A MESSAGE FROM THE DEPARTMENT
ADJUTANT
Greetings,
I just wanted to update you on a few things going on in
the Department. I attended a small ceremony yesterday in Cohoes to
commemorate the 19th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. It
brought back some memories that I don’t
think will ever leave me and I want to briefly share them with you. On
the morning of 09-11-01, I was home on Long Island making last minute
adjustments for our Department Commander’s visit to Queens County. It
was newly elected Department Commander Gibby
Mitras’s first official visit on his 62 County journey through his
year. We had planned a visit to the local VA Hospital at St. Albans and
the State Veterans Nursing Home next door. Lunch at a local post and a
tour of some war memorials in the area would round
out the day’s events. A dinner and installation of the Queens County
officers at Antuns Catering Hall would culminate the evening nicely.
Well….it didn’t quite work out the way we planned. Gibby got a phone
call the night before that he was being called to
Washington D.C. for a Legislative hearing but would be back in time for
the dinner. Queens County Commander Manfred Brandt decided to go on
with the tour for Helen Mitras and Sally and Dick Johnston, his aide.
The pickup was uneventful in Richmond County,
but as they were crossing the Verrazano Bridge to Brooklyn, the first
plane hit one of the World Trade Center towers. At that moment
everything changed. New York City went on lockdown, and all bridges and
tunnels were shut down. Future Department Commander
Frank Peters, a Staten Island Ferry Boat Captain, would spend the next
few hours evacuating people from lower Manhattan to the safety of Staten
Island. Frank would later be honored for his heroic efforts to evacuate
thousands of people and would take the last
boatload to safety before the waterways were closed. Unable to return
the traveling party back to their hotel, CC Brandt took them into his
home for several days until the bridges were reopened. Communications
with Dept. Commander Gibby were nonexistent and
it wasn’t until several days later I received a call from Gibby that
after several cab rides, a train, subway and railroad journeys, he had
made it to Malverne, Long Island and wanted me to take him to Helen. We
headed toward the Verrazano Bridge in Brooklyn
and traffic was a disaster. Road closures and detours were numerous but
the worst part was the dust in the air and the horrific smell. As we
rounded the road near Shore Parkway, you could now see the collapsed
towers and the fire. Our approach to the bridge
was blocked with heavily armed soldiers and numerous armored vehicles. I
will never forget how the 50 cal. machine gun followed my every move as
I exited my vehicle as ordered and placed myself against my car. Their
dogs sniffed us and one went into my car
and sniffed around the outside and the trunk. After a thorough pat down
and an ID check, we were permitted to go on our way. Normally the view
from the upper level of the Verrazano Bridge was picture post card
perfect. Not that day. Smoke and flames covered
lower Manhattan and helicopters and fighter planes filled the sky.
Gibby and I were silent as we drove over and we never spoke of that day
again. I dropped him off at the hotel and we exchanged no parting words.
He ran toward the entrance and I headed home.
My attempt to cross the bridge was a repeat of the first crossing and I
was just as nervous as it seemed everyone was on razor’s edge. I
followed all their commands as any good sailor would. The small
community I live in lost 81 people that day and the renaming
of our streets in their honor are a constant reminder of our loss.
Never Forget.
The three Department offices are now operating
but visitors are not permitted at this time. The National Commander is planning
a visit to Syracuse in November to present an award. He will be in town for two
days and provided the NY Covid restrictions are eased, we will be able to
accommodate him. As of today, travelers from Indiana must quarantine for 14
days, so it would not be possible for him to visit. I will keep you posted as
the situation progresses. I have recently spoken to the event manager of the
Desmond Hotel regarding the Mid-Winter conference. As of now, groups of more
than 50 are not permitted. We don’t know what the numbers will be in late
January but we have planned a Mini-Mid-Winter just in case the restrictions
remain in place. We will live stream the Conference if that should occur. Due
to the permanent closure of several hotels in White Plains, they will not be
hosting the 2021 Department Convention. The Binghamton Convention committee
Chairman Bob Gardner attempted to move his 2022 Convention to 2021 but was
unable to do so due to the lack of hotel availability. Pending approval of the
Department Executive Committee, the 2021 Department Convention will be held at
the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Colonie. The Department Headquarters
will take the lead for the 2021 Convention with members from surrounding
Counties joining in. If Covid 19 restrictions are still in effect at that time,
we would be required to abide by those restrictions and we would have a
Mini-Department Convention similar to the Mini-Mid-Winter. The 2022 Department
Convention in Binghamton will remain there and with Department Executive
Committee approval, the 2023 Convention will be in White Plains. These are very
trying times for all of us and especially here at Headquarters. I sincerely
appreciate your patience and understanding and even your lack of both at
times. Things change here almost on a daily basis and I want us to be as well
prepared as we can for any and all scenarios. I thank God every night for the
staff I have here in our HQ in Troy. They are the most kind, understanding and
helpful group of people I have had the pleasure of working with. The next time
you see or speak to them, please thank them for all they do for us.
“ Pro Deo et Patria “
James W. Casey
Adjutant
American Legion
Department of New York
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