OFFICERS CALL
WESTERN CONNECTICUT MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
An Affiliate Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America
P. O. Box 2145, Norwalk, CT 06852-2145
www.wcmoa.org
Our 54th Year! Founded November 14, 1958
Lt Col John Simonetti, USAF (Ret.), President
[email protected]
(203) 929-4085
THIRD QUARTER 2013
SEPTEMBER 29th LUNCHEON AT ADAM’S RIB IN NORWALK
Featured Speaker will be Mr. Mick Maurer
President of Sikorsky Aircraft
Social Hour 1200 Program begins 1300
Young American Awards Banquet - Full Report Inside
President’s Message
Mick Maurer Bio
Commodore Barry Day
YAA Awards Banquet Report
Inside This Issue
YAA Report
Seige of Yorktown
Chapter News
Membership Policy
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September 29th Luncheon Reservations:
Please detach and return in time to ensure receipt by Wednesday, September 25th to:
LT Susan Monks, USNR, 46 Saxony Drive, Trumbull, CT 06611.
Please reserve ______ place(s) for _____________________________________________ Tel No ________________
Enclosed is a check for $ ________ ($30.00 per person) payable to WCMOA.
If remittance is not received by September 25th or by notification to [email protected],
the charge will be $35.00 per person at the door.
instructor, a submariner, and now, a true leader in our local
community.
We are still working on a major revision to our website, but
it is going to take more expertise to do it. The Executive
Board is still hoping that some computer and web savvy
member will step forward and hog the glory! If that’s you,
please do not be bashful. It will be a fun and rewarding effort for all of us. Our goal is to have one of our members in
complete control of the site so we can make timely changes
to schedules, local military and patriotic events, and to pass
on info important to our chapter members.
President’s
Message
Dear Fellow Officers, Spouses, and Auxiliary Members,
Summer is rapidly fading away and I am sure everyone is
grabbing the last rays before the cooler weather sneaks in.
Since we all miss each other from the long summer hiatus,
we have slated an early fall Membership meeting of Sept
29th. Please mark that down on your calendars. Now, if
you haven’t noticed, and/or haven’t had time to join us, we
ALWAYS have had some very powerful and interesting
speakers. The fall meeting will be no exception. Mr. Mick
Maurer, the new President of Sikorsky Aircraft, will join us
with his perspective on aviation, especially helicopters (of
course!), an industry that is near and dear to us and our Connecticut livelihood. And who can forget that Sikorsky Aircraft remains our biggest sponsor of our signature event, the
YAA. Get your reservation in right away and come meet
and listen to Mr. Maurer, a US Naval Academy grad and
This just in: our own former Chapter President CAPT Bill
Glass has taken an inaugural position as the Senior Naval Science Instructor at the fledgling Bridgeport Military
Academy. He will lead the formation of Bridgeport’s very
first Navy JROTC program. As a Chapter, we have already
pledged our full support to the school and now Bill has made
it a commitment and a career choice. Check out our brand
new “Membership Affairs” column in our ever-improving
Newsletter for more about Bill and the new school. Way to
go, Bill! Godspeed.
See you at the fall meeting - Adam’s Rib at the Norwalk Inn,
Sunday, Sept 29th!
Simo
Mick Maurer
Guest Speaker
Mick Maurer is President of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. He previously served
as President, Sikorsky Military Systems, responsible for U.S. and International
Military programs, customer relationships and military aircraft delivery.
Mr. Maurer joined Sikorsky in 2000 and also has served as Vice President, Marketing & Strategic Planning, Vice President, Commercial Programs, and Senior
Vice President, Operations. In the latter position, he transformed Sikorsky’s aircraft production processes to greatly reduce flow time and improve efficiencies.
Mr. Maurer started his United Technologies Corporation career in 1989 at Otis
Elevator where he held various positions in sales, marketing, engineering and
operations. Prior to joining United Technologies, Maurer served as an officer in
the U.S. Navy’s nuclear submarine program, performed research at Los Alamos
National Laboratory and taught physics at the U. S. Naval Academy.
He serves on the board of directors for Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut and the governing board for the MIT
Leaders for Global Operations program.
Mr. Maurer holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the U.S. Naval Academy, a master’s degree in electrical engineering
from Johns Hopkins University and an M.B.A. from Stanford University.
