VFW POST 8862, MEDITERRANEAN CHAPTER

“STILL SERVING SOUTH OF THE ALPS”

THE BEST DANG VFW POST IN THIS WORLD

Being that Vicenza is situated at the foot of the Dolomiti Alps in the northern part of Italy gave birth to Post 8862’s motto, “Still Serving South of the Alps”.   Located less than an hour drive east of Vicenza is romantic, world-renowned Venice, with the water-lapped palaces along the Canal Grande and Piazza San Marco do indeed look as perfect as a film set.  Situated west of Vicenza, only twenty minutes away is Verona, the city of the most famous lovers in history: Romeo and Juliet and the Arena.   This Roman Theater is one of the largest and best preserved theaters from the Roman Empire times. It seats more than 22,000 spectators. Every Summer, world famous operas are performed in the Arena.
The province of Vicenza itself is varied:  plains to the south, hills in the center and mountains to the

Northwest like an amphitheater.   Vicenza is an active industrial, commercial and artisan center, noted for its traditional processing of silk and for being the gold center of the world.    It sits in a basin drained by the Bacchiglione, Retrone, Astichello and Tesina Rivers.  The Bacchiglione crosses the city of Vicenza.   

This is downtown Vicenza, A touch of Venice

Historically, Vicenza is famous for Renaissance Architect Andrea Palladio.  His architectural wonders such as the Rotunda provided the inspiration for the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

Palladio's Statue in Vicenza

The world famous Rotondo. The Jefferson Memorial took this style

Our membership of active duty personnel of all services (Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines – only the Coast Guard is missing) separated service members and retirees working in this geographic area.  VFW Post 8862’s membership consisted mainly of Korean and Vietnam veterans.  However, this picture changed drastically with the recent events in the Balkans and later in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. VFW Post 8862 prides itself in recruiting not only all eligible available, but concentrating specifically on the younger generation currently qualifying for membership through service within the Iraqi and Afghanistan  Theater.  This is especially enhanced by our 173rd Airborne Brigade being currently deployed in Afghanistan.

Through these membership drives, concentrating on the younger service members, our average membership age has dramatically dropped.  This will produce future benefits for our folks involving the younger generation and their family members in our services to the communities.  Instituted on 22 June 1990 with 62 chapter members, Post 8862’s colors have flown proudly over the years recruiting members from all facets of the United States Armed Forces, both prior and active duty members, into the fully supportive organization that it is today. This select group under the leadership of our first commander Clarence Daniels and with the support of many highly dedicated members achieved the status of being currently the largest Post in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the largest in all of Europe with 1200 members of which over a 1000 are life members.  These numbers are constantly rising, because of our vigorous membership drives.  Our goal was to achieve 500+ life members by 31 May 2004 and possible joining the ranks of the 1,000 member clubs by the end of June 2004.  We managed that and much more.

The motto of our Post is “Still Serving South of the Alps”.  This motto has not only been adopted by VFW Post 8862, Mediterranean Chapter, but nearly all organizations working for the improvement of our community.  Our current population in the Vicenza, Verona, and Livorno area exceeds 12,000 personnel.  Adding all retirees in the same areas brings this number to 15,000.  Should one include retirees of all of the remaining Southern European, Africa and Middle East region, those figures will rise to exceed approximately 20,000.  Not a very large pool of people, but a very dedicated bunch.  Our Post in the Vicenza area is not only supporting the personnel within our area, but assisting all other areas that do not have an active VFW Post within their region:  such as Aviano, Livorno, Naples, Sigonella Sicily, Rota Spain.  Providing vital support to the largest Air Force community in the Southern Region is one of our most challenging jobs. 
VFW Post 8862 activities are not only limited to the American environment but are being extended to our Italian hosts as well.  This proves to be the best connection we could have made.  Our Italian friends of the Federazione Italiane dei Combattenti Alleati (combat veterans) include us in all their official functions.  Vice-versa, they are attending all memorial functions of the American, Italian and French communities with VFW Post 8862.  To mention some of them:  Memorial Day ceremony at the American cemetery in Florence, Italy and Nettuno (Rome), Veterans Day Ceremony in Dragignon, France, the French International Friendship Day in Carpentras, France, Armistice Day in Genova, Italy, and various World War II commemorative services throughout Italy. 

