Genesee-Orleans American Legion leaders welcome statewide commander

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Orleans County Legislative Chairman Lynne Johnson, second from left, presented citations to John Miga, Department commander; Maureen Morgan, Auxiliary Department president; and Joseph Guidice Jr., Department Detachment commander at the Genesee and Orleans Department Officers’ Testimonial Dinner Tuesday at Batavia Downs.

BATAVIA – Genesee and Orleans counties’ American Legions welcomed members and distinguished guests to their annual Department Officers’ Testimonial Dinner at Batavia Downs on Tuesday night.

Master of ceremonies was David Rumsey, 1st vice commander of Genesee County, who led guests in a salute to the National Colors. This was followed by the invocation by Orleans County Auxiliary chaplain Patty Woodworth, the Pledge of Allegiance and POW/MIA remembrance reading with Rumsey and Joan Fernaays.

Highlight of the evening was introduction of New York State Department Commander John R. Miga; Department president Maureen Morgan and Sons of the Legion Detachment Commander Joseph Guidice Jr.

American Legion’s Department Commander John Miga is presented with citations, from left, Eileen Banker representing Senator Rob Ortt; Miga; Gregg Torrey, representing Senator George Borrello; and Chad Zambito, representing Assemblyman Stephen Hawley.

Guests at the head table were John Miga, Department commander; Ryan Ditacchio, Genesee County commander; Ron Boyd, Orleans County commander; Steve Cybart, 8th District commander; Don Sisson, Department vice commander (7th and 8th districts); David Rumsey, Genesee County 1st vice commander; Maureen Morgan, Auxiliary Department president; Sharon DeBottis, Genesee County Auxiliary president; Cathleen Fox, Orleans County Auxiliary president; Sue Williams, 8th District Auxiliary president; Joseph Guidice Jr., Department Detachment commander;  Diman Smith, Detachment vice commander (7th and 8th districts) Joshua Spinler 8th District Detachment commander; and Patty Woodworth, Orleans County Auxiliary chaplain.

Tuesday’s Department Officers’ Testimonial Dinner at Batavia Downs began with a POW/MIA remembrance ceremony by David Rumsey and Joan Fernaays.

Distinguished guests included Gregg Torrey, representing State Senator George Borrello; Eileen Banker, representing State Senator Robert Ortt; Chad Zambito, representing State Assemblyman Stephen Hawley; and Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson.

The program began with Joseph Guidice Jr. of Rockland County, who commented on the guests’ visit to the New York State Veterans’ Home and VA Medical Center Tuesday morning.

“I was awestruck to see the level of care our veterans received,” Guidice said. “It goes above and beyond. “I’ve never had the chance before to sit down and talk to the veterans like that.”

Guidice went on to praise the Sons of the American Legion. He said New York state has the fourth largest detachment of Sons in the nation, with nearly 33,000 members.  There are more than 6,000 in our local district, he said. He urged members to get their kids involved in the American Legion.

Guidice went on to describe his personal project, Tunnel to Towers, an organization formed to provide mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families and families of fallen first responders.

“Our goal is to eradicate veterans’ homelessness,” he said.

He also talked about the Child Well-Being Foundation, of which SAL’s nearly $11 million donation makes them the largest donor.

SAL members ae selling commemorative coins for $20 with all proceeds going to the Foundation.

Guidice also talked about the need for all Legion families to be more diligent in reporting their activities to the national organization.

“In Genesee and Orleans counties, we had only 30% reporting, yet we donated more than $7 million,” Guidice said. “There are 64 squadrons in this district and we need to remind everybody we are important. We are impactful.”

He concluded by saying SAL may stand for Sons of the American Legion, but to him it also stands for “Service and Legacy.”

Cathleen Fox and Sharon DeBottis, Auxiliary presidents in Orleans and Genesee counties, respectively, welcomed guests and introduced Sue Williams, 8th District Auxiliary president, who then introduced Maureen Morgan, Auxiliary Department president.

Seated at the head table of the Department Officers’ Testimonial Dinner were, from left, Don Sission, Department vice commander of the 7th and 8th district; Steve Cybart, district commander; Ron Boyd, Orleans County commander; Ryan Ditacchio, Genesee County commander; and John Miga, Department commander.