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Western CT Military Officers Association
Special Lunch Menu
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2013
12:00 Noon
~
MENU
Cash Bar
~
Choice of Soup or Salad
~
Prime Rib
With Roasted Potatoes & Vegetables
Directions to
Adam’s Rib Restaurant
at the Norwalk Inn
99 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT
203-838-2000
Via Merritt Parkway (Rt. 15)
From New York:
Take Exit 39A. Take Route 7 southbound to 1-95 North
(towards New Haven). Take Exit 16 (East Norwalk).
Take a left at the traffic light, then go straight for 1/4 mile;
the Inn is on the right.
From New Haven:
Take Exit 41. Take a left at end of the ramp, then go to first
traffic light. Take a left on to Newtown Avenue (which becomes East Avenue) and continue for approximately three
miles; the Inn is on the left, just past the Norwalk Town
Green.
Grilled Salmon Filet with Lemon Zest
Over Rice Pilaf & Vegetables
Chicken Parmigiana with Pasta
Pasta Primavera
New England Fish & Chips
French Fries & Cole Slaw
~
Includes Coffee & Tea
~
DESSERT
Choice of Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce
Or
Apple Strudel
Via Interstate I- 95
From New York:
Take Exit 16 (East Norwalk). Take a left at the traffic light,
then go straight for 1/4 mile; the Inn is on the right.
From New Haven:
Take Exit 16 (East Norwalk). Take a right at the traffic
light, then go straight for 1/4 mile; the Inn is on the right.
Further information can be found on their website:
http:www.norwalkinn.com/
** (Note - Dessert is now included!!) **
Commodore John Barry Day
*This Saturday!*
*This Saturday!*
All WCMOA members, spouses and auxiliary are invited as VIP guests at Commodore John Barry Day, to be observed
on Perry Green in Southport beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept 14th. If you are in town, you should make every
effort to get there and witness this outstanding, well-run event honoring America’s very first commissioned Naval Officer
whose wartime command took him through the Connecticut waterfront area. It is a picture perfect venue on the Southport
waterfront and watching Master Chief Iannucci as Master of Ceremony at this event will make you wish you were back
in uniform! Seriously, he is that good. Speaking of uniforms, wear one, if you still can, and join all the others! And you
have NEVER seen this many bagpipes in one place before. There is a superb reception at the Gaelic Club in Fairfield afterword.
If you are going, please get the word to our own Ted Lovely at [email protected] as he needs a head count. Also,
Ted coordinates to ensure Veterans in uniform will have special seating and recognition. My son and I were both in awe at
the attention to detail at this event last year. Details below - Simo
On Saturday, September 14, Commodore John Barry
Day will be observed on Perry Green in Southport beginning
at 10 a.m. John Barry, a native of County Wexford Ireland,
immigrated to Philadelphia in 1760 and became the top merchant captain of his adopted country. Days after joining the
Continental Navy, Barry was the first captain to capture a
British vessel on the high seas and bring that ship into an
American port. Barry received Commission Number One
in the United States Navy in 1784 from President George
Washington. He subsequently oversaw the construction, administration and training that established the US Navy as the
young nation’s preeminent entry on the international stage.
Participants in the program will include a military color
guard, a military firing squad, and keynote speaker Commander Regina Gallagher Marengo USN. Since December
2012 CDR Marengo has been assigned as Commanding
Officer of the Contingency Engineering Management Unit
for the United States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany.
First Selectman of Fairfield Michael C. Tetreau will present a proclamation on behalf of the Town of Fairfield. The
Reverend Victor T. Martin, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas
Parish in Fairfield, will deliver the invocation. Father Martin
is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and served
as a chaplain for the United States Air Force. Retired military veterans as well as Pearl Harbor survivors have been
invited.
Bagpipers and drummers from the Gaelic American Club
in Fairfield will perform. The program is sponsored by the
Ancient Order of Hibernians, assisted by Port 5 Naval Veterans and the Western Connecticut Military Officers’ Association. All are welcome to honor this great American hero. For
information call 203-268-9657.
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Notes from the YAA Co-Chairman
CAPT Dori Freer, USN
YAA Co-Chair
The 38th annual Young American Awards Banquet was held
on 6 June at the Italian Center of Stamford. The event was
organized by the YAA committee of Lt Col John Simonetti,
LT Susan Monks, CDR Jim Botten and CAPT Dori Freer.
