Hertford American Legion Post 126 will hold their annual Perquimans County Veterans Day Observance, Wednesday Nov. 11, on the Perquimans County Courthouse lawn at the Veterans Monument.  The observance will begin at 11 a.m.  In case of inclement weather, the Observance will be moved to the County Recreation Center off Harvey Point Road in Hertford.

            “Veterans Day, while deceased veterans are also remembered, the day is set aside to thank and honor veterans who have served honorably in the military in wartime or peacetime,” remarked Post 126 Commander John Spear.  “But, beginning with the Persian Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan and maybe Vietnam, there was an effort made to include the military family, and our many ‘Blue and Gold’ mothers.”

            The observance also will include the American Legion’s traditional POW/MIA Remembrance Service to the day’s observance program.  A POW/MIA empty chair is placed at all official meetings or observances as a physical symbol of the thousands of American prisoners of war [POWs] and those missing in action [MIAs] still unaccounted for from all wars and conflicts involving this country: “Let us remember-and never forget their sacrifice.’

            Participating in the observance will be members of Post 126, Ladies Auxiliary Unit 126, Post 126 Legion Riders, Hertford  American Legion Post 362,  the Perquimans County High School Band and members of Hertford Boy Scout Troop 150 and Cub Pack 150.

Colonel Tom Quance

Past Northeastern HS

ROTC Instructor

       Former Elizabeth City Northeastern High School U.S. Air Force ROTC instructor will be the featured speaker at the Perquimans County Veterans Day Observance, Wednesday, Nov. 11.  Retired Air Force Colonel Tom Quance spent 25 years in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot, staff officer and commander.

            In 1992 Colonel Quance retired and transitioned to civilian life as an Air Force highschool  junior ROTC instructor at Northeastern High School in Elizabeth City.  A position he held  for  more than 14 years, retiring in September 2007.

            Colonel Quance flew C-130 transport aircraft and saw duty in Vietnam and Desert Storm.   Prior to going to Vietnam, he was Director of Operations at Pope AFB, NC, and was a maintenance commander and held staff  position at Headquarters MAC [Military Airlift Command] responsible for strategic airlift within the armed forces.   Early in his flying career, he was an instructor pilot in the T-37 pilot training program.

            A native of Auburn, Indiana, the colonel was graduated from Ball State University with a BS in

Education and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. During his service career, Quance earned two masters degrees:  Personnel Counseling and Human Resources Management.

            After retiring in 2007, he became assistant to the District Superintendent for the Beacon District of the United Methodist Church, comprising of 85 churches in a 15 county area of northeastern North Carolina.   He has held numerous positions within the Methodist church and today is active in the Kairos Prison Ministry at the Pasquotank Correctional Institute and active in Emmaus of the Albemarle.

            Quance and his wife, Christi, have two grown children and five grandchildren and reside in the local area.

            Hertford American Legion Post 126 will hold the annual Perquimans County Veterans Day Observance, Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. on the courthouse grounds at the Veterans Monument.

            In the event of inclement weather, the observance will be moved to the County Recreation Center off Harvey Point Road.

            The road in front of the courthouse will be closed prior to the observance.  However, vehicles will be permitted to enter the street to dropoff those with handicaps.   Parking will be limited.

Joyce Spitler, daughter of Timothy and Judith Spitler, received this year's Post annual $500 Perquimans County High School Band Scholarship. Joyce is a 2015 graduate and has been accepted to attend Campell University.

The band scholarship is awarded to an outstanding high school senior band member in recognition of the PCHS band's support of the Post's annual Memorial Day and Veteran's Day observances.

In addition, band excellant, academics, extracurricular activities and community involvement also are considerations in our selection criteria.

Kyle Midgett, son of Eddie and Emily Midgett, recently graduated from the NC American Legion Student Trooper Program. The program is a cooperative sponsorship of the NV American Legion and the NC Highway Patrol.

Kyle is the first-ever student to be sponsored by the Post. He is a Perquimans COunty High School Student who will be a senior this year.

The week long program is conducted at the NC Highway Patrol Training Center. Cadets participate in a wide variety of instruction sessions. They learn the use of police skills, including drug detection, firearms safety and precision driving.

The cadets training also includes tours of the Capital, Legislative Building, Governor's mansion and the Highway Patrol Headquarters and Communication Center.

Kyle remarked, "The program is more mental, along with also being physical...it's not how tough you are, but about what you can stand mentally."

The program includes morning physical training, close order drills and disiplined conduct.

