Irondequoit Post (NY)
Irondequoit, N.Y. - Near the front of the room, a table was set for one as a solemn tribute to those who couldn’t enjoy the celebration.
More than 60, including Iraq veteran Charlie Vancheri, traveled to Ridgemont Country Club in Greece April 20 to mark the 80th anniversary of Irondequoit American Legion Post 134. The post, named for the community, was formed Feb. 2, 1928. Its first commander was George McAvoy, for whom a well-known sports park in southeast Irondequoit is now named.
Commander of the post is Peter Fantigrossi, a retiree of the Rochester Fire Department and a veteran of the Korean War. He is the one who made sure the table at the front of the banquet room was set for one, in honor of military personnel who are or were prisoners of war or missing in action.
“My two best friends were among them,” he said.
Post 134 today has about 90 members who are veterans of World War II, Korea, the Vietnam War and Desert Storm.
“We’re a very diverse outfit, with members who are lawyers and Kodak retirees to high school principals and former police officers,” Fantigrossi said.
Their common bond is their shared military service and their commitment to the community.
While many legion posts have names other than their town’s, “We’re so proud of Irondequoit, we’d never put anyone’s name in front,” Fantigrossi said, though he added that the post does have “a lot of outstanding citizens, veterans and soldiers.” Among the post’s well-known members is boxing great Carmen Basilio, who lives in Irondequoit.
The post meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month, March through December, in the Veterans Lodge at Camp Eastman, 1301 Lake Shore Blvd.
Besides honoring and helping veterans, providing honor guards for funerals and hosting patriotic observances on special occasions like Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Flag Day, the post focuses on community service.
“Get involved” is their motto, said Alexander Johnson, first vice-commander of the post. He also shared a brief post history at Sunday’s event, explaining that the first national American Legion was formed in 1919, after World War I.
Johnson said the post has sponsored an American Legion baseball team since that program’s inception and awarded three $1,000 scholarships to Irondequoit high school seniors since 1998. The post also helps the Irondequoit Community Cupboard.
Members also built the community playground at Camp Eastman in 2002, sponsored renovation of the Veterans Lodge there, and installed flag poles at three sites around town. The post has regularly made donations to the Irondequoit Police Department’s DARE program, Ronald McDonald House, Mercy Flight, the Irondequoit Theater Guild and the Canandaigua Veterans’ Hospital, where they also host a summer picnic and holiday party.
Most recently, the post has been sending packages to soldiers serving in Iraq.
In the last year, Post 134 awarded $10,000 to charitable causes, said finance officer Angelo Laloggia. They raise money by volunteering at community events and selling poppies prior to Memorial Day.
“Everything’s not awards and medals. It’s what you want to do from your heart,” Fantigrossi said.
Sunday’s celebration banquet, however, was a time for recognitions, and the commander had plenty to go around.
“You never saw a group get along like Post 134,” Fantigrossi said.
“We’re like one big family,” agreed Angelo Laloggia.
Fantigrossi had certificates of appreciation for post members like accountant Ray Schultheis, attorney and judge advocate Franklin D’Aurizio, second vice-commander Joe Laloggia, financial officer Angelo Laloggia, chaplain Thaddeus “Ted” Widera, trustee Charles D. Vancheri, sergeant-at-arms Edward Bardell, post photographer Frank Bellomo, first vice-commander Alex Johnson, longtime adjutant Don Tasick, current adjutant Gerard Deutsch; quartermaster, trustee and post musician Ray Sylvester; and a man, Fred Prince, he called the post’s “quiet giant.”
Fantigrossi also had recognitions for dedicated post members Dan O’Connor, Kevin Satter, Don McNelly, Alexander Gecas and Mike Cerame.
He also recognized Josiane Laloggia, who helps watch post expenses; Irondequoit Supervisor Mary Ellen Heyman and Irondequoit Post editor and reporter Linda Quinlan with plaques.
Additional awards for “service above and beyond the call of duty” went to Sylvester, Tasick, Deutsch, Johnson and Angelo Laloggia. Deutsch, in turn, presented a special award to Fantigrossi, especially thanking and citing the commander’s efforts to improve the post.
“Things have really advanced under his leadership,” Deutsch said. “And it’s not just meetings; he (Fantigrossi) also does a lot at home and on the phone. He’s constantly working for the post ... if he’s not writing a poem.”
Fantigrossi also enjoys writing poetry and has shared some of his work at post ceremonies.
Next up for the now 80-year-old post is the community’s 81st annual Memorial Day parade in May, after which will be a special concert by Gap Mangione on the Town Hall grounds, 1280 Titus Ave.
“It will be a nice way to begin the summer season,” Heyman said, and also to salute Post 134 and its members.
Deutsch had five words that perhaps described the group the best: “This post really does care,” he said.
