From Commander Steve Jackson

Wow, this year has really flown by. Here it is the start of the Holiday Season and it seems likeyesterday we were celebrating the start of 2017.As I am writing this the ceiling tiles in the great room have been replaced. New ceiling fans willbe installed in the next few days. This is just a start, with a goal of fresh paint and new carpet tospruce up this room. Don't worry, all the life membership plaques will continue to be displayed.As many of you know this is a sad time for the Post. Member, Post Security Officer and friendHerb Bruckner passed on November 20. Herb could always be counted on to keep the Post safewith his security rounds at all hours of the night and day. He and his smile and friendly greetingwill be missed.We have several events planned for the holiday season. On December 2, the Auxiliary will behaving a breakfast with Santa, on December 5 will be the Auxiliary Christmas Luncheon.December 20, we will have the Post Christmas Party. Don't forget that the year will end with ourNew Years Eve Party. Details for these and other Post events are available on the Post website:www.vfw8696.com.I am often asked questions about Post policies, I do not establish the policies. They are dictatedby National, Department and Post Bylaws. Other policies not covered by the bylaws are oftenestablished at the monthly meetings. Remember it is the membership who runs the Post. Havesuggestions or ideas come to a monthly meeting and bring them up before your peers.In closing I want to wish all of you and your families Merry ChristmasSteve

From Auxiliary President Chrissy Padovano

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! We are now getting into the busy holiday season. We are starting the month off with a Breakfast with Santa on December 2nd from 8 to 12. Come by and enjoy a pancake breakfast and you can also have your picture taken with Santa.

The Auxiliary is also having a basket of cheer raffle as well as a money tree raffle. Purchase your raffle tickets for your chance to win. Good luck to everyone.

The Auxiliary luncheon is December 5th from 12 to 2, hope to see you there.

Also don’t forget the post will be having the WWII and Korean War recognition on Monday January 1st.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year.

Christine PadovanoAuxiliary President

Remembering Herb BruckerMarch 25th, 1925~November 20th, 2017

Herb with Govener Scott

Herb was born March 25, 1925 in Cleveland Ohio, and attended Thomas Edison High School.Like many of the time, Herb heard the call to defend his country and quit school in 1943 to jointhe Navy. But that was not meant to be, as the physical discover a hernia. Once the hernia was repaired, Uncle Sam knew a good man when he stepped forward and Herb was drafted into the Army in 1944, at the age of 18. So off he went to basic training in Little Rock Arkansas, where he was slotted in Special Services, (communication,radio, maps, etc.).Herb, with the 106th Infantry Division, landed in England for the gathering of forces which would head to Le Havre France. In France the 106th destroyed the buzz bomb launch sites which were responsible for much of the damage done to England. Herb was with the reconnaissance forces which had to go door to door, city by city, pushing the Germans back to Germany. One of the things Herb had to do was locate the booby traps the Germans left in their wake, and render them harmless for on coming troops. The 106th then moved to Belgium where they replaced troops that fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

Their job was to keep the pressure up on the German retreat and follow them into Germany; which they did.General George Patton asked for 10 volunteers to haul fuel and supplies to Stuttgart. Herb was one of the 10 drivers. The bridge they had to cross had been seriously weakened by bombing and sentries were posted to make sure troops didn’t go over the bridge. General Patton told theconvoy to shoot the sentries if necessary, but getthose trucks to Stuttgart. Apparently the sentries decided to let the 10 trucks and men proceed, one at a time, on their “oh so not safe crossing”. Things then took a nasty turn as two of the trucks broke down. Herb rigged a harness from his truck to the others and hauled them over the bridge. For this Staff Sergeant Brucker received the Bronze Star Medal for Heroism. Two days after the events at the bridge, a military jeep withthree men attempted to cross the bridge, which caved in plummeting them to their deaths. Herbsother medals include Expert Sharp Shooter, Victory, and Good Conduct, Occupation, and Over Seas medals. The day after Herb returned home on leave in 1946, he looked across the street and saw Helen Kormos, who sweep him off his feet and out of the Army. They married in 1949 and were married for 62 years until her recent passing.Protecting people, working hard, and helping the flow of events is clearly at the heart of Herb’s life.When he left the Army, he went to work for 22 years at Shawnee Cartage as a dispatcher and rose to terminal management. At the same time, he also worked for Argus Detective agency and was an auxiliary officer with the Cleveland Police.When Shawnee Cartage closed he became a sales rep for Maxwell House Coffee for the next 12 years. In 1979 Herb and Helen moved to Palm Coast, where he worked for the Flagler County Sherriff’s Department, as a Sub Station Coordinator, under three different Sheriffs.Herb was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Fraternal Order of Police, and Post 8696 Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also Jr. Vice Commander. Among the other things he works with the Bingo Team, provided grounds Security, and took care of the VFW’s lending library. Herb was a true gentleman, a patriot, anda valuable asset to this post.

It's never too early to plan for “New Years Eve!”

Tickets will be on sale in Early October, Food,music, dancing, and a midnight toast! Get

yours soon.

BIRTHDAY BLESSINGSHappy Birthday to the following auxiliary members whose birthdays occur in December.Gladys Bletsch Patti MarcarelliBetty Ann Brown Aynne McAvoyPatricia Butler Elizabeth MyreCarolyn Cave Barbara NattressLouisa Childs Stephen NeugebauerMelissa Hage Sarah NinaltowskiSylvia Holman Emily PiekarskiKaren Isennock Gloria ScandariatoElizabeth Klitch Katie StarkKathleen Knapik Ruby StricklandAnita Knudsen Rose TodiscoJacqueline LaGrange Lynn WidomMary Lombardi Dianne Yandell

Any additions and/or corrections can be made by calling 386-586-7742.Kathy Enriquez, Membership

VFW Post 8696VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS 47 Old Kings Rd. N. Palm Coast Fl 32137 (386)446-8696 P.O. Box 351003

Palm Coast FL 32135Post Fax 446-4474Post E-Mailvfwpost8696@pcfl.netPost Commandercmdrvfw@pcfl.netPost website: www.vfw8696.com December 2017

An Association of VeteransWho Have Fought America's Foreign Warson Land, at Sea, and in the Air