Ed Wojciak named Post #164 2008 Veteran of the Year

EDWARD WOJCIAK

The Polish Legion of American Veterans, Lt. Col. Matt Urban Post #164, Warren, Ohio recently honored Edwin S. Zelek, as the 2008 Veteran of the Year.

Ed enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1944, and was sent to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois. After completing his training at the Cooks and Bakers School, he was transferred to Little Creek Amphibious Naval Base in Virginia, where he underwent more schooling and training. Upon completion Ed was transferred to the Brown Shipyard

in Galveston, Texas, where he was assigned to ship CSM (R) 517 with seven officers and ninety enlisted men.

After working some of the ship's kinks out cruising in Galveston Bay in the Gul f of Mexico, they reported to ass- ignment with the Seventh Fleet. The war ended, and Ed fulfilled the point’s requirement of the Ship's Gook class- ification, and received his honorable discharge in July, 1946.

After his discharge Ed moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and while attending Fenn College, he and his brother John started the Venetian Blind business in his garage in Garfield Heights. As the business continued to expand, they moved to Broadway Avenue in Garfield Heights, and eventually to Woodland Avenue in downtown Cleveland.

Upon joining the Ernie Pyle Post Ed became very actively interested, and was elected a delegate to Krakusy Post 87. He was elected State Financial Secretary, and then was re- elected to a second term in 1949. After his marriage in 1950 Ed and his wife wanted to raise a family, and this led to his resignation in the middle of 1951.

After leaving Ohio for approximately twenty-five years, Ed returned and joined our Warren Post 164. Being a very act- ive member he was elected Junior Vice-Commander and VAVS Officer for Post 164.

Ed reorganized the Welfare Fund and persuaded the major supermarkets in our area for permission to set up stands for selling Poppies on Memorial Day weekend and also on Veterans Day. These monies allow us to supply coffee and donuts twice a month at the local VA Clinic, and to send Care packages and Gift Certificates to our Veterans. We also provide transportation for our veterans who have to go from Warren to the Youngstown VA Clinic. We also provide our members with Bibles and triangular flag displays.

Ed was elected State Convention delegate in 2003-2005, and in 20O7 he was elected 2nd Vice-Commander for the Department of Ohio, a position he still holds.

The Department of Ohio honored him at a Banquet at the Birchwood Banquet & Party Center, Walton Hills, Ohio 44146.

One does not have to be Polish to join The Polish Legion of American Veterans, U.S.A. For membership information, interested readers should visit the Department of Ohio Website, http://plavohio.blogspot.com/

PLAV Lt. Col. Matt Urban Post 164, Warren, Ohio

Commander Steve Pesko welcomes you to the official website of the Lt. Col. Matt Urban Post #164, Warren, Ohio. We meet the first Saturday of every month, 10:30 a.m. at Holy Cross Polish National Catholic Church, 317 Belmont Ave NW, Warren, Ohio. Our current Post officers are:

Commander - Steve Pesko
1st Vice Comdr. - William Kowalczyk
2nd Vice Comdr. - Edward Wojciak
Adjutant - John P. Klamert
Treasurer - Michael Wiesniewski
Finance Sec. - Paul Thomas
Sgt. at Arms - Eugene Kusnir
Chaplain - John P. Klamert
Trustee - John P. Kowalczyk
Trustee - Theodore Kowalczyk
Trustee - Robert E. Ferriman

For additional information call the Post, 330 394 7128 or visit the Department of Ohio website, http://plavohio.blogspot.com

POLISH LEGION OF AMERICAN VETERANS, LT. COL. MATT URBAN POST #164

You don't have to be Polish to belong to this fine organization.

The Polish Legion of American Veterans is a non-profit Congressionally Chartered organization, whose membership shall not be discriminatory on the basis of race, color religion or national origin. We are committed to the ideals of patriotism, charity and volunteerism through allegiance to our Country, honor to our Country's standards and aiding in the rehabilitation of disabled veterans. Our goal is to dedicate time and effort to insure that no benefits be denied to those who served their country and to support legislation intended for those who earned the right to the benefits
being considered.

The PLAV works for veterans causes. For example, we visit hospitalized veterans at VA Medical Centers and Veterans Homes. Without these visits, many hospitalized veterans would have a very lonely and sad existence.

We work with other veterans to help the indigent and less fortunate veterans. We participate in ceremonies commemorating Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Polish Constitution Day, Pulaski Day and other events.

The PLAV takes time to have a little fun too by participating at social events at our various Posts throughout the nation. For example, many Posts sponsor An Evening in Warsaw and other social events.

On the education front, we provide scholarships to children and grandchildren of veterans.

It is very important to us that we remind Americans of the contributions and sacrifices made by Americans of Polish descent to safeguard the freedoms of our great nation.

Culturally, we band together and preserve the Polish customs and traditions of our forebears and to carry on with the many activities in which the PLAV is involved.