Yorktown e-Legion
     

                 Yorktown American Legion Post #1009                  Volume No. 1                 Issue No. 3                    February/ March 2008   
 

                        Are you aware of the tax breaks for Veterans?
       Recent legislation passed by the Westchester County Board of Legislators has extended property tax
    breaks to those veterans who served in the US Armed Forces during the Cold War.  Until this legislation only
    those veterans who had served during the military conflicts previously listed by the Congress of the United
    States enjoyed this benefit.  This newer version of the tax relief bill includes the veterans who served in the
    Armed Forces from Sept. 2, 1945 to Dec. 26, 1991.  Military veterans who served since Dec. 26, 1991 are
    included in the ‘War Against Terrorism’ time period recognized by Congress.  The extent of the tax break is
    figured out by a formula established by the State of New York based on the assessed value of the residential
    property.  The tax exemption will expire after 10 years without further legislation.
       All veterans should stop in their Town Hall’s Office of the Tax Assessor and pick up the simple one page
    application.  To file the application a copy of your DD-214 will be needed to verify your military service.  
    This tax break is not being widely advertised so tell every veteran you know about it.  It costs nothing to
    apply and every veteran can benefit from this updated legislation.  Applications must be submitted by June 1,
    2008 to apply in tax year 2009.  If you file after June 1st, the tax break won’t apply until the 2010 tax year!  
    File yours immediately!


                        Westchester County American Legion Convention     
      Richie Calbo, County Commander and Post #1009 Membership Officer has informed the Post that this year’s
    Westchester County American Legion Convention will be hosted by our Yorktown Post #1009.  This is
    Commander Calbo’s final year as the County Commander and he wants everyone in the County to see his
    Yorktown Post shine at the Convention.  There is a lot of work to do before the June Convention.  Hopefully
    the stars from last year’s Convention success, Bob Dagnino and Patrick McDonough, will return and receive
    help from every member of the Post.  The Convention is on Saturday, June 7, 2008.  Keep the date open and
    volunteer for setting up, serving during the Convention, or breaking down the hall and cleaning up.  If
    everyone does a little bit, no one has to do it all themselves.  Volunteers can contact Patrick McDonough at
    (914) 953-6807, or by e-mail at patmcdonough@nylegion1009.org.


                                              Chapel of the Four Chaplains Ceremony
        On Sunday February 3rd the Post conducted it’s Chapel of the Four Chaplains Ceremony.  Rev. Msgr.
    Sandi of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Shrub Oak, a retired Air Force chaplain, and Assemblyman Greg Ball, a
    fellow Air Force veteran were among our honored guests who participated in our ceremony.  Our legionnaires
    and guests came to celebrate the Methodist Minister, Dutch Reformed Minister, Rabbi, and Catholic Priest who
    died aboard the torpedoed troopship, Dorchester, on February 3, 1943.  These chaplains gave their life
    preservers to those who needed them, then calmed and prayed with their shipmates as the ship sank into the
    icy North Atlantic.  Those who survived gave reports of their bravery, cooperation, and sacrifice.  For their
    actions that night the four chaplains were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart,
    posthumously.


                                                     Take a Chance…  Memorial Day Raffle
      Post #1009’s annual Memorial Day Raffle tickets are being sent out shortly.  This annual 50/50 drawing is
    used to cover the expenses the Post incurs supplying free hot dogs and soda to marchers and spectators after
    the Town Memorial Day Parade.  Any left over monies are put into the General Fund to keep the Post
    financially sound.  The Post’s expenses have skyrocketed upward over the past few years.  Everyone has seen
    the price of heating oil and insurance eat up his or her home budget, well the same has occurred with the
    Post.  Please take part in our Post’s 50/50 Raffle.  If you can sell more than one book, please contact us, or
    stop in the post for more raffle tickets.  Everyone’s help is needed to keep our Yorktown Post moving
    forward.
       Our Yorktown Post is increasing its services to its members, but using technology to keep costs down.  Last
    March our Post Website www.nylegion1009.org was launched.  Please take a look at it and tell us what you
    think of it.  On it you’ll see our schedule of events, Post news recaps, photo albums of events, and links to
    helpful sites like our Legion’s National, State, and Westchester County Websites.  In October, the Post
    initiated an e-mail newsletter to keep costs down and still keep members informed.  Our ‘Yorktown e-Legion’
    Newsletter is e-mailed to anyone who provides us with his or her e-mail address bi-monthly.  Why e-mail it?  
    Cost is why.  We save $400 in postage and envelopes by e-mailing it out.  We know that not all people have e-
    mail access.  We print copies up and place them in the information racks of the Yorktown Town Hall, the Hart
    Library in Shrub Oak, and at the Post’s bar for people to pick up.  We request all Post members please send us
    your e-mail address, or you can send us an e-mail at ‘post1009@nylegion1009.org’ requesting the newsletter.  
    We can also send you our meeting and event reminders so you won’t miss out on anything.


                                                     
Maine ‘Welcome Home’ Post    
       Bangor, Maine is the last American soil our troops set foot on before going over seas and the first American
    soil our troops set foot on when returning to the United States.  American Legion Post 200 has joined with
    mainetroopgreeters.com to provide a humble thank you to our troops for their sacrifices and those of their
    families. To date almost half a million troops have passed through Bangor making Post 200's efforts
    formidable. Take a moment to read the articles posted on the website and you’ll get misty eyed when you
    hear that war-hardened soldiers are humbled by the elderly veterans meeting every plane arriving at any hour
    of the night to welcome them home, shake their hands, and loan them a phone to call home!  Anyone wishing
    to help fund this effort may send donations to Post 200 at “TROOP SUPPORT”, PO Box 73, Levant, Maine
    04456.  Any assistance would be very much appreciated by our troops.


                 Membership Renewals for 2008, Your Legion Needs You!
       We still have a few Post #1009 members who have forgotten to send in their membership renewals.  
    Please check and make sure you sent it in.  When the American Legion addresses Congress, 3 million voices
    are stronger than 2 million.  Your membership is important.
            
                                         
Post #1009 Upcoming Events

                                      Tuesday                March 4
                                      Executive Board Meeting        7 PM

                                      Thursday              March 13
                                      Post Business Mtg.               7:30 PM

                                      Wednesday          March 26        
                                      Montrose VA Hosp, Ward 15 C/D Party   7 PM

                                      Tuesday                April  1
                                      Executive Board Meeting        7 PM

                                      Thursday              April 10
                                      Post Business Meeting                7:30 PM

                                               Yorktown Post #1009
                                                           235 Veterans Road
                                                       Yorktown Hts, NY 10598
  (
914) 962-2843                                                                                    www.nylegion1009.org
             
                 
Post #1009 Bar Business Hours

          Monday, Thursday…………………....Closed
          Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday………4:30 – 11 PM
          Saturday & Sunday…………………....Parties Only