The Patchogue VFW Post 2913 will be celebrating their 80th anniversary gala on Oct. 12.

The gala will take place at the VFW Post 2913, 32 Edwards Street in Patchogue from 3 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $65 and will include catering by the Fish Store as well as the first three drinks.

To buy tickets, use the QR code or contacting the senior vice commander Eric D’Arce at (631) 559-7190.

“If you are family oriented, we are a family post with active members to include the auxiliary. We not only serve veterans, we serve community. If you’d like to continue a mission of service, please join us at our gala and inquire further,” said second year commander of the VFW Joseph VanEmmerik. “Your ticket purchase will allow us to continue advocating for veterans and providing pivotal programs to the community.”

Sponsors of the gala include Residential Fences Corp, Aboff’s Paints, The Fish Store, and more.

VanEmmerik, All State and All-American post commander, also suggested membership was low with a total of 150 members; of that, only about 15 to 20 are active.

“Membership did not decrease; however, a majority of members have retired and relocated to other states and destinations and unfortunately quite a few active members have passed over the five years since our last gala,” he said, hoping to attract new members.

They are volunteers and are always serving, he said, noting it’s a great place for veterans with a family.

“We provide community services to include school awards and scholarships, community pantry drives and donations, ceremonies for the fallen and POW/MIAs being returned home, as well as relief funds and providing knowledge and resources to all veterans within the community,” he said.

The VFW Post 2913 currently serves Brookhaven Health Care Facility through Coffee with a Veteran, Village Walk nursing home through numerous monthly events, as well as additional events per the capability of fundraising amongst their members. 

The plan for the post, he added, is to continue servicing veterans, military servicemembers, their families and the community.

ABOUT THE VFW

The VFW traces its roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service: Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans’ pension for them, and they were left to care for themselves. In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations with what would become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum. By 1915, membership grew to 5,000; by 1936, membership was almost 200,000. 

Since then, the VFW’s voice had been instrumental in establishing the Veterans Administration, creating a GI bill for the 20th century, the development of the national cemetery system and the fight for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, VFW won a long-fought victory with the passing of a GI Bill for the 21st Century, giving expanded educational benefits to America’s active-duty service members, and members of the Guard and Reserves, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The VFW also has fought for improving VA medical centers services for women veterans. Besides helping fund the creation of the Vietnam, Korean War, World War II and Women in Military Service memorials, the VFW in 2005 became the first veterans’ organization to contribute to building the new Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial, which opened in November 2010. Annually, nearly 2 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliaries contribute more than 8.6 million hours of volunteerism in the community, including participation in Make A Difference Day and National Volunteer Week. From providing over $3 million in college scholarships and savings bonds to students every year, to encouraging elevation of the Department of Veterans Affairs to the president’s cabinet, the VFW is there.

The History of JAYNE-LATTIN Post 2913 

It all began with 120 members on October 13, 1945, at the Patchogue Hotel, On January 13, 1946, the Charter Membership was closed with breaking membership of 375, Membership broke the 400 mark on February 3, 1946, thus becoming one of the largest VFW posts in the United States. On March 9, 1946, the Auxiliary was instituted at Patchogue Hotel with 40 Charter Members. Between 1945 and 1949, VFW 2913 post meetings were held at various locations in the Village of Patchogue, NY.  It was in March 1949 that ground was broken for the new building on Edwards Street in the Village of Patchogue. 

In November 1949, the new Post was completed, and the members officially moved in. Since the post was formed its post members and the Auxiliary have been involved in the community, with various programs in the local schools, Air Force ROTC awards, Local members of Fire Department, EMT Department and County Police Department member of the year awards, attend annual parades, and support our Military service men and women on active duty with care boxes while deployed. Over the last couple of years, the post has continued its support to veterans and the local community with art programs, giving support to food pantries, building relationships with Student Veterans of America, Eagle Scout Awards, housing Harmony Cafe and a startup church. The post also takes part in several community events like Alive After Five, the Suffolk County Marathon and Freedom Fest. The name of the post was derived from the first fallen from Patchogue, Long Island, New York. Kenneth Jayne and Bleecker Lattin who were killed in action at Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, on board the U.S. ships Arizona and Oklahoma.

Bleecker Lattin enlisted in the Navy on Feb. 13, 1940, shortly after leaving Patchogue, N.Y., high school in his senior year. Bleecker Lattin was a radioman and petty officer 3rd class on the USS Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. Mr. Lattin was born Oct. 9, 1921, with the last name of Arrighi but later took the surname of his stepfather, Howard Lattin. 

On December 7, 1941, the battleship USS Oklahoma was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor when attacked by Japanese forces. After multiple torpedo hits, the USS Oklahoma capsized. F3C Jayne was one of 429 sailors and Marines lost on that day. His remains were among 393 Pearl Harbor casualties which were unidentifiable and buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific as Unknowns. In 2015, the Department of Defense authorized the disinterment of Unknowns of the USS Oklahoma buried at the cemetery. By use of modern-day forensic science, F3C Jayne’s remains were identified. 80 years later, on December 4, 2021, F3C Jayne was finally brought to his final resting place here at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Patchogue.