Special thanks go to the many volunteers from the WCMOA
who showed up early to help with the set up and arrangements (and if I’ve missed someone I apologize!). Thanks to
LT Don Boyle, CAPT Mary Klein, Mrs Louise Simonetti,
LT Curt Noel, CDR Todd Knoebel, CPT Al Belcher, ENS
Lydia Monks, LCDR Bob Freer, and Lt Col John Simonetti.
Jim Botten spent many hours preparing the seating arrangements, collecting payment, and setting up the banquet with
the Italian Center. He was unable to attend because he was
in Annapolis for his 60th US Naval Academy reunion. Congratulations Jim!
The evening was attended by eighteen of the twenty Young
American Awardees and their families. Additionally, WCMOA members their spouses, and special guests– in all 118
people were in attendance. The evening kicked off with the
Westhill High School JROTC Color Guard presenting the
Colors, and Mrs. Louise Simonetti singing the National Anthem, bringing tears to many eyes for her beautiful rendition.
COL Serge Gabriel offered the Invocation, which was followed by traditional Toasts and a delicious meal serenaded
by Dana Cole on the violin. Robert Muise of the American
Freedom Law Center was the honored guest speaker.
The awards ceremony was emceed by CAPT Bill Glass and
ENS Lydia Monks. Each Young American Award winner
was given a plaque and a copy of “The Book of Great American Documents” edited by Vincent Wilson, Jr.
The WCMOA YAA Committee especially thanks Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation generously donated $5000 toward
scholarships for the top four Young American Award winners, Mr Paul Grand Pre, donating Memorial Sponsorship in
memory of John and Eda Grand Pre, and LT Joseph Roxe,
guest speaker lodging sponsor, and the WCMOA member
sponsors.
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Chapter Member contributors:
Mrs. Francine Gram
CDR James R. Botten, USNR (Ret)
CAPT Mary A. Kline, USN (Ret)
Capt James T. Larkin USMC
LT Roger D. Wanamaker USNR
Col J. Warren Axline, MD USAF
CAPT Dorothy J. Freer, USN (Ret)
COL Serge Gabriel, USAR (Ret)
LCDR Lloyd Plehaty, USNR (Ret)
Lt Col John Simonetti, USAF (Ret)
CAPT Bill Glass, Jr, USNR (Ret)
CPT Ernest A. Belcher, USA
LT Donald W. Boyle, USA (Ret)
CAPT A. Byrnes, USN (Ret)
LT Thomas C. Gabrielson, USA
CDR Raymond J. Orr, USN (Ret)
Mrs. Naomi Sharpe
COL John L. Anderson, USA (Ret)
Maj James J. Bacik, USAF (Ret)
Mrs. Dorothy P. Bartlett
CDR William Caldwell, USNR (Ret)
LT John Ross Disbennett USCG
LCDR Robert G. Dunn, USNR (Ret)
Mrs. Gloria Flook
Brig Gen Ted Herman, USA (Ret)
Lt Col Arthur S. Knies, USAF (Ret)
COL Todd Knoebel, USA (Ret)
Col Charles Lewis, Jr., USAF (Ret)
CPT Eugene A. Lutz, USA
LT Douglas C. Miner, USA
LT Curtis Noel, USA
CAPT Henry S. Palau, USN (Ret)
LT John L. Sullivan, USA
LT Paul Durand, USA
Lt Edward Lovely, USAF
CPT Ken & CPT Doris Lippman, USA
Winners of scholarships were Matthew Rahtelli, Fairfield
Prep, Andrew Smith, Bethel High School JROTC, Connor
Findlay, Ridgefield High School, Danielle Brooks, Greenwich High School.
Andrew Smith’s dedication to his
country has been visible his entire
life. His accomplishments range
from both personal success to a
group efforts leading to an overall achievement. He has received
awards through his participation in
his schools NJROTC unit, including
and NROTC scholarship and the Union Veterans of the Civil
War medal for diligence in mission completion. He has proven dedication to his community in over 200 hours of service.
His work with the Boy Scouts of America has been inspiring, spending countless nights by his scouts sides, teaching
them responsibility, loyalty and hard-work. After his 6 years
in the program he created, planned, lead and completed an
Eagle project that’s sole purpose was to stand for the morals
of scouting as well as to improve upon his community. His
dream is independent of any of his prior family members.
