Oneonta Vets Club

Today American Legion Post 259 marched in the Memorial Day Parade. Our Honor Guard did taps and fired our volley for all our fallen soldiers. May they rest in ...peace. Last week the Boy Scout troop 23 helped us old veterans place over 2600 flags in the cemeteries in and around Oneonta. Hopefully we paid paid proper homage to our fallen comrades. Thank you everyone for your help and all that attended the parade and the service in the park. See more

Here we are marching in the parade on Main Street.

With Memorial Day only a few days away - thought I'd share the notice that was sent out to our American Legion Family at our Post. Ground rules for this coming ...weekend: 1. Don't wish a Veteran a Happy Memorial Day. There is nothing happy about brave men and women dying. Be happy to enjoy the freedoms they provided you. This is not a day of remembrance for veterans that are alive. 2. It's not a holiday. It's a remembrance of those who died in combat. 3. If you want to BBQ, grill or cookout do so . . . but make sure you remember why we have this long weekend. Tell your kids why it's important. 4. Remember its not just about the "heroes" of movie and book fame, it's also about that Private who landed at Normandy, Baghdad, Vietnam, Korea or countless other battlefields large and small and died 2 minutes into his first combat action. 5. If you want to know the true meaning, visit Arlington or your local VA cemetery. Learn the story of why there are coins on the graves. 6. Patriotism is a great thing, show a flag in remembrance, but make sure it's a flag of the US not some political movement. 7. Don't tell me how you almost joined, this is not about you (or me). Talk about Chesty Puller, George Patton, John Basilone, Dakota Meyer, Kyle Carpenter, Mitchell Paige, Ira Hayes, Chris Kyle and any other heroes too numerous to name. 8. Don't tell me I don't know what I am talking about. I have remembrances, and the burden, all too many times for warriors who now stand their post in front of God and history. 9. Say a prayer . . . and then another. 10. Remember the Fallen for all the Good they did while they were here. 11. Reach out and let a Vet know you're there, we're losing too many in "peace time".

Today we bow our heads in recognition of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. We remember all those that were lost in the attack on Hawaii in 1941, you will never be forgotten.

I would like to thank the Boy Scouts, the Scout leaders and the parents for the help removing the flags from the graves of Veterans in the Oneonta Cemeterys. A ...special thanks to Tom, Barb and their daughter for cooking breakfast for everyone. Thsnk you to those who attended the flag burning ceremony and burned the flags. To Randy mowers for letting us burn on his property. See more

The Club will reopen Wednesday, December 9th.

We had a successful Ziti dinner at the legion tonite. Thanks to Gina for cooking for two days to make this possible. Thank you Sharon, Chris, Tom D., wayne and Linda. Thanks to all that came and supported the American Legion. Delicious!!

Friday's fish dinner is cancelled.

Hey Legioaires,Sons VFW members. We could use some help Sunday morning at 8am for flag removal from veterans graves. The Boy Scouts are going to do Glemwood and... Mount Calvary. Members will do Geeater Plains. The scouts usually come down to Plains to help finish. We will return to the Legion and serve the Sccouts and members breakfast. We will be serving. No Buffett. Social distances tables by family. Any help will be appreciated. Afterward we will have a ceremony and burn the flags with respect. Thsnk you. See more

Adult Halloween Party! Saturday starting at 7pm...Prizes for the best costumes and snacks provided! Come join us!Adult Halloween Party! Saturday starting at 7pm...Prizes for the best costumes and snacks provided! Come join us!

The Oneonta Vet's Club will be closed until Wednesday, Dec 9th.

The American Legion Riders Post 259 made it in the American Legion Magazine Page 7.

In May of 1861, 9 year old John Lincoln "Johnny" Clem ran away from his home in Newark, Ohio, to join the Union Army, but found the Army was not interested in s...igning on a 9 year old boy when the commander of the 3rd Ohio Regiment told him he "wasn't enlisting infants," and turned him down. Clem tried the 22nd Michigan Regiment next, and its commander told him the same. Determined, Clem tagged after the regiment, acted out the role of a drummer boy, and was allowed to remain. Though still not regularly enrolled, he performed camp duties and received a soldier's pay of $13 a month, a sum collected and donated by the regiment's officers. The next April, at Shiloh, Clem's drum was smashed by an artillery round and he became a minor news item as "Johnny Shiloh, The Smallest Drummer". A year later, at the Battle Of Chickamauga, he rode an artillery caisson to the front and wielded a musket trimmed to his size. In one of the Union retreats a Confederate officer ran after the cannon Clem rode with, and yelled, "Surrender you damned little Yankee!" Johnny shot him dead. This pluck won for Clem national attention and the name "Drummer Boy of Chickamauga." Clem stayed with the Army through the war, served as a courier, and was wounded twice. Between Shiloh and Chickamauga he was regularly enrolled in the service, began receiving his own pay, and was soon-after promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was only 12 years old. After the Civil War he tried to enter West Point but was turned down because of his slim education. A personal appeal to President Ulysses S. Grant, his commanding general at Shiloh, won him a 2nd Lieutenant's appointment in the Regular Army on 18 December 1871, and in 1903 he attained the rank of Colonel and served as Assistant Quartermaster General. He retired from the Army as a Major General in 1916, having served an astounding 55 years. General Clem died in San Antonio, Texas on 13 May 1937, exactly 3 months shy of his 86th birthday, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. See more

Hey Legionaires, sons and riders. Could use some help saturday at 4 to 7 for the Harvest dinner. Even an hour will help. Thanks.

Attention Veterans of Otsego County! Due to the Covid19 virus and the loss of State revenue as well as Otsego County revenue, I will be the only Veterans Service Officer in Otsego County for some time. The New York State VSO located at 242 Main Street in Oneonta has retired and most likely will not be replaced. Our county has a hiring freeze due to the loss of revenue. I will always be available to the Veterans of Otsego County and can be reached any day or time of the day a...t 716-207-1886, which is my cell phone number. Two years ago we had three full time VSO's in the County, Jack Henson, myself, and Pam Tanner in Oneonta. Jack and Pam have retired, which leaves me as the only VSO. Despite all odds, I pledge to serve the Veterans of Otsego County going forward. Together, we will make it! Thank you for the honor of serving you! Sid Loeffler See more

A 13 October 1775 resolution of the Continental Congress established what is now the United States Navy with a swift sailing vessel, to carry ten carriage guns..., and a proportionable number of swivels, with eighty men, be fitted, with all possible despatch, for a cruise of three months. After the American War of Independence, the U.S. Constitution empowered the new Congress to provide and maintain a navy. Acting on this authority, Congress established the Department of the Navy on 30 April 1798. In 1972, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt authorized official recognition of 13 October as the birthday of the U.S. Navy. Since then, each CNO has encouraged a Navy-wide celebration of this occasion to enhance a greater appreciation of our Navy heritage, and to provide a positive influence toward pride and professionalism in the naval service. 13 October 2020 will mark the Navy's 245th Birthday. The central theme of this year's 245th birthday and heritage week will be "Victory at Sea," which encompasses the Navy's efforts in battle during World War II in the Pacific Theater. For more information on U.S. Navy history, as well as commemoration and communication resources, explore the links below. Need additional information for Navy birthday commemoration planning? Please contact the Communication Branch of NHHC at 202-433-7880 or email [email protected]. See more