PARADE ROUTE /MONDAY, 25 MAY (11 A.M.)
The parade starts at 11:00 a.m., rain or shine. The parade route is from 123rd St. and 5th Ave., South to 115th
St. and 5th Ave. Turn down 115th St. to 2nd Ave. North on 2nd Ave. to 121st St. and 2nd Ave. The Reviewing
Stand will be located on the East Side of 2nd Ave. in front of Standard Manufacturing Company.
THIS YEAR’S DIGNITARIES
Grand Marshal
– Daniel J. Travers, Colonel (retired) U.S. Army
Honorary Grand Marshal – Christopher Cincio, Major- Lincoln & Welland Regiment, Canadian Reserves
Canadian Comrades
– Members of the Lincoln & Welland Regiment, Canadian Reserve
Scholarship Winner
– To be announced!
WANTED: BARTENDERS!
OPEN TO VETERAN, ASSOCIATE AND AUXILIARY MEMBERS!
We are looking for Bartenders for the main bar and to bartend at parties/events. If you are
interested in bartending, stop by the club and pick up an application. Completed applications
should be left at the bar addressed to PJ Higgitt.
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE:
We need your help to prepare for this year’s 19th Annual Memorial Day
Parade. Please see the sign-up sheets on the cooler door. YOUR help is needed to make this event a
success. Make a commitment to help YOUR Club! Most important is getting a good turnout to walk or ride
in our parade. Plan to attend! If you need to order shirts, see EARL MORRISSEY at the April meeting to ensure
he can order before the parade. Parade Co-Chairs, Lisa Higgitt/Bill Gordon
DONATIONS NEEDED: The parade gets more and more expensive every year. Donations are
appreciated. Special thanks to the groups/individuals below who have already sent in their donations.
Checks should be made out to the Veterans of Lansingburgh (add Parade Donation in the memo section.)
NY National Grid ($300)
NYS Chapter 19 - Combat Motorcycle Vets Assoc. ($200)
PJ and Lisa Higgitt ($100)
Troy PBA ($100)
Brunswick Baptist Church ($50)
John D. Corcoran ($30)
WALL OF HONOR: We will again be offering Memory Cards to honor Veterans. They will be posted at
the Club during our Memorial Day weekend. The cost is $10 and can be purchased from the Bartenders at
the Club, or by contacting Ed Jackson (577-9395) or Bill Gordon (763-4072). Special thanks to Ed Jackson for
his help again this year!
HONOR “Your Vets” in the Troy Record on Memorial
In Memory of
Day. For $100 you will receive a small ad, and $200 for a larger
ad. Submit your ads to Karen Gordon by April 15th c/o
Veterans of Lansingburgh, 777 1st Ave., Troy, NY 12182.
Contact Karen (518-235-4754) with questions.
*NOTE: THE CLUB IS A 501C3.
John E. Thompson,
USN retired
The Thompson family
2015 ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Nominations for Officers and Board Members were held at the
March meeting. All Vet Officers ran unopposed. Four individuals were running for three board positions.
After the meeting, Mike Brown (current Board Member) decided to resign because he spends a majority of
his time in Florida. With Mike’s resignation, there is no need for an election. The incumbents (Pat Abrams,
Lisa Higgitt and Tom Yaiser) will get 3 year terms. Bill Nedorscik has been appointed to fill the remainder of
Mike Browns term which ends in 2017. In the Auxiliary, two members ran unopposed. THERE IS NO
ELECTION SCHEDULED/NEEDED FOR APRIL.
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE:
The Board of Director’s will meet in April to review applications for this year’s Veterans of Lansingburgh
Scholarship award. The winner will be invited to participate in our Memorial Day parade and receive a check
for $1,000 at the award ceremony immediately following the parade. Special thanks to the Club Dart
Leagues for their continued donations to this committee, as well as Ned Dougherty who helped us fundraise
this year. Donation checks should be made out to the Veterans of Lansingburgh and sent to: The Veterans of
Lansingburgh, ATTN: The Scholarship Committee, 777 1st Ave., Troy, NY 12182. Thank you!
Lisa Higgitt,
Scholarship Chair
UPCOMING CLUB EVENTS
Semi-Annual - CLUB G.I.
CLEANUP PARTY!
In an effort to clean the inside/outside of the
Club prior to the parade our club cleanup is
MAY 9rd from 8 am- Noon.
ALL MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO
PARTICIPATE. Club will be closed to those
not cleaning during this time.
$100 Club Drawing
May 2nd – Party starts
at noon drawing at 3
pm. See PJ if you
want a ticket. We are
also doing a raffle and
need donated items!
MOTHER’S DAY & FATHER’S DAY!
Join us for Brunch on Mother’s Day (May 10th)
and Father’s Day (June 21st)! We’ll be serving
food from 8:30-11:30. We’d love to see you.
Please also consider helping in the kitchen
to prep/cook/serve/clean.
STEAK ROAST - Saturday, June 20th
Limited Tickets on sale May 25 – June 14
Starts at noon (steak dinners served at 5:30 p.m.)
Tickets include clam chowder, hamburgers, hotdogs, watermelon,
other munchies, draft beer, soda, steak, potato, corn and more!
Must be 21 to attend. No coolers allowed!
Enjoy a fun day by the river with good food and good company!
KITCHEN REPORT Thanks to all who have helped out during the last few months.
I am ALWAYS
looking for help in the kitchen. No need to wait for a phone call! See me if you want to book a party, work in
the kitchen, or have any questions. Thanks!
TOM ROONEY, Head Chef
3 Month Menu:
APR 03– Fish
APR 04 - Jack Hunt Buffet
APR 10 –Roast Beef
APR 12– BRUNCH
APR 17 – Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast
APR 24 – Steak
MAY 01 – Fish
MAY 08 – Grilled Pork Chops
MAY 10 – Mother’s Day Brunch
From the Editor:
MAY 15 – Italian Night
MAY 22 – Roast Turkey Breast
MAY 29 – Steak
JUN 05 – Fish
JUN 12 – Goulash
JUN 19 – Stuffed Chicken Breast
JUN 20 – Club Steak Roast (limited tickets)
JUN 21 – Father’s Day Brunch
JUN 26 – Steak
MOST FRIDAY NIGHTS: Chicken wings, chicken
tenders, subs, wraps, soup, burgers, fries
Hope you enjoyed this edition of the newsletter. If you aren’t reading this
newsletter online, please go to our website - (www.thelansingburghvets.com) to stay up-to-date with
all club activities, events and veteran links. Thanks! Lisa Higgitt