- October 30, 2024
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The Flagler County Veterans Advisory Council has selected its leaders for the coming year. Neal McCoppin, who represents the Flagler chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, has been selected to continue as chairman for an additional year.
Hank Mangels will serve as vice chairman. Mangels represents American Legion Post 115. The selections were made during the council’s Jan. 6 meeting.
Veterans service organizations will be reviewing the Veterans Advisory Council bylaws this month, and will recommend changes if they see the need for them.
They will also be determining which individuals will represent their organization on the council, so the council’s membership may change over the coming month.
In addition, the local chapter of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association may add a member to the council for the first time.
The association’s executive officer, Flagler Beach resident Dan Walden, attended the Jan. 6 meeting to express the association’s interest in involvement.
A Four Chaplains Memorial Service will be held at the VFW Post 8696, 47 N. Old Kings Road, at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 2.
The event, organized locally by the American Legion Post 115, will be held in coordination with other veterans organizations and is open to the public.
It commemorates the heroism of four chaplains on the SS Dorchester on Feb. 3, 1943, when the ship was struck by German U-boat torpedoes in the North Atlantic and the chaplains gave their life jackets to others on the sinking ship when the supply ran out, saving shipmates but ensuring their own deaths in the process. They linked arms and prayed together as it sank.
All four were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart posthumously. They were Chaplain George L. Fox, a Methodist minister; Chaplain Alexander D. Goode, a Jewish Rabbi; Chaplain Clark V. Poling, of the Dutch Reformed Church; and Chaplain John P. Washington, a Catholic priest.
For more information on the service, contact Rev. Frank Boone at 770-510-3943 or [email protected].
The American Red Cross is asking veterans to share their military experiences in the Veterans History Project.
Veterans will speak on video in sessions ranging from 30 minutes to 2 hours, and can also bring military memorabilia.
The videos will be given to the veteran and/or their family, and also sent to the Library of Congress.
To participate, call Tom Piekarski of the VFW Post 8696 at 631-521-5330 or visit VFW Post 8696 at 47 N. Old Kings Road.
DAV Chapter 86 will host its second annual Vietnam Veterans Casino Night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. March 27 at VFW Post 8696, at 47 N. Old Kings Road.
Tickets will be $45 in advance, or $50 at the door.
For tickets, call Ernie Morris at 904-864-7404 or Freddie Vazquez at 386-439-2122.
