2018 POST ACTIVITIES
On November 24, 2018 the Post met for a Holiday Breakfast at Davidson's Restaurant in Cornersburg. As he has done for several years, Frank Davidson donated the space AND the meal at no cost to our Post. There were over forty (40) persons in attendance, including Legionnaires, family and five (5) 2018 Boys State Representatives sponsored by our Post (Luke Bowser, Phil Stanic, Vince Patierno, Noah Zoldan and Jacob Pitzer).
Over the Veterans Day weekend, several of our post members visited local nursing homes and extended care facilities to distribute "Thank you Veterans" cards prepared by 4th graders at Hilltop Elementary School in Canfield. Post 177 has been doing this on Veterans Day for several years and the resident veterans - as always - are extremely appreciative of our efforts.
Veterans Day Assembly at Canfield Village Middle School, November 9, 2018.
Commander Kubitza, Vice Commander Coleman and Post members Micchia and Pfahl make Veterans Day presentations to 4th Grade classes at Hilltop Elementary School, November 9, 2018.
Our own Services Officer, Susan Sansenbaugher, delivers the keynote address at the CH Campbell Elementary School Veterans Day Assembly, November 12, 2018.
Mayor/Chaplain Dick Duffett presents a check for $5,000 from the 2018 Till Open Golf Tournament to Commander Mike Kubitza.
Some of our Post members participated in the Flags of Honor ceremony at Boardman Park on 21 September 2018.
On September 20th, the Post and Post Auxiliary hosted a "Meet & Greet" at the Canfield Branch of the Mahoning County Library. The purpose of the meeting was to acquaint attendees with the missions of the Legion and Auxiliary and to encourage those eligible to become members. Additionally, short briefings were provided by Jack Cunningham, Patient Advocate at the Youngstown VA Clinic and Susan Skrzynski, Director of the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission on the benefits offered by their respective organizations. Some photos of the event are included below.
Click on the Centennial image below to learn more about the American Legion's first one-hundred years, and the plans for the next one-hundred!!!
At the post meeting on August 7th, 2018, Commander Kubitza presented one (1) of our "Veterans Only" parking signs to Mike Sauner, Western Reserve Middle School Principal and Athletic Director. The Western Reserve Schools will take possession of a total of seven (7) of these signs to create a "Veterans Only" parking row at the school complex in Berlin Center.
Click below to see the article in The Town Crier describing the "Veterans Only" parking signs erected at the Canfield Branch of the Public Library (J.T. Whitehouse, 8/2/18).
Canfield Library Adds Two "Veterans Parking" Spaces.
Canfield Library Adds Two "Veterans Parking" Spaces.
The "Veterans Only" parking sign program is starting to take-off. To date, we have issued forty (40) signs to area businesses and government entities. As the signs are erected, we will post photos of them here.
On July 26th, members of the Post participated in the dedication of two (2) "Veterans Only" parking signs at the Canfield Branch of the Youngstown & Mahoning County Library. Pictured below, from left, Commander Mike Kubitza, Veterans Parking Sign Committee Chair, Frank Micchia, Library Executive Director Aimee Fifarek, Post Finance Officer Dominic Diloreto and First Vice Commander Chuck Coleman.
Read more about this dedication ceremony at the Library website (click HERE).
(Photos courtesy of JT Whitehouse, The Town Crier and The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County).
Read more about this dedication ceremony at the Library website (click HERE).
(Photos courtesy of JT Whitehouse, The Town Crier and The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County).
Some photo highlights of the Post's participation in the 2018 Canfield Fourth of July Parade.
..................and a few videos from the parade, too.
On Thursday, June 21, 2018 members of Post 177 and Post 177 Auxiliary met at the Canfield Library to hear our delegates to 2018 Buckeye Girls State discuss their experiences.
At the Canfield City Council meeting on June 6, 2018, Commander Kubitza presented Certificates of Appreciation to City Manager Wade Calhoun and Council President John Morvay for their support of the 2018 Memorial Day Services.
At The Canfield Township Trustee meeting on June 12, 2018, First Vice Commander Coleman presented Certificates of Appreciation to Township Administrator Keith Rogers and Trustee Chairman Brian Governor for their support of the 2018 Memorial Day Services.
