2022 June Newsletter


 

 

American Legion Lt. B. R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post 1291

Legion Year 22 – 23 Newsletter No. 1

紐約華裔美國退伍軍人會會務簡訊

June 2022

 

Dear Legionnaires 親愛的會友:

We are grateful to have retired Appellate Court Presiding Judge Hon. Randall Eng leading the Post and serving as our Commander for another year. We are all looking forward to having another successful year under Commander Eng’s leadership. Below is a message to the members from Commander Eng:

 

Commander’s Message

As I begin my second term as Commander, I wish to thank our Post leadership and devoted members for the outstanding job that they have done in bringing back our activities and programs following the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

During the 2021-22 Legion Year we were able to have strong representation at the National Convention in Phoenix where we renewed old friendships and brought back many sound ideas to aid us in advancing the goals and ideals of the American Legion.  Our Executive Committee and General Membership meetings were conducted in person, as well as those of CAVMBC, Inc.

In the fall, we hosted our traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas parties and honored our Post Scholarship recipients and their families for their outstanding academic achievements.  Veterans Day was observed and we had the participation of Midshipmen from Annapolis who joined us in our parade through the community.  Faculty members from West Point who had come to New York to study leadership and to learn more about Asian-American experiences also visited.

In January 2022 we welcomed the Year of the Tiger with a New Year’s banquet at the House of Joy Restaurant, which revived our long-standing custom.  March and April saw our involvement in the movement to raise awareness of the high rate of suicide among our fellow veterans.  On April 23, 2022 we provided a color guard and speakers at a well-attended ceremony at the Glenwood Landing American Legion Post 336 to publicly display the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance flag (SAR), which is being proposed for national recognition.

Our Post observed Memorial Day 2022 with a parade along Mott Street to Kimlau Square with marchers from our Post, Auxiliary, and Sons of the American Legion, along with public officials and community leaders who also participated in a solemn program at the Memorial Arch.

The Pandemic has led to a drop in our membership rolls that must be addressed by all of us.  Among our family and friends are eligible veterans who should be encouraged to join so that we may continue our long tradition of being one of the most outstanding posts in the Department and the Nation.  Join me in a strong recruiting effort this new Legion Year so that we may continue to “Serve with Pride” as we have done for over 75 years. Randall Eng, Commander

As you can see in the Commander’s message that even with COVID-19 and its subsequent variants, our Post has resumed normal activities and has had a very busy year. We started the new Legion Year with the Legion, Auxiliary and SAL Legion Year 2022-2023 officers taking their oaths on June 4th, 2022. Please join us in congratulating them for a successful year. We would like to thank you for your support and trust. The officers’ installation took place at the Post Chairman Peter Woo Auditorium. The reception was at House of Joy Restaurant, and unlike the previous years with close to a 1000 community and post members in attendance at the banquet; we had to settle for a smaller venue due to the closure of large restaurants in Chinatown. This year, we needed a second restaurant for members and family. Our guests included Taipei Economical Cultural Office Ambassador James Lee, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association President Raymond Tsang, New York State Senator John Liu, City Councilman Christopher Marte, community leaders and four members of the Boston Chinatown Post 328. Thank you to all the VIP and guests for attending and special thanks to Installation Officer, Department Vice Commander Arthur Kiernan for conducting the installation ceremony.

In his acceptance remarks, Judge Eng, a second-generation veteran told a fascinating story about his father’s struggle to live the American dream. His father immigrated to the United States at the young age of fifteen. He entered the service when he was eighteen and served as an airplane mechanic during WWII. After discharging from the service, he enrolled in the Academy of Aeronautics and received an airplane mechanics certificate. Not surprisingly, he could not find a job in the field he was trained in during a period of racial prejudice in America. But that disappointment didn’t stop him as he was determined to achieve success and live the American dream. He worked hard and went on to own a laundry business and raise three children who all have very successful professional careers.

Commander Eng laid out his goals for the coming year with the aim to work with New York City to ensure the Lt. Kimlau Memorial Arch, the first monument honoring Asian Americans in the city of New York be designated as landmark, and will receive proper funding for the much needed renovation. He also pledged to work with Councilman Christopher Marte, Department of Veterans Services to spearhead the renaming of the Chatham Square to Lt Kimlau Square to honor the sacrifices and contribution of Chinese Americans.

Auxiliary President Jaime Seto-Yee and SAL Commander David Lee in their speeches thanked their respective members for their support and promised to be avid supporters for all Legion Programs. Congratulations to all the new officers and we wish them all a successful year.