Our assembled platoon during the Memorial Day Ceremony in Florence, Italy

Italian Military Carabinieri attending our ceremony at Florence

The dinner assembly after the Memorial Day Ceremony in Florence, Italy

Our Commander Tom Buffington and the Italian Combat Veterans at the Florence Memorial Day Ceremony

Past Commander in Chief Edward S. Banas Sr., Exec. Dir. Robert Wallace, Past Cdr Buffington, VFW Post 8862, Peter H. Luste, Past Cdr, Dept. of Europe and the 2 representatives of the Nettuno Cemetery.

The wreath has been laid by Past CiC Edward S, Banas Sr. (right) and Peter H. Luste, Cdr, Dept of Europe (left).

Jr. Vice Commander, Dept. of Europe Peter H. Luste with from the left Cav. Ceggio, French Officer, and to the right a French NCO at the Dragignan Veterans Day Ceremony

The wreath laying ceremony at Dragignan, France ( Jr. Vice Cdr Dept of Europe Peter H. Luste and Cav Sergio Ceggio)

Our participants at the San Dona` di Piave Veterans Day Ceremony. Note the Municipal Building in the background.

High ranking dignitaries of the Italian Delegation at San Dona’ di Piave.

Our post being represented during the remembrance of the Armistice Day in Caoria, Italy.

Closer to home, VFW Post 8862 is closely involved with all the facets of military community life and the civilian community surrounding our American enclave.  We are specifically involved in all funeral services in the range of a one-half day car drive from Vicenza.  We support all functions with full burial details, color guards and musical support.

The Funeral of one retired Service Member at Peschiera, Italy

Our experienced staff of BBQ Experts dazzling the retired community

Remember these are the sixth and seventh helpings.

Our support to the American community extends to the local High School and Elementary School providing the Voice of Democracy and Patriot Pen competitions.  This service is also extended to the schools in Livorno and Naples, Italy and Rota, Spain since no other VFW Post is available.  The same can be said for the support of the JROTC Awards for Vicenza and Aviano.  VFW Post 8862 provided not only the medals but also new equipment for the students to enhance their program.

Post Commander Buffington presenting the JROTC Medal to a Cadet from Aviano AFB

Flag Pole and settings procured by VFW Post 8862 for the JROTC Battalion Vicenza

Other services provided are support and monetary grants for tragic cases striking the military and retired community in cases of fire, death and other adverse actions.  We are here to support no matter what it takes. 

Naturally, our Post is also involved in honoring the best Airborne troops in today’s Armed Forces be it through certificates, gifts, saving bonds, and any other accoutrements for the soldier/Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter and Year competition.

Commander VFW Post 8862 Tom Buffington presenting certificates and Savings Bonds to the Soldier and NCO of the Quarter for the SETAF Command

One of the most memorable moments of my existence within the VFW Organization came when I went to represent the VFW Post 8862 and the Department of Europe, as their Jr. Vice Commander, during my visit at the Landstuhl Hospital in Germany. Not only did I have the pleasure to present the VFW Clocks to the local Fisher House, but I had the chance to meet one of our heroes, the wounded soldier Kenny Hill, from the 173rd Airborne Brigade out of Vicenza, Italy. Not only to present him with the coin from our organization, but present him with a membership to VFW Post 8862. In addition I conveyed all the best wishes from our Post and the Vicenza Community for his recovery from shrapnel wounds received in Iraq. I was proud to have been able to shake this soldiers hand.

Jr. Vice Commander, Dept of Europe,  Peter H. Luste presenting VFW Post 8862 Coin and Membership to Soldier Hill, with his entire family being present

Jr. Vice Commander Peter H. Luste, Dept of Europe and Historian and PR Representative for VFW Post 8862, presenting the Clock to the Fisher House.
The Gentleman in the middle is a wounded Captain from an Artillery Unit currently deployed to Iraq, anxious to join the VFW. The lady is the manager of the Fisher House in Landstuhl Germany

Our capable staff supervised by the Chief of Staff, Dept of Europe “Dick Kennedy”

Our organization does support our Dining Facility for the Active Duty troops and family members each year for Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays with associated spirits – Italian wine that is, to enhance the meal being provided for these troops and their families so far away from home.
We support the UPLINK telephone cards through our Post’s and individual contributions which are especially helping our troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. 
VFW Post 8862 does also reach out to the orphans in Bosnia.  Our first commander Clarence Daniels was actively involved in putting a smile on each of the children’s faces each year.

