The Hammonton Gazette 12/21/22 Edition | Page 5

Page 4 • Wednesday , December 21 , 2022 • The Hammonton Gazette

American Legion Commanders dinner at Tomasello Winery

AMERICAN , from Page 1 during the dinner , such as reaching out to veterans to help boost morale , preventing veteran suicides and past conventions and programs . Many people were in attendance at the dinner : American Legion Department State Commander Steven Fisher , Executive Committeeman Berley Hanna , Jr ., Alternate Executive Committeeman Eugene O ’ Grady , Atlantic County America Legion Commander Donald Federico and Vice Commander Arthur Orsi , who was the POW / MIA empty chair .
The dinner marked Steven Fisher ’ s official Atlantic County visit . He was joined at the head table by Hanna Jr ., O ’ Grady , Department Vice Commander Patricia Tatum , Department Adjutant John Baker , Department Master at Arms Eddie O ’ Neil , Department Historian Anthony
Santanello and Group Leader South Jersey Quilt of Valor Ruth Ann Bosworth .
Hanna Jr . was the first person from the head table to speak and touched on past programs and conventions for the American Legion . O ’ Grady soon followed and touched on many topics but the most important topic he spoke on was educating the public on the military . Fisher then expanded more on the topics discussed by Hanna Jr . and O ’ Grady while adding to it by discussing veterans suicides , encouraging those in attendance to reach out to veterans whether in public or by any form of social media or technology as a way of uplifting them . Baker and Tatum were the final two people to take the podium and said a few words before dinner was served .
Group leader South Jersey Quilt of Valor Ruth Ann Bosworth then took the podium and took a few
THG / Mohammed Fuad . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-1940 .
Patricia Tatum ( left ) and Ruth Ann Bosworth ( right ) present Diane Eby with the Quilt of Valor .
THG / Mohammed Fuad . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-1940 .
( L-R ) Vice Commander Howard Hill , Adjutant Jennifer Nixon , Veteran Service Officer Paul McIntyre , Vice Commander Arthur Orsi , Judge Advocate Robert McNulty , Department Vice Commander Patricia Tatum , Atlantic County Commander
Donald Frederico , Chaplain Dan Philippi , Ken Laino and Sergeant-at-Arms Frank M . Calletta .
moments for the presentation of the Quilt of Valor . Bosworth then presented the Quilt of Valor to Diane Eby , Chaplain F . A . Funston Post 186 . Eby was then presented the Congressional Proclamation by Bosworth , who also presented
Hammonton for the event , was satisfied with the turnout and made it a point that it ’ s not about the quantity of people who attended but the quality of people who would take in the information and remarks from the event .
the
honor
on
behalf
of
“ I ’ m more than satisfied with
congressman Jeff Van Drew , who was in absentia .
the group and thrilled to death to be here at this winery ,” Hanna Jr .
County
commander
Don
said .
Federico and Vice Commander Arthur Orsi presented Fisher with
“ It ’ s not the quantity of the people that are here but the quality
a
few
gifts
on
behalf
of
of people that are here . People that
Hammonton , which included a green Hammonton Gazette cap and the book Images of America : Hammonton by Gazette Publisher
get our remarks and take it back [ with them ] and this is a good group and they will do that .”
Fisher was impressed with the
Gabriel Donio . The event then
American
Legion
family
in
concluded with remarks by Fisher followed by the presentation of
attendance and the quilt of valor presentation , donations to the state
donations
to
the
state
commander project as well as the
commander ’ s projects . Hanna Jr ., who traveled with his wife from Somerset County to
hospitality . “ It was my honor to be out here .
Everyday that I get to do what I ’ m
doing for our Legionnaires throughout this state , representing them and pushing forward all the work that needs to get done ,” Fisher said .
“ Coming out here to Atlantic County , I ’ ve been to Atlantic County for various things over the years but coming in as commander here at our official visit , I was very impressed and I ’ m happy and I got a good feeling going into the holidays ,” Fisher said .
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