After obtaining a degree in Chemical Engineering from the
University of Mississippi, Andrew intends to be commissioned into the United States Navy to fulfill his ultimate goal
of serving his country.
pal clarinet of the Stamford Young Artists Philharmonic.
Her desire to serve the community is obvious in her four
years of involvement in her local fire department, three of
those years as president. She organized a fund drive for Soldier Socks, an organization that sends care packages to those
serving overseas. She spent several years working with the
local chapter of the Lions Club and volunteers in her community band. In the fall, Danielle will attend Wellesley College and hopes to participate in the AROTC Paul Revere
Battalion.
Connor Findlay is a recognized
scholar-athlete with ambition that
will take him far. His GPA of 4.4
was one of the highest in his school
and he been on the High Honor Roll
in almost every subject for every
quarter in High School. Pairing that
with his selection as Captain of both
the Soccer and Track Teams earned
him a CT State Scholar-Athlete award. He was elected class
president his freshman year and is the Chapter President of
the Future Business Leaders of America.
Outside of school, he has volunteered his time with the local
Boys and Girls Club summer camps. He has coached community soccer teams and served as a referee. Off the field,
he owns a successful DJ entertainment business.
Connor seems to float to the top of all the activities he is
involved in. Eager to lead and to serve his country, he will
get the chance to do both as he starts a career in the US
Army in the fall as a plebe at the U.S. Military Academy,
West Point.
Matthew Rahtelli excels in the
classroom and on the field. His
high grade point average and his
leadership on the Prep Soccer team
and the track team earned him the
Scholar/Athlete Award for the last
three years at Fairfield Prep. He is a
member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and
Cardinal Key Society, his school’s
community service society.
As an Eagle Scout, he designed and created a Veteran’s
Memorial in Saint Rose of Lima Parish Cemetery, an effort
that involved fundraising, planning, coordinating, excavating, paving, masonry, and planting hedges. His project took
more than 350 man-hours and approximately 13 months to
complete.
As an active member of the Knights of Columbus, he cofounded Prep’s Squire’s Circle, was elected CT State Chief
Squire for 2012, and is the current year’s recipient of the
Knight’s Youth of the Year award. Matthew was awarded
a four-year Army ROTC Scholarship at Manhattan College
and will pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering.
Our YAA Liaisons:
LT Curt Noel, USA
LTC David Cole, USA
LT Susan Monks, USNR
Lt Col John Simonetti, USAF (Ret)
COL Serge Gabriel, USA (Ret)
Lt Ted Lovely, USAF
CDR James Botten, USNR
LT Don Boyle, USA (Ret)
LT Steven Obsitnik, USN
CPT Al Belcher, USA
CAPT Drew Bisset, USN
CAPT William Glass, Jr., USNR (Ret)
COL Todd Knoebel, USA
CAPT Mary Kline, USN
CAPT Dori Freer, USN
Danielle Brooks has always been
a competitor, both academically
and in her extracurricular endeavors. She has maintained a 4.71 GPA
during her time at Greenwich High
School, while maintaining excellence in the music world. She has
taken ten AP courses in the past
three years, and participated in six
audition-only music festivals, including Region and AllState Band.
Some of her awards and achievements include a silver medal
in the 2012 national Spanish exam, a National Merit Scholar,
and National Honors Society member. She has participated
in her school band, while also finding the time to be princi-
The Executive Board is looking for someone to volunteer to
be on the YAA committee and for a Committee Chairman.
(continued on next page)
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YAA 2013 Report
(continued from previous page)
referring to a famous quote from President Ronald Reagan,
that “our freedoms were not passed to us through the bloodstream, rather they must be fought for and protected by each
generation lest they become extinct.” In closing, Mr. Muise,
quoting from a famous speech of Thomas Paine, left all of
us with a challenge: “will you be a ‘summer soldier’ and a
‘sunshine patriot’ or will you fight to protect and preserve
our freedoms for this generation, for your generation, and
for the generations that follow. Each one of us should strive
to make our generation the greatest generation any society
has ever produced.”
LT Susan Monks, USNR provided this
synopsis of our YAA Banquet guest
speaker
On June 6th of this year, which
marked the 69th anniversary of DDay, our guest speaker at the 38th
annual Young American Awards,
Robert J. Muise, the co-founder of
the American Freedom Law Center
and a thirteen-year veteran of the
U.S. Marine Corps, discussed the
importance of the freedoms we all
enjoy as Americans and the price
paid for those freedoms. It was an
Robert J. Muise
honor to have this nationally acclaimed constitutional law expert as our 2013 speaker. His
speech was nothing short of spectacular and dovetailed our
event’s purpose of recognizing Fairfield County’s young
patriots and future leaders.