熱誠祝賀曾擔任紐約州第二上訴首席伍元天法官蟬聯新一屆主席,伍元天主席領導有方,新一年肯定比去年更成功及作出更多的貢獻。以下是伍元天主席給會員們的懇言:

在二零二一至二零二二年疫情由嚴重漸轉為緩和期間,非常感謝本會職員並不因疫情持續而放棄會務,仍派出可觀團隊出席在亞里桑那州鳳凰城舉行的全國退伍軍人會年會,在年會中與久違的同袍一聚友誼及聽取退伍軍人新一年的宗旨。並且本會亦採取會員親臨會所參加一切會議包括樓業董事會議。本會每年舉辦的感恩節及聖誕節聚餐亦如期舉行,並在聖誕節聚餐一如往年頒發獎學金給十七名成績優秀的本會子弟以獎勵他們勸奮向學。三十二位美國海軍軍官學校中文文化研究會學生亦如過去參加本會舉辦的軍人節遊行。馳名的美國西點軍校十多位現正在哥倫比亞大學深造的教官為了深入了解華人軍旅及一般經歷亦在十一月拜訪本會。本會農曆年聚餐在華埠喜運來酒樓舉辦迎接虎年。本會在四月二十三日上午十時三十分參加在格蘭活三三六退伍軍人會舉辦的首次升輕生,警悟及懷念旗幟,以進一步提高公眾對現役及退役軍人輕生意識。本會亦恢復停辨兩年的國殤紀念日遊行,政要及社區領袖與本會會員,婦女會及子弟部在本會儀仗隊帶領下遁勿街出發前往退伍軍人忠烈坊,浩浩蕩蕩,在忠烈坊舉行莊嚴紀念儀式及鳴槍致敬。本會會員人數在過去數年漸漸減少,尢其在疫情期間更明顯嚴重下降,身為本會會員,大家應盡力合作去招募符合條件的退伍軍人加入本會,這樣才可以將退伍軍人會宗旨持久承傳.繼續在未來再以服務為榮而自豪。主席伍元天啟。

正如伍元天主席說,雖然新冠疫情仍然存在,而隨後而來的變種病毒亦影響到每一個人的日常生活,但本會各職員仍致力會務,恢復一切正常服務及活動。本會新一屆的職員已在六月四日在本會伍覺良董事長禮堂就職,我們哀心感謝大家的支持及信賴。在此祝全體職員勝任愉快及成功新的一年。就職晚宴在華埠喜運來酒酒樓,由於華埠大型酒樓金豐因疫情影響而關閉,不能像往年一樣可以筵開百席,今年只能分設兩家較小的酒樓。參加就職典禮嘉賓眾多,包括台北經濟文化辦事處李光章大使,紐約州參議員劉醇逸,市議員馬泰,中華公所主席曾偉康,及遠道而來的波士頓華裔美國退伍軍人會的四位代表親臨祝賀。特別感謝紐約州副主席主持新一屆職員就職典禮。

伍元天主席在就職典禮致辭中說及一個他父親當年來美國掙扎的非常感動的往事。他父親十五歲移民美國,十八歲服役第二次世界大戰擔任修理飛機機械師,他退伍後就讀航空學院並獲得修理飛機機械師證書。其間美國對華人仍然存有種族歧視偏見,所以他找不到他熱愛及專長技術的飛機機械修理工作並非奇蹟。但這種失望並沒有阻止他努力及決心取得成功及實踐美國夢的願望。這使他加倍努力工作並擁有一家洗衣店及撫養了三個在職業界上非常成功的孩子。

伍元天主席亦說及他新一年的會務要旨,他將盡力與紐約市協商確保美國華裔退伍軍人忠烈坊獲得適當的資源進行維修或重新建造,絕不能讓這一座專為紀念亞裔為國犧牲英雄事蹟及紐約市唯一指定的亞裔紀念碑地標被忽略。另他亦將與市議員馬泰及紐約市退伍軍人人事務部合作,將且林士果廣場改名為劉錦中尉廣場,以紀念華裔的犧牲及貢獻。

婦女會主席司徒寶叠和子弟部李立民主席在致辭中感謝會員支持,並將成為所有退伍軍人會服務計劃的熱心支持者。 祝賀全體職員勝任愉快及成功的新的一年。

 

 

Come Join Us for a Day of Fun

 

Lt. B. R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post 1291 will hold a one day bus trip (一日旅行團) to:

Where 地點:

  1. Grounds for Sculpture (雕塑公園)

  2. Princeton University (普林斯頓大學)

  3. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Robbinsville (印度神廟)

 

When 時間及日期:  