At our June meeting, Susan Sansenbaugher, Mahoning County Commander, swore in Post 177 Officers for year 2018.
Also at the June meeting, Post Commander Mike Kubitza presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Cassie Mosure-Oles for her outstanding musical performance at the 2018 memorial Day Services.
Some photos from the 2018 Memorial Day Services. Thanks to C/TSgt Isaac M. Foust, CAP, Youngstown ARS Composite Squadron Cadet Public Affairs NCOIC for many of the photos.
Following recent newspaper articles :
Canfield Veterans Only Parking Sign Dedication, March 25, 2018 (click here).
2018 Canfield Memorial Day Services announcement (click here).
The Mission of Honor Flight Columbus is to Honor our nation’s senior veterans with a trip to Washington, D.C. to visit their war memorials at no cost to them; share their stories for the benefit of future generations; and celebrate their homecoming, affirming their allegiance and service to our country.
You can find out more information by visiting their website at: http://www.honorflightcolumbus.org
You can download the application form at their website or here.
You can find out more information by visiting their website at: http://www.honorflightcolumbus.org
You can download the application form at their website or here.
Cardinal Joint Fire District member Ron Hinderliter is presented a Certificate of Appreciation from Post Commander Mike Kubitza in recognition of his continuing exemplary contribution as a First Responder to the greater Canfield community. Hinderliter was recommended for this award by District Chief Don Hutchison.
Post Commander Mike Kubitza presents a Legion Certificate of Membership to Past Commander Frank Cavanaugh in recognition of Frank's 70 years of continuous membership in American Legion Post 177. Congratulations, Frank!
The NATIONAL RESOURCE DIRECTORY is a website created jointly by the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Veterans Administration (VA) as a single source of information for veterans and their families. It provides links to resources on health care, education and training, employment, family and caregiver support, housing and homelessness, benefits and compensation. The advantage of using this single-source portal is that all of the organizations included in the NATIONAL RESOURCE DIRECTORY have been vetted by DOD/DOL/VA. You can access the directory by clicking HERE. It is also included on the LINKS page.
Commander Kubitza received the following email and photos from Vince Patierno, one of Post 177's nominees to 2018 Buckeye Boys State. This clearly attests to the quality of students we have in Canfield and should assure each of us that they will be outstanding representatives of the community.
Commander Kubitza accepts a plaque from Lori Stone of the Youngstown VA Clinic for our Post's continued support of the clinic and area veterans.
At our February 2018 Post meeting, Aleia Osborne became the 9th applicant for 2018 Girls State. She made a short presentation to the members describing her motivation to attend. Also at the meeting, Nico Miorgine briefed the members on his experiences at 2017 Boys State.
At special meetings on January 15th and January 22d, 2018, members of the Post and the Post Auxiliary interviewed candidates for the 2018 Buckeye Boys and Girls State programs. This is the largest group of applicants we have ever had. Each applicant made a short presentation on his/her specific reasons for wanting to attend Buckeye Boys/Girls State, after which members of the Post and Auxiliary further questioned them on background, academics, hobbies, etc. All Post and Auxiliary members agreed that every one of these fine young high school juniors would represent Post 177 admirably.
On January 7, 2018 Vice Commander Coleman traveled to the Navy/USMC Reserve Center at the USAF Reserve Base in Vienna, OH to present a Legion Certificate of Achievement to SR Nick Martinelli of the Knighthawk Squadron, Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) for being selected as the Battalion Honor Cadet at Recruit Training, Camp Highroad, VA from 26 Dec 17 to 03 January 2018.
At our January meeting, Certificates of Commendation were presented to Deputy Carmen Constantino of the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office and Detective Brian McGivern of the Canfield City Police Department for service to the community. A Certificate of Commendation was also prepared for Firefighter/EMT Ron Hinderliter, who was unable to attend the presentation.
Also at the January meeting, Certificates of Achievement were presented to five (5) Canfield High School students for participating in the Americanism and Government Test Program. A sixth student, Luke Hetzel of Boardman High School was unable to attend the presentation. Cathy Gagliardi, president of Post 177 Auxiliary, and Matt Lewis, Post Adjutant, made the presentations.