Those small faces enjoyed not only the presents but also the Hamburgers and Cokes

Dedicated members of our Post are constantly providing transportation to handicapped and sick members of this community for shopping trips, a visit to the physician or simply to obtain an American meal on the American military base.  The Italian food and drink are fantastic; however, one will be amazed how the American body sometimes can crave a BURGER, Freedom Fries, Fried Chicken and a regular Coke. 
Our most prolific service to all active and separated military members is the service provided by our Service Officer.  He is a dedicated 100% disabled veteran and most valued member of VFW Post 8862 that helps to prepare documents for applications of Veterans Administration Benefits.  This service has shown to be the best advertisement for not only our Post but also our National Organization.  This service has brought numerous new members into our flock and continues to spread the word to those that are unaware.

Since VFW Post 8862 has many members of our organization spread all over the world, I have instituted the e-mail address system and created a Website specifically for our Post: www.vfw8862.org  This serves two functions:  you do not have to transfer to any other Post but can maintain and stay in touch with our close knit community.  Through our Website, all of our members have the opportunity to get in contact with all our elected officials and present their problems no matter what they are and where they live in this world.  We will always treat them just like all of our members in beautiful Italy.  Apparently the promise of treating them and their families like King and Queen should they ever return to sunny, gorgeous Vicenza, Italy has a hypnotic effect – they stick with VFW Post 8862.
Our ultimate delight and highlight of our existence was the visit by our Commander in Chief, Edward S. Banas Sr., and his Deputy Adjutant and Executive Director of the Washington, DC Office, Robert Wallace during the month of October 2003.  After visiting in Nettuno cemetery in the vicinity of Rome and a trip to Gaeta, Naples, both gave us the honor of their visit to our small speck of Americana in Italy.  VFW Post 8862 tried to show our appreciation of this first ever visit of any of our Commander in Chiefs to Italy.  Our Post tried to make their visit the most pleasant experience and presented with multiple gifts to remind them always of our existence in this corner of the universe.   Somehow we had a feeling that they liked what they saw and how they were treated.  This became evident when coins, presents and accoutrements were showered upon the assembled guests and VFW members.  Commander in Chief, Edward S. Banas Sr., took the time to swear in the three most recent Iraq returnees as newest members of our VFW Post and gave these brand new young members of our organization the best possible impression.  Words spread quickly within our region and our membership is rising constantly thanks to this memorable event.  With our continued contact with all of our members we are hoping to maintain a relationship of mutual support.  Our faithful members are part of the strong support our National Organization needs.

Vicenza is an expanding military community that, while other parts of Europe experience a downturn in population, the Italian theater seems to be moving in the opposite direction.  With that movement, a great number of civilian support positions have been created.  This includes services for support of the military and their families.  This in turn expands the retiring and separating military personnel vying for these positions.  In addition, there are a great number of service members taking brides and husbands and then settling in Italy.  Combining all these factors, it seems we have a great basis for expansion of our magnificent organization.

What is the attraction of living in Vicenza, Italy?  The most important thing in my case is that I met one of the most attractive Italian females that took me in and treated me like a King.  Aside from being married to this wonderful woman, I adore the ever-ending sunshine, the mild climate, the close proximity to fabulous attractions like Venice, Verona, Rome, the mountains, the magnificent beaches of the Adriatic Sea and above all, the magnificent cuisine of Italy.  Did I forget to mention that the wine has all the makings to enhance all the aforementioned items?  This becomes especially pronounced should you be sitting in a Piazza sipping your drink and observing the parading tourists and local nationals.  Life does not get any better, only heaven can match this and I think I have already part of it right here.