New York Squadron-48 Sponsors Toy Drive

On December 16 Sons of AMVETS Squadron 48-NY members transported toys to the Navy Operational Support Center for the children of Navy Military Personnel located in Farmingdale, NY.  Squadron 48-NY held a raffle to help support this toy drive.  Once funding was in place they shopped for the toys and gathered together on December 14 to wrap the gifts.  This donation was initiated because Sons of Squadron 48-NY wanted to thank these Navy Veterans for their service to our country.

The Farmingdale Armed Services Reserve Center which opened in 2011 is a four story, 212,000 square-foot facility which includes maintenance bays, supply rooms, arms rooms, communications facilities, a kitchen and dining facility, drill shed, gym, as well as modern office spaces.  Space for family readiness activities are built into the facility as well.  The center also includes training equipment, like a rollover simulator that will allow troops to train for vehicle crashes and a virtual-reality shooting simulator that will help prepare troops for live-fire situations, both of which were previously unavailable on Long Island.

 The Base Re-Alignment and Closure Commission recommended consolidating the reserve component operations on Long Island as a way to save money.  The Commission also consolidated also consolidated Army National Guard and Army Reserve Operations in the Hudson Valley, Albany, New York City and Niagara Falls.  More than 1,500 traditional Guardsman and Reservists will train at the site and more than 150 full time Army Guard, Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Navy Reserve Members will work there.

 For more info about the Military Facility in Farmingdale please Google NAVY OPERATION SUPPORT CENTER

Pictured (L-R) Patrick Mitchell Commander NYS Sons of AMVETS; PO2 Jusino; Chief Ahern; Rich Bazzanella Commander AMVETS Post 48; Pete Polsunas AMVETS Post 48; Howard O’Keefe a World War 2 Veteran who served in the Pacific Theater and Commander O’Keefe’s Father; Brian O’Keefe Commander Sons of AMVETS Post 48; Tony Mazzola Toy Drive Chairperson Sons of AMVETS Post 48; Chris Lenard Sons of AMVETS Post 48; PO2 Ross and PO2 Rogers