Saturday July 30, 2022 (8 am to 6 pm).  Bus will depart 99 Bowery, New York, NY 10002, 8:00 am sharp

七月三十日星期日,上午八時至下午六時。在華埠包厘街99號門前集合,巴士準八時開車

Who 參加者:

Legion, Auxiliary, SAL, families & friends 凡屬軍人會、婦女會、子弟部會員及親朋戚友均可參加

Cost 費用:    

$30/person  Maximum 2 tickets per Legion/Auxiliary/SAL member. First come first served, tickets are limited. 隨本會巴士前往者每人費用三拾元。凡屬軍人會、婦女會、子弟部會員,每人最多購票兩張,坐位有限,先到先得。

Registration Date 報名日期:         

From Monday July 10, 2022 – Sunday July 23, 2022 (2 to 4 pm daily at Post Headquarters)

由七月十日起至七月二十三日止,每日下午二時至四時在書記處報名購票,賣完即止。

 

2022 Scholarship 二零二二年獎學金

Applications for the 2022 Post Scholarship and the Robert S. Wong Chinese Study Scholarship are being accepted through August 31, 2022.  For details concerning qualifications and requirements, please refer to previous newsletters or contact Post Headquarters. Application Forms can be obtained at Post Headquarters during office hours (2 pm to 4 pm daily) or downloaded directly from our website at www.ltkimlau.com. Anyone who wishes to apply should contact our Post for more information.

本會二零二年獎學金及司徒旺中國文化獎學金申請日期由一月一日起至八月三十一日止。如你需要有關兩項獎學金詳情,可以參閱以往的會務簡訊或向本會辦公室詢問,有意報名申請者請於該期間填妥表格及預備各種文件,送交本會。獎學金申請表格請於本會辦公時間親臨本會索取或可由本會電腦網站www.ltkimlau.com直接下戴。如有疑問,請與本會聯系。

 

 

Legion Year 2022 – 2023 Officers 本年度職員

 

Position 職位

Name(s) 職員

Commander 主席

Randall Eng 伍元天

Vice Commander 副主席

Sean Tse 謝國寶, Kenneth Wong 黃建中, Thomas Ong 鄧燦業

Adjutant 幹事

Gabe B. Mui 梅本立

Ass’t Adjutant 助理幹事

Mark Eng伍顯宗

Chinese Secretary 中文書記

David Lam 林善群

Treasurer 財政

Howard Chin陳煥寧

Judge Advocate 評議

Richard Shin 單志然

Historian 會歷

Mimi Wang 王咪咪

Sgt. at Arms 糾察

De Zhi Yu余德志, Antonio Chuy 朱超然

Auditor 核數

Arvin Chin 陳毓堂, Yeuk Chung Moy 梅若松

Post Chaplain 宗教主任

Philip Eng 伍沃欽

Executive Committee 執行委員

Jia  M. Wu 伍家明, Lester Chang鄭永佳, Johnny Kung龔耀宗, David Yee余龍青, Joe Law羅明泰, Hon Pun Chan陳漢斌, Albert Eng 伍澄江, Don Yee 余超俊, Wilem Wong黃伯聰, Thomas Lee李振宏, Jimmy Quan 關志文

 

First CAVMBC Membership Meeting for LY2022-2023

Sunday June 26, 2022, 1pm at Post Auditorium

For members joined on January 17, 2004 and prior / members has been approved for CAVMBC membership only

二零二二至二零二三年第一次華裔美國退伍軍人實業公司會員大會

六月二十六日星期日,下午一時在本會禮堂舉行

會員必需在一月十七日, 二零零四年前加入本會或已經獲實業公司董事局批准入會才能參加會議

 

First Post General Membership Meeting for LY2022-2023

Sunday June 26, 2022, 3pm at Post Auditorium

For all members, please come and see what’s going on, we need your involvement

二零二二至二零二三年第一次會員大會

六月二十六日星期日,下午三時在本會禮堂舉行

請各會員踴躍出席參加,共商會務及各重要事項

We hope the above information will be of interest to you and we hope to hear from you soon.  Let us know what we can do for you.  Until we meet again, stay well!

我們希望這份簡訊,對你有所幫助,更希望在不久的將來,能得到你參與本會各種活動的回應。假如我們有任何可以為你服務之處,務請隨時提出意見。

 

 

 

THE STAFF   本會行政小組仝人敬啟

Randall Eng伍元天, Sean Tse謝國寶, Kenneth Wong黃建中, Thomas Ong鄧燦業

Gabe B. Mui 梅本立, Mark Eng伍顯宗

David Lam 林善群, Howard Chin 陳煥寧