I welcome you to check out Robert’s nonprofit organization
at its website www.americanfreedomlawcenter.org. There
you may follow AFLC’s impressive work performed in our
Nation’s court rooms and sign up for email updates. AFLC
is also on Facebook. You may click “LIKE” and your newsfeed will include AFLC updates, video and photos. For those
of you who did not have the opportunity to hear our speaker,
I plan to download his speech on our WCMOA website. I
encourage you to listen to Robert’s timely and important
message.
Robert reminded us of the courage and sacrifice of our
Founders, many of whom sacrificed everything to form the
greatest Nation ever produced. He further reminded us,
Should anyone have a suggestion for next year’s guest speaker, please contact me, as the search begins soon. Susan
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The Siege of Yorktown
Submitted by COL Serge Gabriel, USA (Ret)
Serge will be marching in the commemorative parade in historical “Rochambeau’s army uniform” on October 19th
History of the Siege of Yorktown
(September 28 – October 19, 1781)
By the summer of 1781, the United States had been at war
with England for over six years. The first shots had been fired
in April 1775 on the village green in Lexington and at North
Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts. Merely sustaining the
army had been a major accomplishment for the Americans,
who did not have much money, food or clothing. The winters of 1777-78 at Valley Forge and 1779-80 at Morristown
were particularly devastating, with many soldiers freezing
and starving to death, and some giving up and returning
home. A deep belief in the cause and an enduring faith in
their leader, George Washington, kept this army together.
parading before the Continental Congress in Philadelphia,
and they arrived in Williamsburg, 13 miles west of Yorktown, in mid September.
Cornwallis was in Yorktown because he had been ordered
by Clinton during the summer to provide a protected harbor
for the British fleet in the lower Chesapeake Bay. Cornwallis chose Yorktown because of its deep-water harbor on the
York River. His army spent the latter part of the summer
fortifying Yorktown and Gloucester Point across the York
River.
The French fleet, as part of the overall plan, entered the lower Chesapeake Bay in the end of August and disembarked
3,000 French troops to wait for Washington and Rochambeau in Williamsburg. On September 5, they encountered
the British fleet in a naval engagement known as the Battle
off the Capes. The British suffered damage to their ships
and returned to New York, while the French, commanded by
Admiral de Grasse, remained in the lower Chesapeake and
established a blockade.
In the summer of 1780, the Americans received a major
boost to their cause when 5,500 French troops, commanded
by Comte de Rochambeau, arrived at Newport, Rhode Island. France had been sending supplies to the United States
all along, but after France and England declared war against
each other in 1778, French King Louis XVI sent troops and
naval assistance to the United States to engage the enemy.
When Rochambeau’s forces arrived, the British were operating on two fronts. General Clinton, commander of British forces in North America, was occupying New York City
after a largely unsuccessful attempt to control the northern
and middle colonies. General Lord Cornwallis was leading
through the southern colonies an army that had already captured Savannah and Charleston. The main American army
under Washington was stationed along the Hudson River
above New York City.
By the end of September, approximately 17,600 American
and French soldiers were gathered in Williamsburg, while
8,300 British soldiers were occupying Yorktown The British
forces included a small number of German auxiliary troops
hired to help fight the war. Cornwallis recognized the odds
were in the allies’ favor, and he sent Clinton a note asking for
help. Clinton responded that a British fleet with 5,000 men
would sail for Yorktown from New York on October 5.
Cornwallis had his men construct a main line of defense
around Yorktown that consisted of ten small enclosed forts
(called redoubts), batteries with artillery and connecting
trenches. The Americans and French marched from Williamsburg to Yorktown on September 28 and began digging
a trench 800 yards from the British defense line to begin a
siege.
In the spring of 1781, Washington traveled to Connecticut
to meet with Comte de Rochambeau and plan an attack on
Clinton. A French fleet was expected to arrive in New York
later that summer, and Washington wanted to coordinate the
attack with the fleet’s arrival. As planned, Rochambeau’s
army marched in July and joined with Washington’s troops
outside New York City, only to learn that the French fleet
was sailing to the lower Chesapeake Bay.
