A long, long time ago (in January, 2021), Harold G. Delamater, Commander of the VFW Post 666 in Beacon, emailed A Little Beacon Blog with an unusual request: he wanted editing guidance on a letter he was submitting to governmental bodies in New York State as well as to news media about the 100th year celebration of the founding of VFW Post 666.

Harold’s efforts resulted in a Proclamation issued to VFW Post 666 by New York State presented by New York State Senator Sue Serino. The local chapter was also issued the Century Award by VFW National Commander-in-Chief, Harold "Hal" Roesch, III and the Department of New York. In Beacon, Mayor Lee Kyriacou let the local chapter know that Beacon did not issue Proclamations anymore, but he could speak a recognition during a City Council Meeting which could get recorded into the meeting Minutes.

Harold’s letter has been published in full below for you to learn more about VFW Post 666, and the Veterans of Foreign War organization in general.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 666 Centennial 1921 – 2021
In honor of William B Wilson 1st Beaconite KIA in WW1

Who We Are:

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a nonprofit Veterans service organization comprised of eligible Veterans and military service members from the active, guard and reserve forces.

We trace our roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service. Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans' pension for them, and they were left to care for themselves.

In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations that would eventually band together and become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum. Today, membership stands at more than 1.5 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary.

OUR MISSION: To foster camaraderie among United States Veterans of overseas conflicts. To serve our Veterans, the military and our communities. To advocate on behalf of all Veterans.

OUR VISION: Ensure that Veterans are respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and are recognized for the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made on behalf of this great country.

Beacon Veterans of Foreign Wars Private William B. Wilson Post 666 will commemorate 100 years since receiving its Charter on February 7, 1921 and is named in honor of Pvt Wilson who was killed in action in Belgium on August 19, 1918. Pvt Wilson was the first soldier from Beacon to die in WWI.

About The Services VFW Post 666 Provides To Veterans and the Community

Beaconite Frank Haight organized and was elected the first Commander of VFW Post 666 on Feb 7, 1921 and our Post has been continuously active for the past 100 years.

VFW Post 666 continues to support all Veterans especially those Veterans at Castle Point VA where the Post sponsors ice cream socials, bingo, outdoor picnic in Spring, Christmas parties and more. Our sole fund-raiser for these events is the Poppy Program which is held during Memorial Day in May and Veterans Day in November of each year of which the community is very generous in making donations to support Veterans causes.

Additionally Post 666 Veterans have assisted in sponsoring monthly American Red Cross Blood Drives at the Veterans Memorial Building, sponsored Boy Scout events such as monthly meeting and Pine Wood Derby, assisted the Beacon Historical Society in cleaning and restoring the War memorials in front of the Memorial Building. Currently Post 666 is collaborating with the Beacon Historical Society in sharing Veterans’ historical documents, photos and artifacts for possible display at the Society’s new home.

Post 666 has donated gift cards to the Food Pantry and Nursing Care at Castle Point VA. Donations have been used to purchase new organizational signs which are displayed in front of the Memorial Building. The signs identify the three Veterans organizations and list meeting times.

VFW Post 666 in concert with American Legion Post 203 and Carmen Ramputi Det 861 Marine Corps League and community organizations cleaned the yard and began work on the residence of a long-time Beacon resident and Korean War Veteran. Post 666 also assists with providing funeral details for Veterans at no charge and holds repass at the Memorial Building for those Veterans. Veterans Day ceremonies are held on November 11 of each year by Post 666 even during the Covid19 pandemic. Social distancing was practiced during 2020 and hopefully we will resume full ceremony in 2021. Participation in parades have also been on hold since the pandemic but we look forward to getting back on-line.

Pvt Wilson’s background courtesy of Beacon Historical Society:

“Wilson went off to war with two of his best friends, George VanPelt of Beacon and Herbert Miller of Newburgh. The three, with about 50 other Beacon boys, joined up in Newburgh’s “Company L” of the 107th Infantry Regiment. By late of April 1918, the regiment had landed in France. By mid-August the 107th was seeing its first real action as a backup force to the British in the Dickenbusch Lake sector of Belgium. The doughboys’ position were in clear view of the Germans who were entrenched on nearby Mount Kemmel. The regiment’s historian recalls that Company L, on the day of August 19, was under continuous shelling by the Germans, resulting in several American casualties. One of those was Herbert Miller of Newburgh, William Wilson’s best friend. Miller lay in No-Man’s Land, too dangerous to be retrieved in daylight. That night of August 19, Private Wilson and Corporal Richard Connery volunteered to go out and bring Miller back to the American trenches. Both men carried Miller on a stretcher under a heavy barrage of mortar fire. Connery was wounded by shrapnel; Wilson was killed by a sniper.

Word of Wilson’s and Miller’s deaths reached their hometowns on September 18, 1918. The best friends had died on the same day, August 19, the only two soldiers from Company L to be killed on that day. A Memorial Mass for Wilson was quickly arranged. The Rev. Michael Aylward, pastor of St. Joachim’s Church, had tears streaming down his face during the eulogy, such was the emotional loss felt for this popular young man. Private Wilson’s body would be brought back in April of 1921, to be interred in St. Joachim’s Cemetery. In 1922, Beacon Veterans would form a new VFW Post and call it the Private William B. Wilson Post 666. After the war, George VanPelt and his comrades from Company L, including Corporal Connery who was with Wilson when he was killed, would come visit Wilson’s mother at her home at 138 Verplank Avenue, to console her and to remember Billy, and how he died for No Greater Love Than This……….”