FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: LOCAL NEWS, LOCAL BRIEFS
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NEW HAVEN, CONN. (April 9, 2020)–Despite the global coronavirus pandemic, the Veterans of Foreign Wars New Haven Post 12150 overcame the public health emergency and conducted their 2020 annual officer elections online.
Sound School English teacher and former Army engineer Charles M. Pickett will return to lead the VFW New Haven as commander, having guided the post to All-American status in 2017. Additionally, Allahna Torres, sr. vice commander; Biancesca Rivera, jr. vice commander; outgoing Commander Derek Torrellas, quartermaster; Eric Kropiwnicki, chaplain; Frank Alvarado, three-year trustee; Gabe Kautzner, two-year trustee; and Past Post Commander Robert Clark, as one-year trustee, will helm the largest veterans service organization in the Elm City for the next year.
With a roster of mostly Post-9/11 veterans, the “new generation” VFW New Haven was able to swiftly “adapt and overcome” and hold their first monthly meeting online without a hitch. Pickett said the post held a couple of informal online meet-ups prior to the monthly meeting and consistently communicated with post members about the change of venue from the Knights of St. Patrick on State Street to Zoom video conferencing online.
Additionally, Pickett announced a number of appointees including: Robert Reed, judge advocate; Kristofor Rohrbaugh, surgeon; Gabor Kautzner, service officer; Mary Muzzulin, officer of the day; and Luis Gallego, guard. Charise Hewitt will chair the Community Service Committee.
Chartered on June 11, 2015, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States New Haven Post 12150 Incorporated was formed by largely Post-9/11 veterans attending Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), Gateway Community College (GCC), the University of New Haven (UNH), Quinnipiac University (QU), Yale University, and war veterans from the 1-102nd Infantry Regiment of the Connecticut Army National Guard (CTARNG).
The VFW New Haven Post 12150 meets the second Thursday of the month at 7:10 p.m. at the Knights of St. Patrick (1533 State Street, New Haven, CT 06513). To join, a veteran must have served honorably, served in a foreign war, and be a U.S. citizen.