By October 9, the allies’ trench was finished and their artillery had been moved up. Firing at the British continuously,
they had virtually knocked the British guns out of action by
October 11. Cornwallis had the additional misfortune to
learn at that time that Clinton’s departure from New York
had been delayed.
Washington changed his strategy to make Clinton think he
was planning to attack him, while instead sneaking away to
the south to trap Cornwallis. In order to fool Clinton, Washington had his men build big army camps and huge brick
bread ovens visible from New York to give the appearance
of preparations for a stay. Washington also prepared false
papers under his signature discussing plans for an attack on
Clinton, and let these papers fall into British hands. Leaving
a small force behind, Washington and Rochambeau set out
for Yorktown in mid-August. By early September they were
During the night of October 11, the allies began a second
trench 400 yards from the British. The next days were spent
bringing up artillery and strengthening the new line. The
new line could not be completed, however, without captur(continued on next page)
7
was shocked. The British prisoners were marched to prison
camps in Winchester, Virginia and Frederick, Maryland and
to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The American army returned to
the Hudson River, while the French army remained in Yorktown and Williamsburg for the winter. Clinton and Cornwallis eventually returned to England where they engaged in
a long and bitter public controversy over who was to blame
for the British defeat at Yorktown.
(Siege of Yorktown continued)
ing British redoubts 9 and 10. On the night of October 14,
400 French stormed redoubt 9 and 400 Americans stormed
redoubt 10, capturing them in less than 30 minutes. Nine
Americans and 19 Frenchmen died in this brief and heroic
action.
On October 16, the British tried two desperation moves.
Early that morning they attacked the allied center, attempted
to silence a French Battery, but the French cannons were firing again in less than six hours. Late that night they tried to
evacuate Yorktown by crossing the York River in small boats
to Gloucester Point. A violent windstorm arose at midnight,
however, scattering the boats and forcing an abandonment
of the escape.
Though the British still had 26,000 troops in North America
after Yorktown, their resolve to win the war was nothing like
it had been before Yorktown. The war had been lengthy and
costly. Replacing Cornwallis’ captured army was a questionable proposition, particularly because the British also
were engaged in military struggles in India, Gibraltar, the
West Indies and Ireland. Thus, the British Parliament in
March 1782 passes a resolution saying the British should
not continue the war against the United States. Later that
year, commissioners of the United States and Great Britain
signed provisional articles of peace. In September 1783, the
final treaty was signed in Paris, which ended the war and
acknowledged American independence.
Realizing the situation was hopeless, Cornwallis sent forth a
British drummer on October 17, followed by a British officer
with a white flag and note indicating a request for a ceasefire. A number of notes passed between Cornwallis and
Washington that day as they set the framework for the surrender. The next day, October 18, four officers--one American, one French and two British--met at the Moore House,
one mile outside Yorktown, to settle surrender terms.
In narrow focus, the victory at Yorktown ended nothing more
than the Siege of Yorktown. But in a global sense, General
Washington’s victory on the plains of Yorktown signaled the
fulfillment of the promise that had been made in Philadelphia five long summers earlier. It had been one thing for the
colonies to politically declare their independence from Great
Britain, but something else entirely for them to achieve that
independence with a major military victory over the Crown.
On the fields of Yorktown, it might be said, the United States
of America was born.
On October 19, in a spectacle incredible to all who witnessed
it, most of Cornwallis’ army marched out of Yorktown between two lines of allied soldiers-- Americans on one side
and French on the other--that stretched for more than one
mile. The British marched to a field where they laid down
their arms, and returned to Yorktown. They did not know
that on that very day, Clinton sailed for Yorktown from New
York with 5,000 of troops.
Adapted from an unknown source by the American Society
of Le Souvenir Français, Inc.
[email protected]
News of the British defeat at Yorktown spread quickly. Celebrations took place throughout the United States. London
Chapter News
Ensign Lydia Monks Graduates from the US
Coast Guard Academy
CAPT Bill Glass, Jr, USNR (Ret) teaches
flag etiquette in Wilton
ENS Lydia Monks, USCG receives congratulations from
Vice President Joe Biden upon graduation from the Coast
Guard Academy in New London in May. Submitted by
proud mom, LT Susan
Monks, USNR.
Charlie,7, and Joey Price, 5, of Wilton learn how to correctly
fold a flag from Bill Glass on Friday, June 14.
