The following is a brief summary from our July 5, 2011 meeting.

THE CLARKSTOWN SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB                              

MINUTES OF JULY 5, 2011 MEETING

PROGRAMS:  July 13^th  Ginny – See attached list. 

*Please see Tom Martucci’s Meeting Agenda attached supplemented by the following:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. Mitch mailed out the $250 scholarship to Grizelle Mitre who has moved from Rockland County and is training to be a registered nurse. She will keep in touch with our club and is grateful for this scholarship.

2. Program Schedule: Although the program schedule for the year is attached and Mitch will be contacting each member in advance and Ginny will be listing the two or three future programs in this newsletter, it is imperative that each of our members be responsible for their particular program. If any questions or problems please discuss with Tom Martucci, our new President.

PROGRAM:

John Wall had the program which at first we thought was regarding the Ghost Army  which is on display at the Rockland County Historical Society. The Ghost Army  consisted of a small battalion of soldiers who through subterfuge  created tanks made out of balloons, phony troops, tents, machinery and artillery and any forms of life placed at strategic points including the same troops marching back and forth and around and around which fooled the Germans into thinking there were thousands instead of only a few hundred soldiers.

John heard about the Ghost Army – went to a “Garage Sale”…..surprise….surprise and bought the book: “Ghost SOLDIERS…..” THINKING IT WAS “GHOST ARMY”

John proceeded to tell us about the Ghost Soldiers and the 513 Bataan Death March Survivors who spend 3 years in a surreally hellish camp and about their extraordinary will to live.  Elsewhere in the Philippines, the Japanese had already executed American prisons as it retreated.

US American Rangers’ (assisted by Filipino guerrillas) mission was to save these prisoners  behind enemy lines before the Japanese retreated.  Through their remarkable heroism, including a priest and cabaret owner, these prisoners were freed. 

Again:  we thank John for this presentation and EACH AND EVERY MILITARY PERSON – PAST AND PRESENT – WHO HAVE SACRFICED SO THAT WE CAN ENJOY OUR FREEDOM.  .