Posthistory

From the December 6 2007 Perinton Post_

A Column by Perinton Historian Jean Keplinger

<>VETERANS’ GROUPS: VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS <> For as long as
citizens have gone to war, there have been veterans’ organizations of some sort. In 1879, local
Civil War veterans formed the Fairport chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic, E.A. Slocum
Post #211. Named after Edmund Slocum, who was killed at Gettysburg, the post worked for
veterans’ benefits, assisted indigent veterans and their families, and cared for veterans’ graves. I
n 1899, veterans of the Spanish-American War formed Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
essentially to provide aid to needy or disabled veterans.

The Grand Army of the Republic’s national commander, General John Logan,
officially proclaimed Memorial Day on May 5, 1868, as a day to honor the war dead.
It was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of
Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to
officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873, and Fairport’s chapter of the
GAR oversaw the establishment of Decoration Day ( now known as Memorial Day)
ceremonies in Perinton.

<>The E.A. Slocum Post closed in 1937 when Horace Waddell, its last surviving member,
died. Aside from one photo taken in 1914, little else is known about the activities of the Post.

Those who fought in the Spanish-American War, the Boxer Rebellion, the
Philippine Insurrection and the Cuban Pacification, as well as the numerous wars
f the twentieth century, and were honorably discharged, have all been eligible to join
the VFW, which was founded in 1899. At first the groups were small and widely
scattered and as a result had little clout in trying to obtain government aid for needy
or disabled veterans. However, after World War I, where about 4,000,000 American
saw service, the organization grew to the point where they were able to lobby
successfully for adequate pensions and medical care. World War II, in which about
16 million served, added to the size and influence of the VFW. The landmark GI Bill
of Rights, passed in 1944 with VFW support, gave returning service men and women
stipends, health benefits, access to higher education and loans for financing the
purchase of a home or for starting a business. In effect, the bill contributed significantly
to the rise of a strong educated middle class.

<> Locally, 95 Perinton and Fairport veterans established the Perinton Memorial Post #8495
of the VFW in November of 1946. Official recognition of the Post and installation of officers took
place in the Cottage Hotel on North Main Street. Officers were Ted King, commander;* Ken Maine,
adjutant; Richard Hogan, officer of the day; Robert Laird and Thomas Streppa, color bearers;
E. Sipple and Albert LaPietra, color guards; and William Zimmer, guard. The Post first met in various
places, including the Green Lantern Inn, the Cottage Hotel, the fire hall, the American Legion hall, and
in members’ homes, but by 1948 had acquired and on Macedon Center Road where they planned to
construct their own building. One of their many fund raising methods was the sale of 7500 “building
blocks” at 25 cents apiece, eventually netting $2, 321. The concrete blocks were to create the foundation
for the building. Combining successful fund raising with the talent of many of their members, the VFW’s
new home was completed and dedicated in 1952.

Over the years, the VFW has sponsored many community events. A 1948
news article describes the All-Vets celebration, which was to feature a “ gigantic military
parade,” with bands and floats and prizes for the best unit and for those who traveled
the farthest; a concert by the VFW band; attractions on the grounds of the VFW facility
including a Shetland pony and cart to provide rides, culminating with a “mammoth fireworks
display.” Carnivals, dances, concerts, and Christmas parties have all been activities
sponsored by the Post as have various fund drives for those in need.

Today the VFW sponsors the Memorial Day parade and the ensuing ceremonies to
honor those fallen in war. They have constructed “Freedom Hill,” a memorial at the Post’s
home on Macedon Center Road featuring an M-60 tank, a Huey helicopter, and a walk with
bricks that have been engraved with veterans’ names. Along with the American Legion, they
see that flags adorn the graves of fallen service people and sell poppies to raise money.
For over 20 years, Wednesday has been Bingo night at the Post and regularly draws nearly 1
00 players. Proceeds from the games allow the Post to support veterans’ and community
causes which include, among others, the Perinton Ambulance Corps and Little League
baseball. The plaque at Potter Memorial, honoring all those from the Perinton-Fairport community that
served in the nation’s wars and memorializing those who died, was co-sponsored by the Post.

The Post has also made an effort to reach out to those veterans of more recent
wars like Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq who were not welcomed home with parades and
hoopla to help them feel appreciated and valued. In all of its activities, the VFW attempts
to live up to its motto: “honor the dead by helping the living.”

* . Frank Pittinaro reports that "The first elected officers when we got our charter from
national were: Ted King, Commander; John Ellis, Senior Vice Commander and;
Frank Pittinaro Junior Vice Commander"

The cannon at the post entrance is a 37mm gun:
This was installed shortly after the post was created.

The 37mm Gun M3 was the first dedicated anti-tank gun fielded by United States forces. Introduced in 1940,
it became the standard anti-tank gun of the U.S. infantry with its size enabling it to be pulled by a jeep. However,
the continuing improvement of German tanks quickly rendered the 37 mm ineffective, and by 1943 it was being
gradually replaced in the European and Mediterranean theaters by the more powerful British-developed 57mm Gun M1.
In the Pacific, where the Japanese tank threat was less significant, the M3 remained in service until the end of the war.

Freedom Hill
In 2001, Freedom Hill was constructed and included an M60A3 Main Battle Tank
and a Huey UH-1H Helicopter. Freedom Hill was dedicated after the Memorial
Day Parade on May 27, 2002

The Tank was received from Ft. Drum in upstate NY

The M60 Series was a second-generation main battle tank (MBT) introduced in December 1960.
It was widely used by the U.S. and its Cold War allies, especially those in NATO, and remains in
service throughout the world today despite being superseded by the M1 Abrams
The M60 traces its roots to the late WWII-era M26 Pershing heavy tank from which the M48 was
developed. In 1957, plans were laid in the US for a tank with a 105 mm main gun and a redesigned
hull offering better armor protection.
The resulting M60 series largely resembles the M48 it was based on, but has significant differences.
The M60 mounted a bore evacuated 105 mm main gun, compared with the M48's 90 mm, had a hull
with a straight front slope where as the M48's hull was rounded, had three support rollers per side to
the M48's five, and had road wheels constructed from aluminum rather than steel.

The Huey Helecopter was obtained from Fort Rucker in Alabama
The Bell Huey family of helicopters includes a wide range of civil and military aircraft produced since
1956 and still manufactured in 2010. This H-1 family of aircraft includes the utility UH-1 Iroquois and
the derivative AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter series and ranges from the XH-40 prototype, first flown
in October 1956 to the 21st Century UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper.

The UH-1 Iroquois is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed
main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States
Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952, and first flew on 20 October
1956. Ordered into production in March 1960, the UH-1 was the first turbine-powered helicopter to enter
production for the United States military, and more than 16,000 have been produced worldwide.

The first combat operation of the UH-1 was in the service of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
The original designation of HU-1 led to the helicopter's nickname of Huey. In September 1962, the
designation was changed to UH-1, but Huey remained in common use, as well as being chosen as the
official name by the United States Marine Corps. Approximately 7,000 UH-1 aircraft saw service in Vietnam.

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