To celebrate Flag Day, the American Legion Post 86 donated a flag to Wilton Library for the
Brubeck Room and
then held a program for children
and adults on flag
etiquette. (Bryan
Haeffele photo)
ENS Monks, a former WCMOA YAA Awardee returned to this year’s event
to team up with Capt Bill
Glass to present this year’s
awards.
(continued on next page)
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(Chapter News continued)
CAPT BILL GLASS JOINS FACULTY OF NEW
BRIDGEPORT MILITARY ACADEMY
high school curriculum of core subjects, they will have one
class per day in the NNDCC/NJROTC curriculum. The curriculum focuses on development of patriotism, personal
character, leadership, discipline and a commitment to community service. CAPT Glass will be sole Navy Science instructor this year, and would welcome assistance from WCMOA members who can provide the cadets with training or
instruction in specific areas of military expertise, flying, sailing, or for field trips to military-related facilities. The unit
does not receive any financial assistance from the Navy and
many cadets are incurring hardship for uniform purchases,
so monetary help/grants are also being sought. We wish him
all the best in his new venture. Hopefully CAPT Glass can
present a future program to us on this exciting new school!
Retired Navy Captain Bill Glass has been appointed the
Senior Naval Science Instructor at the Bridgeport Military
Academy (BMA), a new high school
that is located on the campus of the
new Fairchild Wheeler Multi-District
Magnet High School on the TrumbullBridgeport line. CAPT Glass will be
leading BMA’s Navy National Defense
Cadet Corps (NNDCC) Unit - a sister
program to the Navy Junior ROTC
(BMA will be awarded an NJROTC
unit after a 1-2 year ‘trial’ period). The initial freshman class
of 150 cadets was selected from over 300 applicants. Follow-on classes will also number about 150 until total enrollment of 600 is reached in year 4. In addition to the traditional
In Memorium
1LT Elizabeth (Betty) Neumann, USA
LT Betty Neumann, age 92, a member of the Western CT Military Officers Association (WCMOA), passed away peacefully
at Bridgeport Hospital on July 11, 2013 after a long illness. She was born in Crackersport, PA and was a longtime Trumbull
resident. She leaves her husband, WCMOA member LCDR Lawrence (Larry) Neumann, USNR and three loving children.
Betty was a WWII Army Nurse in the Philippines. In civilian life she was a Registered Nurse at Harper Hospital in Detroit
and at Bridgeport Hospital. She later worked at St. Joseph Manor in Trumbull where she served as a head nurse. She was
a member of Trinity Episcopal Church and the Pinewood Lake Association, both in the Nichols section of Trumbull. Betty
was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She enjoyed her Friday mornings at Headliners in Trumbull where she socialized with patrons and friends. She last attended the WCMOA YAA Banquet at the Stamford Italian
Center in 2012. Betty will be greatly missed.
Compiled by CDR James Botten, USNR (Ret)
Please note that Regular Chapter members must be MOAA members also.
Use the web address below to join or update your MOAA membership
https://ebiz.moaa.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Default.aspx?tabid=153
MEMBERSHIP POLICY
The WCMOA membership year runs from January 1st to December 31st, and dues are payable annually before
January 1st. New members joining after October 1st are credited with dues for the ensuing year. There are three
categories of membership: Regular members are those qualified for membership in the Military Officers Association, and are required to pay annual dues. Auxiliary members are the widows of regular members, or of
persons eligible for regular membership, and are not required to pay annual dues, but are required to renew their
membership annually. Honorary members are persons not eligible for Regular or Auxiliary membership but
are elected for a special service to our cause.
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OFFICERS CALL
WCMOA, INC.
PO BOX 2145
NORWALK, CT 06852-2145
FIRST CLASS MAIL
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Date
14 Sept 2013
29 Sept 2013
19 Oct 2013
11 Nov 2013
TBA
Event
Commodore John Barry Day
3rd Quarter Luncheon
Siege of Yorktown Parade
Veterans Day
4th Qtr Holiday Luncheon
Time
1000
1200
1200
Location
Perry Green, Southport
Adam’s Rib Restaurant, Norwalk, CT
Yorktown, VA
Fly The Flag, Check Local Events
TBA
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have received this newsletter by regular mail, then we do not have your email address on file. Please consider sending your email address to Tom Gabrielson [email protected] to receive future
issues by email. The savings in annual print cost will contribute to the WCMOA mission benefitting the YAA.
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