Milford chronicle., 1958-11-21
State VFW Honored
AT Conference

ANAfk1DAHA TECOSulllDU LOE tue
Department of Delaware. VIEW,
came the past weekend in Card
ner, Mass, when a member of the
Delaware VF.W., Edward Clarke,
of Dover, was unanimously elected
chaplain of the 11-member Eastern
States Conference.
The election of Clarke, a former
commander of Dover Memorial
Post and former state V.F.W. chap
lain. now serving as youth activi-
ties director and department junior
vice commander, gave Delaware its
iirst chair Office in the Conference.
Earlier in the Conference, Del
aware sought unsuccessfully to
elevate one of its members to the
Office of Conference vice chairman.
David s. Hugg, of Milford, a past
Delaware department commander,
received the all out support of
delegations from Maine, Vermont,
New Hampshire, District of Colum-
bia and Delaware, plus split vote
from Rhode Island, but lost to
Joseph Scerra, Massachusetts COM
mander, when Penlsylvznia and
New York, which u,der conference
rules are authorized yauch greater
voting strength Chan the smaller
departments, Joined Massachusetts,
and Connecticut in support of the
Scerra candidacy. Maryland, the
eleventh member ofthe Conference,
was not represented.
The Scerra-Hugg contest was
the only one of the annual Con-
ference election, Edward Ducharme,
of Rhode Island, being unanimous
ly elected chairman; Paul Wam-
pole, of the District of Columbia,
being unopposed for senior vice
chairman: Irving sitackpole. es
Massachusetts, reelected secre-I
ry-treasurer; and Omar Leroy,
of New Hampshire, being an unani-
nous choice for judge advocate.
During Saturdays business ses-
sion the delegates heard reports
from Lofts Feldman, of Pennsyl-
vania, SEM 1r vice commander-in-
chief of tle VIEW: Clyde Lewis,
Of New York, past commander-in-
chief; Edward Papantonio, New
York, of the National American
Sovereignty Committee, and others.
In discussion of a proposed per
capita dues increase, the Depart
ment of Delaware with Commander
William Mazzetta acting as spokes-
man, took firm stand against any
dues increase pending receipt OF
information as to the exact dispo-
sition. OF the additional funds that
would result from such increase
Hugg lead a discussion on suggest
ed economies In the national or
ganization operation that might
eliminate need for per capita dues
increase; this discussion eventual
ly involved spOkesmen for most all
of the departments with the ma
jority of these apparently sharing
Huggs view that worthwhile eco
Monies could be effected National
organization representatives, for
the most part, cpntended that very
few practical economies could be
achieved.
In addition to the election of offi- |
GERS, Sundays program also fea-
tured report from V.FW. Nation
al Legislative Director Omar b. |
Ketcham, who outlined the V.F.W.
legislative program and cautioned |
his listeners to work individually I
and collectively through their re-
spective Congressional representa-
tives to combat any cutback or
curtailment of present benefits for
aged or disabled veterans and for
widows and children of deceaged
veterans.
In the absence of the Conference
chaplain, Edward Clarke opened
and closed each Conference ses-
sion with appropriate prayers.
During the Conference, it was
announced that the Annual Mid
winter Conference of the Veterans
OF Foreign Wars would be held in
Washington, d. c., January 81
thru February 3, 1859 with the cor
nerstone laying for the V.F.W.
Memorial Building. now under con-
structi0n, being held there on
February /, and the Annual Con-
gressional Dinner being held at
the Sheraton Park Hotel, Washing
ton. on February 3.
In addition to Dept. Comdr.
Maxzetta, Vice Commander Clarke
and Legislative Officer Hugg, Del
aware was represented by Depart
ment Quartermaster Francis ST.
dowski, Chief of Staff Samuel
Lynch, Henry BIakeIey and Joseph
George, all of the Wilmington Area.
Headquarters for the Delaware
delegation was the Colonial Hotel,
site of the Conference.