Individual Community Service Report Form

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Reportable activities for Community Service: Volunteering for Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, Hospice, VA Hospital  or any hospital, helping senior citizens, Suicide Hot Line, Battered Woman’s Shelters, helping in our schools or churches are just a few of the many things that qualify as Community Service. If you volunteer your time and talents, if you walk for the Heart Fund, Cancer Fund, March of Dimes or do anything that is a service to our Community, or any other worthy cause, please fill out this form and return it to the post or email it to one of VFW Post 392 Officers. Turn in your volunteer hours, monetary donations and miles. Help the Post properly report our members Community Service Activities. Your assistance may also give our Post the opportunity to be considered for the “Excellence in Community Service Award.” You may report events singularly or by each month by clicking on the Community Service Report Form link above, completing the form, and turning it in to the post, or sending it via e-mail to the Post Commander at commandervfw392@gmail.com.

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COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS NIGHT 2023

On the evening of Thursday, April 13th, 2023, VFW Post 392 and our Auxiliary hosted our Community Service Awards Night Ceremony. Including staff members and our Awardees, we had a total turn out nearing 100. It was really great to see so many family members, friends and co-workers in attendance to support our Awardees as they were recognized for their achievement.

After introductions by Post Adjutant Michael Marushia, our Master of Ceremonies for the evening, opening the ceremony was Post Commander John Flavin, with Jr. Vice Commander John Wikkerink leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance. The opening prayer was given by Auxiliary Chaplain Connie Mitchell, then welcoming remarks by Auxiliary President Carol Mueller.

Following Auxiliary President Mueller’s remarks, Scholarship Chairman Connie Mitchell stepped forward to begin announcing the winners for the Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest and the Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Contest. Ms. Mitchell began by explaining how the Scholarship Program was just one of the many programs run by the Post. She then mentioned the programs under Scholarships, namely: Patriot’s Pen, Voice of Democracy, Art Contests (2- and 3-Dimensional), Teacher of the Year, Scout of the Year and our Public Servants (police, sheriff, firefighter, EMT and new this year was the addition of the 911-Dispatcher.

After explaining the requirements for the written essay under Patriot’s Pen, the theme and how it was chosen and the criteria the judges used when scoring the essays, Ms. Mitchell also mentioned that National had announced the national winner and that they received a $5,000 award, with the remaining state winners receiving from $4,000 down to $500. No one left with less than $500. For the winners at the Post level, please give a big hand to first-place winner Brooks Jolly, second-place winner Bryson Cox and third-place winner Christopher Field. All from Star of the Sea Catholic School.

Like Patriot’s Pen, the requirements, theme and criteria were explained for the Voice of Democracy Audio Contest. Again, national had also announced the national winner, who won a $35,000 scholarship to any American college, university, occupational/technical school of their choice. For here at the Post level, please give a big hand to first-place winner Anna Serrano of Oaktree Academy, second-place winner Nathanial Swindle of Ocean Lakes High School and third-place winner Jessica Fortin of Bayside High School.

Once Connie had completed announcing the above winners, Adjutant Marushia continued announcing the award winner,  starting with reading the nomination of our Scout of the Year selectee, Girl Scout Morgan Lynch of Frank W. Cox High School. Morgan was unable to attend due to traveling with friends over Spring Break. However, her mother was there to accept on her behalf.

As mentioned above, we have two Art Contests, one for 2-dimensional and the other for 3-dimensional. Sadly, we did not have an entry under the 3-dimensional art. Under the two-dimensional art, our first-place winner is Patricia Lausier of Chesapeake Academy, second place is Julia Templeton of Oaktree Academy. For third place we have Zinnia Giordano, also of Oaktree Academy, who was also unable to attend due to Spring Break and travel.

For Teacher of the Year, we have Janet K. White, a teacher from Star of the Sea Catholic School.

Under “Salute to Virginia Beach’s “Finest,” the following were nominated by their peers: Emergency Medical Technician of the Year – Kyle Hanrahan, Firefighter of the Year – Vincent G. Smith III, Deputy Sheriff of the Year – Crystal M. Repass, Police Officer of the Year – PO2 Charlotte Mayberry, and Dispatcher of the Year – PSET2 Lindsey Pierce.

In the Closing Ceremony, Auxiliary President Carol Mueller stepped forward to say a few closing remarks, followed by closing prayer by Auxiliary Chaplain Connie Mitchell. Before stepping back, Ms. Mitchell mentioned that National has also announced the themes for the 2023-2024 year.  For Patriot’s Pen, which is for students in grades 6 – 8, the theme is “How Are You Inspired by America?” For the Voice of Democracy Audio Contest, which is for students at the high school level, the theme for next year is “What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?”  Ms. Mitchell announced that she announced this just in case there were any students in the audience who would fall within those grades next year and wanted to get a head start in researching the subject matter. Finally, Post Commander John Flavin ended the ceremony with closing remarks.

I personally want to thank the following individuals for volunteering their time in counting/judging or both in the Patriot’s Pen Essay and the Voice of Democracy contests. They are as follows: Sarah Davis, Anne Marie Brothers, Marisa “Ri” Tanner (a member of Back Bay VFW Post 1211) and Debra Ward. A big thanks are also given to Bob De Champlain who served as the tiebreaker in the Voice of Democracy Contest. For the Art Contest, a big hand to Nick Bottis, who is, in fact, an art teacher, and his help was very much appreciated.