[NC State Trooper Stephen M. Byrant(R), program staff assistant, presents Cadet Kyle Midgett his completion certificate at graduation ceremonies. Dick Neville(L), is the Legion's program director. Kyle plans to study Criminology and wants to fet into the SBI or FBI.]

Post 126 Legion family have a full slate of officers for the coming year. 

Commander Preston Spear will lead the Post; Director Al Lott, the Legions Riders and President Barbara Rominger, the Ladies Auxiliary.

The Post staff will include Rick Caporale, vice commander; Mike Ellis, adjuttant; Lee Fortier, finance officer; Al Lott, sergeant-at-arms; William Turner, service officer; George Wilmore, chaplain; Ken Rominger, historian; Mike McKeon, Wilson Rountree, Jim Tepper and Bill Hale, members-at-large.

The Legion Rider staff will be William Hale, assistant director; Tome Brennen, road captain; Lee Fortier, secretary; Curtis Albany, treasurer; and George Wilmore, chaplain.

Other auxiliary officers include: Nedra Boswell, vice president; Emily Lewis, secretary; Barbara Spear treasurer; Inez Roberts, chaplain and Jessica Guckert, sergeant-at-arms.

Commander Spear also announced his Standing Committees/Chairs [*indicates chair].

Membership: Mike Ellis*, Rick Caporale, WIlson Rountree, Ron Pervere, Al Lott, and Preston Spear

Building: Rick Caporale*, Dave Berger, Jimmy Riddick, Al Lott, Mike Ellis, Mike McKeon, and Lee Fortier

IT/Technology: Erica Newman*, Ken Rominger, and Rick Caporale

Fundraising: Rick Caporale*, Jim Tepper, Pete Perry, Jimmy Riddick, Dave Berger, Mike McKeon, Preston Spear, Al Lott, and Bill Hale

Breakfast: Wilson Rountree*, Dave Berger, Pete Perry, Earl Pinegar, Jimmy Riddick

Memorial Visitation: George Wilmore*, Ron Pervere, Mike Ellis, Rick Caporale, Preston Spear, Jim Tepper, Pete Perry and Ken Rominger

Welcome: Al Lott*, Preston Spear, Rick Caporale, Mike Ellis, Lee Fortier, Ken Rominger, George Wilmore and William Turner

Graves: Ed Madre*, Ken Rominger, Preston Spear, Ron Pervere, Rick Caporale, Mike Ellis, Mike McKeon, Jim Tepper and Pete Perry

Public Relations: Ken Rominger*, Rick Caporale and Ron Pervere

Honor Guard: Al Lott* Lee Fortier, Bill Hale, Mike McKeon, Jay Martin, Curtiss Albany, Guy Simmons and Jimmy Riddick

Bingo: Mike McKeon*, Rick Caporale, Ken Rominger, Mike Ellis and Preston Spear

Boy Scout Coordinator: Ken Rominger* and Bill Manke

Events Ceremonial: Carroll Bundy*, Rick Caporale and Dorothy Hodges

Mike McKeon and Barbara Rominger packed up 300 knitted hat for hospital veterans who will be participating in the 2015 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, Oct 12-19, in Durham, NC. Mike knitted the 300 hats with some help from his sister. Barbara then sewed an American Flag patch on each one of them. The festival is presented each year by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the America Legion Auxiliary. It showcases the four creative arts therapies in art, music, dance and drama by veterans in VA medical facilities.

The Post will conduct a formal U.S Flag Retirement Ceremony, Saturday August 15 at Hertford's Missing Mill Park. The ceremony will be begin at 4pm and the public will be invited. Post Commander Preston Spear stated, "This America Legion ceremony is meant to honor the American flag, while promoting flag etiquette and re-emphasize its importance and symbolism." The ceremony will see the disposal of approximately 100 American flags.

Our U.S. Flag Code states that when an American flag is no longer fit for display due to weathering, fading or tattering, it should be disposed of in a dignified manner - the most common of which is burning.

"We just want to make sure that our community understands the importance of not only the flag retirement and what it means, but also the importance of tradition," related Rick Caporale, vice commander, who has been busy putting the ceremony together.

Since there will be a large number of flags to be retired, one will be retired in honor of the others. The rest will be retired after this ceremony. This will permit those attending, to depart after this one flag is retired.

It is anticipated that it may take several hours to retire the more than 100 flags that we have. Hence, the frame frame listed is from 4-8pm.

Logistical help is needed!

Member support is needed to help set-up the park and to clean-up after the ceremony. chairs from the Post will be taken to the site, in addition, the PA system and other equipment.

If you can help, work will begin at 10am. Post members will be asked to gather in the designated area during the ceremony.