Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Mike Tarter (VFW), David Conley (VFW)
and Gerry Tarter (VFW)
receive a ceremonial $2,000 check from Kevin McLaughlin
(Cincinnati Patriots)
Members of the Clermont
County Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) South West Memorial Team
received a $2,000 check from the Cincinnati Patriots Baseball Club during
todays meeting of the
Clermont County Veterans Services Commission in Batavia.
This is a great way to give back to the community said Patriots Club President
Kevin McLaughlin.
The Cincinnati Patriots Baseball Club is a local organization for baseball
players between the ages of 9 and 18.
The memorial team performed during the 2009 Memorial Day weekend 21 Gun
Salute Baseball Tournament
at Tealtown Park in Union Township; the memorial teams involvement in
that tournament led organizers to invite
veterans from throughout the community to throw out ceremonial first pitches
for each game.
The kids had a great time interacting with all the veterans and we can
hardly wait to do it again, said McLaughlin.
When the kids shook hands with us,
it made us feel like a million bucks, said Commander of the VFW Memorial
Team David Conley.
We appreciate the opportunity to get involved in events like this.
The money will be used to purchase new uniforms for the memorial team.
Conley says the honor guard participated in 160 funeral services last
year.
We provide a firing squad, taps player, and everything else that goes
with paying final respects to a veteran.
We do not charge a penny for our services; all of our members volunteer
to be part of the squad that is
there for the deceased veteran and his or her family, no matter what the
weather, he said.
Last year we had over 90 baseball
teams participate in the three-day Memorial Day weekend tournament that
began with a parade led by the memorial team, said McLaughlin.
It was so successful that people have already been calling to get involved
in this years 21 Gun Salute Tournament
that will be held at Tealtown Ballpark on Memorial Day weekend.
V.F.W. Memorial Team Contact:
David Conley ~ Commander
Home: 513. 722. 2957 / Cell:
513. 720. 2957
Memorial Team : E-Mail