Until next year . . .

Connie Mitchell
Scholarship Chairman

 COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS NIGHT 2022

SCHOLARSHIP NEWS:  Our Community Awards Ceremony was held on Thursday, April 21, 2022. We had a great turnout of family and friends. The social hour started at 6 p.m., with the ceremony starting at 7 p.m.

Commander Troy Wagers opened the ceremony, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The Invocation was given by Auxiliary member Jobil Bullock. The Master of Ceremonies was Post Adjutant Michael Marushia.

Following the opening remarks, which included remarks from Auxiliary President Dinah Doyle, Connie Mitchell, Scholarship Chairman, stepped forward explaining the contest rules for Patriot Pen, the theme on which their essays were based (“How Can I Be A Good American?”), and how they were judged.  Afterwards, the winners were announced beginning with our third-place winner, Aidan D. Cole, second-place Mikayla Garr and first-place Ana Liberatore, all of whom attend St. John Apostle Catholic School.  Each of these winners were given a certificate and awarded a cash prize of $200, $450 and $700, respectively.  Commander Wagers handed out the certificates, while Auxiliary President Doyle passed out the cash awards.

Under the Voice of Democracy, after explaining how essay rules and how the essay was based on a theme (“America: Where do we go from here?”), Connie Mitchell began announcing the winners, beginning with third-place winner Alexander Witt of Catholic High, second-place winner Ian Johnson of Oaktree Academy, and first-place winner Alexander Jones of Oaktree Academy.  Alex was also invited to read his essay to the audience, and he did a fine job of it too.  Each of these winners were again given a certificate by Commander Wagers, with the cash awards handed out by Auxiliary President Doyle in the amounts of $200, $450, and $1,200, respectively.

Before stepping down, Connie Mitchell revealed that National had announced the winners for the Patriot Pen and Voice of Democracy contests for the 2021-2022 year.  The Patriot Pen winner, an 8^th grader from Louisiana, won a cash-prize of $5,000.  The Voice of Democracy national winner, an 11^th grader from New York, won $30,000 to any American college of their choice.

National also announced its new theme for the 2022-2023 year. For Patriot Art - “My Pledge to our Veterans” and for Voice of Democracy - “Why is the Veteran Important?”

At this point Master of Ceremonies Michael Marushia took over. After reading all of the accomplishments of our Scout of the Year, and what a list that was, one any parent would be proud of.  Afterwards, our winner Ivy Edwards was called forward to receive her certificate and cash award of $400. Ivy is a 12^th grade student at First Colonial High School. 

Next, the winners of the Young American Creative Patriot Art program were called.  The winners are, starting in third place, Zinnia Giordano, 10th grade student of Oaktree Academy, second-place Michael Peters, a 12^th grade student of Landstown High School, and in first place Cadence Ungs, a 12^th grade student of First Colonial High School.  Cash awards of $100, $200 and $300 were awarded, respectively.

Next was our Teacher of the Year, Stephanie R. Craig. Stephanie is the daughter of our Sr. Vice Commander, Richard Craig.  Although Stephanie was not able to be with us, her accomplishments were read.  As Teacher of the Year for the high school level, she was awarded $400.

And finally, our salute to Virginia Beach’s Finest.  Starting with Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) of the Year, Captain Matt Vest, being honored. While on active duty in the Army, he also serves as a volunteer EMT.  Next to be honored was Firefighter of the Year, Master Firefighter Jessie J. Clark, followed by Deputy Sheriff of the Year, Sgt. Jessica Thomson and last, but not least, Police Officer of the Year, POII Zachary P. Harrington. Along with their certificates, Virginia Beach’s Finest each received a cash award of $500. Many of their co-workers were in attendance to watch as they were honored.

Before closing, kind words were spoken from someone within each of the four organizations, thanking the VFW for holding these ceremonies and for all the hard work the VFW and its Auxiliary does in the community. 

Auxiliary President Dinah Doyle and Troy Wagers gave closing remarks, including thanking Connie Mitchell for all the work done coordinating the program again this year. A benediction was given by Connie Mitchell and many photos were taken after the event ended.

Connie Mitchell

Scholarship Chairman/Chaplain

Auxiliary VFW Post 392

Congratulations to all that were nominated, and especially to those who received awards!! 

VFW National Firefighter of the Year Award - 2016

December 6th, 2016

(Click each thumbnail to view full size photo)

On Tuesday, December 6th, 2016, VFW Post 392 Commander had the distinct honor and privilege to present the VFW National Firefighter of the Year Award for 2016 to Capt Ray Irizarry (now retired), of the Virginia Beach Fire Department. Captain Irizarry distinguished himself by being selected out of all the local VFW Community Service award winners submitted from across the nation. This is a great and proud moment for both Capt Irizarry and Post 392. Please enjoy the photos of the award ceremony below.

 

 

 

2016 VFW Post 392 Community Awards

March 23rd, 2016

(Click each thumbnail to view full size photo)