Letter from BG(r) Thomas J. Principe
President of the 7th Regt. Assoc.
January 11, 2012
Dear Veterans of the Seventh Regiment and
Friends,
I wish all of you a happy & healthy 2012! We
started the year on New Years’ Day with a wonderful reception at our
Regimental Home, the Park Ave. Armory. Nearly 200 members & guests
gathered at noon for a three hour reception. The entire first floor
of the Armory was open for our use, with the formal program taking
place in the Tiffany Room, which was filled with 175 chairs.
This year the Veterans of the Seventh Regiment
were honored, that Major General Patrick A. Murphy, the Adjutant
General for New York was our guest speaker MG Murphy stayed for our
entire reception, talking with many who were in attendance.
After I delivered opening remarks, MG Murphy
spoke, followed by representatives of other organization that use
the Armory. Your President also served as Master of Ceremonies for
the program. BG Michael Swezey commander of the 53rd
Troop Command , NYARNG and BG Renwick Payne, the Joint Forces
Director for the NYARNG, also were in attendance. It was a great way
to bring in the New Year and was one of our most elegant and well
attended New Year’s Day parties.
Among our honored guests included former
President, LTC Eugene Hegy and his wife Gloria, and Board of
Director member, MG Fergal Foley, the Commander of the New York
Guard, our 2nd Vice President, Appellate Division Justice
for New York, Col Randall T. Eng, & Mr. Ralph Madelena, the grandson
of Medal of Honor recipient Pvt Michael Valente which was, given for
heroism during World War 1. PVT Valente was a member of the 107th
Infantry, Mr. Madelena’s wife Francesca and daughter, Catherine also
attended.
We also had the pleasure of listening to the
Xavier High School ROTC Band, under the direction of Dr. Bill Pace.
My co-host for the day was Col Trevor Jackson, the commander of the
53rd Army Liaison Team, which carries the lineage of the
7th Regiment.
Once again refreshments were catered by Board
Member Victor Guidotti & Veterans Member Dominic DiFalco, who in
addition to having delicious sandwiches, & desserts, had a champagne
toast for the members and their guests in the Commanders room. In
all, a perfect day that was very well attended with all the right
themes for our organization covered by our event. I am enclosing a
copy of the program with this letter.
The next major event is our Memorial Day
Observance which will be held on Sunday, May 27th at
10:30am at the Armory. This will be followed by the semi-annual
meeting for the membership on Tuesday, June 12th at
6:30pm, in the Tiffany Room. Refreshments will be served after both
events.
Other events include the Breaking of the
Hindenberg Line Dinner on Friday, September 28th at
6pm in the Tiffany Room.
Veterans Day Remembrance will be held on Sunday,
November 11th at 10:30am, at the Armory, and the annual
meeting for the membership will take place on Tuesday December 11th
at 6:30pm, in the Tiffany Room. Refreshments will be served.
The next Board of Management meeting will take
place Thursday February 16, 2012 at 6:30pm in the Veterans room on
the 3rd floor. Our March meeting will be held Tuesday
March 13, 2012 at 6:30pm in the Tiffany room on the
1st floor, corned
beef and cabbage will be served in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
Please try to attend all of our events.
A special thanks to Tom Levis the newly elected
President of the Seventh Regiment Fund, for all of his hard work
during the year; 1st Vice President Jim Whalen for his
good counsel and for delivering the Adjutant General, MG Murphy as
our guest speaker for New Year Day, and our office, board members
and Members of the Veterans of the Seventh Regiment for keeping our
organization alive & well. I am very proud and privileged to serve
as your President. Pro Patria et Gloria!
With best wishes to all for continued health &
safety,
BG (R)
Thomas J. Principe