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Irondequoit, N.Y. - Near the front of the room, a table was set for one as a solemn tribute to those who couldn’t enjoy the celebration.
More than 60, including Iraq veteran Charlie Vancheri, traveled to Ridgemont Country Club in Greece April 20 to mark the 80th anniversary of Irondequoit American Legion Post 134. The post, named for the community, was formed Feb. 2, 1928. Its first commander was George McAvoy, for whom a well-known sports park in southeast Irondequoit is now named.
Commander of the post is Peter Fantigrossi, a retiree of the Rochester Fire Department and a veteran of the Korean War. He is the one who made sure the table at the front of the banquet room was set for one, in honor of military personnel who are or were prisoners of war or missing in action.
“My two best friends were among them,” he said.
Post 134 today has about 90 members who are veterans of World War II, Korea, the Vietnam War and Desert Storm.
“We’re a very diverse outfit, with members who are lawyers and Kodak retirees to high school principals and former police officers,” Fantigrossi said.
Their common bond is their shared military service and their commitment to the community.
While many legion posts have names other than their town’s, “We’re so proud of Irondequoit, we’d never put anyone’s name in front,” Fantigrossi said, though he added that the post does have “a lot of outstanding citizens, veterans and soldiers.” Among the post’s well-known members is boxing great Carmen Basilio, who lives in Irondequoit.
The post meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month, March through December, in the Veterans Lodge at Camp Eastman, 1301 Lake Shore Blvd.
Besides honoring and helping veterans, providing honor guards for funerals and hosting patriotic observances on special occasions like Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Flag Day, the post focuses on community service.
“Get involved” is their motto, said Alexander Johnson, first vice-commander of the post. He also shared a brief post history at Sunday’s event, explaining that the first national American Legion was formed in 1919, after World War I.
Johnson said the post has sponsored an American Legion baseball team since that program’s inception and awarded three $1,000 scholarships to Irondequoit high school seniors since 1998. The post also helps the Irondequoit Community Cupboard.
Members also built the community playground at Camp Eastman in 2002, sponsored renovation of the Veterans Lodge there, and installed flag poles at three sites around town. The post has regularly made donations to the Irondequoit Police Department’s DARE program, Ronald McDonald House, Mercy Flight, the Irondequoit Theater Guild and the Canandaigua Veterans’ Hospital, where they also host a summer picnic and holiday party.
Most recently, the post has been sending packages to soldiers serving in Iraq.
In the last year, Post 134 awarded $10,000 to charitable causes, said finance officer Angelo Laloggia. They raise money by volunteering at community events and selling poppies prior to Memorial Day.
“Everything’s not awards and medals. It’s what you want to do from your heart,” Fantigrossi said.
Sunday’s celebration banquet, however, was a time for recognitions, and the commander had plenty to go around.
“You never saw a group get along like Post 134,” Fantigrossi said.
“We’re like one big family,” agreed Angelo Laloggia.
Fantigrossi had certificates of appreciation for post members like accountant Ray Schultheis, attorney and judge advocate Franklin D’Aurizio, second vice-commander Joe Laloggia, financial officer Angelo Laloggia, chaplain Thaddeus “Ted” Widera, trustee Charles D. Vancheri, sergeant-at-arms Edward Bardell, post photographer Frank Bellomo, first vice-commander Alex Johnson, longtime adjutant Don Tasick, current adjutant Gerard Deutsch; quartermaster, trustee and post musician Ray Sylvester; and a man, Fred Prince, he called the post’s “quiet giant.”
Fantigrossi also had recognitions for dedicated post members Dan O’Connor, Kevin Satter, Don McNelly, Alexander Gecas and Mike Cerame.
He also recognized Josiane Laloggia, who helps watch post expenses; Irondequoit Supervisor Mary Ellen Heyman and Irondequoit Post editor and reporter Linda Quinlan with plaques.
Additional awards for “service above and beyond the call of duty” went to Sylvester, Tasick, Deutsch, Johnson and Angelo Laloggia. Deutsch, in turn, presented a special award to Fantigrossi, especially thanking and citing the commander’s efforts to improve the post.
“Things have really advanced under his leadership,” Deutsch said. “And it’s not just meetings; he (Fantigrossi) also does a lot at home and on the phone. He’s constantly working for the post ... if he’s not writing a poem.”
Fantigrossi also enjoys writing poetry and has shared some of his work at post ceremonies.
Next up for the now 80-year-old post is the community’s 81st annual Memorial Day parade in May, after which will be a special concert by Gap Mangione on the Town Hall grounds, 1280 Titus Ave.
“It will be a nice way to begin the summer season,” Heyman said, and also to salute Post 134 and its members.
Deutsch had five words that perhaps described the group the best: “This post really does care,” he said.
