2019  Fall Luncheon and Annual Meeting

On 16 October 2019, our Association held its Fall Luncheon and Annual Meeting at the Milleridge Inn in Jericho, New York.  Despite rainy weather, the event was attended by 24 members and 12 spouses and guests.  The schedule began with a cash bar cocktail reception with cheese and fruit platters, which was followed by a served luncheon.

During the luncheon, President Louis H. Sudholz, Jr. conducted a brief business meeting, and reported regarding recent Association activities, plans for the rest of the year, and events planned for 2020.  As is customary, he began by recognizing the General Officers who were present: MG George E. Barker and MG Anthony R. Kropp; and he also recognized the following former 77^th Command Sergeant Major and Sergeants Major who were present: CSM Daniel J. Mari; SGM Anthony A. Filosa, Director; SGM Leonard Finkelstein; and SGM Stephen Steinbaum.  He also noted the recent passing away of our long-time Director, CPT Douglas A. Wilke. 

COL Sudholz then recognized a recently joined member of our Association, SFC John E. Morris, and gave him his customary 77^th lapel pin and etched whiskey glass.  SFC Morris served in the 1154^th USAR School at Fort Totten from 1989 to 1986, and in the 136^th Field Service Company from 1980 to 1989.  He also previously served with distinction in the 125^th Signal Battalion, 25^th Infantry Division in 1966, during the Vietnam War.

COL Sudholz and COL Ivan Cornielle, Vice President, also recognized a guest who had initiated his application for membership in our Association during the meeting, MAJ Howard Chin, and presented him with a 77^th lapel pin and etched glass.

CW4 Bernard M. Kaplan, Treasurer, summarized the Financial Report for the Association’s fiscal year ended 31 August 2019, and offered to provide a copy to any member who desired it.

COL Thomas P. Sullivan, USAR, who is one of our Directors, then reported regarding his new assignment as Commander, 1179^th Transportation Surface Brigade (Fort Hamilton, New York), and his attendance at the US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania this past summer.

COL Sullivan also displayed a photograph depicting the so-called “Lost Battalion” of the 77^th during World War I, which is a duplicate of a gift from his class to the War College.  He and COL Sudholz announced that the duplicate photograph, which COL Sullivan has donated to our Association, will be offered at an auction to be held sometime next year, to raise funds for our Association.  (Details will be announced later.)

Mr. Malcolm R. Schade, as Secretary, and CW4 Kaplan then conducted the election of directors.  Based upon the presence in person of 24 voting (Regular or Honorary) members, augmented by numerous proxies given prior to the meeting, the meeting more than achieved the required quorum of at least 19 voting members (10% of the total number of members eligible to vote).  All of the candidates proposed by the Nominating Committee were elected for the respective terms described in the proxies and ballots, and until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified.

The luncheon concluded with a popular raffle of seven donated prizes conducted by CW4 Kaplan, the proceeds of which will go toward funding our memorial services and other activities.

In attendance were: MG George E. Barker; COL Lawrence M. Bellman, Vice President, with Mrs. Eileen Bellman; MAJ Howard Chin; COL Lawrence E. Connors; COL Ivan Cornielle, Director; 1LT Gene DeSantis; SGM Anthony A. Filosa, Director; SGM Leonard Finkelstein; COL Kevin F. Harrington; COL David E. B. Husing; CW5 William F. Iannone; CW4 Stephen C. Josephs, with his son; CW4 Bernard M. Kaplan; COL Seymour Kaplan, Director; MG Anthony R. Kropp, with Mrs. Joanne E. Kropp; COL Stephen A. Labate; Mr. (rank unknown) Fred Landon; CSM Daniel J. Mari; LTC Bernard F. McGovern; LTC Glennie L. Millard; SFC John E. Morris; CW5 Robert Neglia; Mr. (rank unknown) Vincent O’Connell; LTC John W. Peterkin, Director, with Mrs. Ann Peterkin; SFC Ronald I. Peters; Mr. Malcolm R. Schade; CW5 Paul M. Silverman; SGM Stephen Steinbaum; COL Louis H. Sudholz, Jr.; COL Thomas P. Sullivan; COL Richard K. Treacy; and LTC Victor E. Tuohy.

                                                    

 To view these and additional photos of this event, click here to go to Photo Albums.