Morgan has a long-standing record of involvement in the American Legion. A United States Navy veteran from the Lebanon/Grenada War, she is a dual member of the American Legion, a 10-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary and a 25-year member of the Spring Valley American Legion. She said her family are all members of the American Legion.

Morgan also commented on the visit to New York State Veterans’ Home, saying she met some amazing female veterans that day.

She summed up American Legion Auxiliary programs as Mission Outreach, Children in Youth and Community Service.

“None of those would be successful without member support,” Morgan said. “Membership is most important. We need members so we can continue. We are the largest patriot organization in America.”

Also at the head table of the Department Officers’ Testimonial Dinner were Maureen Morgan, Auxiliary Department president; Sharon DeBottis, Genesee County Auxiliary president; Cathleen Fox, Orleans County Auxiliary president; Sue Williams, 8th District Auxiliary president; Joseph Guidice Jr., Department Detachment commander; Diman Smith, Detachment vice commander of 7th and 8th districts; and Patty Woodworth, Orleans County Auxiliary chaplain.

Morgan said Genesee County is at 78.72% of its goal, while Orleans County is at 81.20%. She said the 8th District has added more than 1,000 new members this year.

Morgan’s two major projects this year are a Military Women’s Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery and Empire Girls’ State Program.

Honored guest and final speaker John Miga of Dunkirk was introduced by Don Sisson, Department vice commander.

Miga served in the military in South Korea and was drafted by the American Legion to promote patriotism across New York state in preparation for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence this year.

Miga first commented on how inspiring the visits to the Veterans’ Home and VA were.

“I met a 103-year-old vet today, and it was wonderful,” Miga said. “He was sharp and right on. Another individual I met served in Vietnam, where he was shot down. He kept telling me, ‘I got shot down and got up and took them all out.’ That’s the kind of stories you hear in a place like that.”

Miga also stressed the importance of increasing membership in the American Legion. He said membership in Genesee and Orleans counties is doing pretty well, and as of today, Genesee County had made the largest increase. Albion, he said, was at 92.28% of its goal.

Master of ceremonies and 1st vice commander of the American Legion in Genesee County David Rumsey, right, welcomes Department Commander John Miga to the podium at the annual Department Officers’ Testimonial Dinner Tuesday at Batavia Downs. At left is Ryan Ditacchio, Genesee County commander.

Nationwide, Miga said the American Legion is losing members, and he asked, “Why?”

“Are we not doing things that interest young people,” he asked.

He said there are billions of dollars in benefits to veterans and $32 million in grants to hospitalized vets.

Miga commended Orleans County on their good job with Empire State programs.

“Every year they have somebody in the oratorical,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of Legions’ reporting their programs.

“When we go before the leaders of the county, state and nation, the more we have done, the more they give us,” Miga said.

Miga concluded by sharing his projects for the year – Be the One, Suicide Prevention (we are losing 18 veterans a day to suicide) and Chautauqua’s Safety Village in Ashville.

Continuing the program, citations were presented to American Legion’s Department Commander John Miga from Eileen Banker representing Senator Rob Ortt; Gregg Torrey, representing Senator George Borrello; Chad Zambito, representing Assemblyman Stephen Hawley; and Lynne Johnson, chair of the Orleans County Legislature.

In conclusion representatives of the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion presented monetary gifts to Commander Miga, President Morgan and SAL Detachment Commander Guidice Jr.

Organizing chairs of the event were Fox and Ditacchio.

In Genesee County, officers of the American Legion are Ryan Ditacchio, commander; David Rumsey, 1st vice commander; Wallace Kornow, finance: and Willian Joyce, Veterans’ Service officer.

American Auxiliary offices are Sharon DeBottis, president and secretary; and MaryAnn Neider, treasurer.

Orleans County Legion leaders are Ron Boyd, commander; Scott Galliford, 1st vice commander; Peter Huth, finance; and Nikolas Mroz, Veterans’ Service officer.

Auxiliary leaders are Cathleen Fox, president; Rachael Spearance, vice president; Kristin Hein, secretary; and Chris Barone, treasurer.

Sons of the American Legion commanders are Peter Hennekey, Squadron35 in Albion; Scott Carlton, Squadron 204 in Medina; John O’Grady, Squadron 575 in Gergen; and Scott O’Neill, Squadron 576 in LeRoy.