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Putnam Valley VFW Post Honored as Commander Ulrich is Chosen to be Putnam County VFW Commander
by Edward Paul Greiff
Amongst flags and Color Guard VFW Post 391 Commander Robert Ulrich, a veteran of the Vietnam War, brings the VFW message home to local communities.
On Wednesday, June 13, 2007 Putnam Valley VFW Post 391 Commander Robert Ulrich was sworn in as the VFW Commander for all of Putnam County; VFW Posts in Mahopac, Brewster, Patterson, Kent, Cold Spring, and Putnam Valley: a community of over 1,500 veterans.
"I want to let the people know that the VFW is not asleep in Putnam Valley," says Commander Ulrich.
The VFW Posts in Putnam County must agree with Bob Ulrich because this is the second year in a row that they have chosen him to be the Putnam County Commander, a role he takes very seriously.
One of the roles the VFW performs is to be the communities' conscience when it comes to remembering our veterans from all of the wars America has fought and is fighting.
In the book, My Men Are My Heroes, the story of Marine Master Sergeant Brad Kasal who earned the Navy Cross in the fight for Fallujah, Iraq, Kasal explains where a soldier gets his courage; (which in turn helps explain why the VFW organization matters). "Courage," says Kasal, "is made possible by camaraderie and esprit de corps - of not wanting to leave their fellow man behind. I watched young men do amazing things in order to protect the man next to them."
This fierce sense of loyalty is hard to comprehend unless you too were in a combat zone. Ulrich, who served in Vietnam, says they are there for the veterans who are returning and finding it difficult to adjust to civilian life once again. "We all have our moments where we lose it for awhile," says Ulrich, "but it helps to talk to someone who has been through it; you can't keep it bottled up."
The VFW is there to counsel the veterans and their families especially with one of the roughest tasks of all, a funeral. The VFW keeps the candle burning as they keep the memories alive and visit memorials and cemeteries, and participate in National remembrance holidays so that we never forget those who have sacrificed their lives on our behalf.
VFW Post 391, available for happy celebrations like birthdays and family gatherings, it is an integral part of the community of Putnam Valley. And when Post Commander Bob Ulrich says, "I want to let the people know that the VFW is not asleep in Putnam County," he is actively pursuing getting the VFW remembrance message out to the towns in the County, and he would like to see as many of the 1,500 plus veterans in the county participating. Ulrich is hopeful that the returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans will join in their efforts.
A framed Ode to a Soldier, written by Patty Squillante, hangs on a wall in the VFW Post 391 building. The last paragraph sums up a soldier's never ending duty, "I prayed one night ... I said God ... how can you let little children die and not do anything about it? He paused for a while and then he said "I most certainly did do something about it . . . I made you!"
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