Zoom Club Meeting Video with Curtis Sliwa
Time to Wake Up
Time to Wake Up
By Sgt. Eric Spinner
These are serious times. We have just begun reappearing in public after a Covid-19 pandemic. We’re learning how to live the ‘new normal’ that’s been thrust upon us by the CDC, which didn’t really figure out this challenge until it was too late, and then gave us guidelines that may have hurt us even more- there is no ‘herd immunity’ which would have been a natural outcome of getting infected. We’re trying to survive the draconian orders of our NY governor and a disaster of a NYC mayor. Understood, there are dangers, but isolation has left a vast majority of our population at risk of a new round of infections. Was the advice of our NY governor, who failed to plan for the long-predicted pandemic in favor of failed projects, the right way to go? Was it right to completely stifle the economy and business thereby creating mass poverty? The court is still out on that and only time will tell.
Add to the pandemic another tragic death in Minneapolis by an overzealous officer, one who likely should not have been on the police force. To me, the video of an officer sworn to uphold the law with his knee on the neck of an already-subdued and handcuffed George Floyd was personally sickening, and it should cause the same reaction in anyone of good conscience. Whether Mr. Floyd was guilty of any crime or infraction then became moot- and the failure of other officers on the scene to intercede in this brutality and hate amounted to aiding and abetting murder at worst, and manslaughter at best. The situation has now risen to a new level of insanity and misdeed, especially for those domestic terrorists funded by those who would destroy our country.
I get it! Black lives matter! And white lives, and yellow lives, and red lives – ALL LIVES MATTER! How many on a protest line really understand the significance of their protest? How many of them are like sheep lured into violence by paid agitators? How many simply follow the herd as they are manipulated by the likes of ANTIFA and their agitators? It’s time for people to get back in control of their actions.
On Tuesday afternoon I passed the New Hyde Park Village Hall where about 40-50 young people were marching and carrying signs in protest. But understand that there have been no incidents of overt hate in New Hyde Park for the 25 years since I moved here, and protesting in front of our village hall really doesn’t accomplish much. Perhaps some of these protesters might want to try to sit down at a computer and write a letter to their elected representatives in Albany, NY or Washington, DC and offer their suggestions for how to solve these problems. I wonder, however, how many of them even understand history, or are familiar with who their representatives are.
If they insist on protesting, at least them resolve to be peaceful as they were in Merrick on June 3rd. The criminal behavior of the mobs does little to promote peace and change and will only anger the public. One has only to look back to the civil rights marches of the 1960s to understand that violence only begets violence. I served in the National Guard and was trained to handle the riots of the 1960s, but I was also brought up to believe in my fellow man. I will not prejudge anybody. Everyone deserves respect, but it must be a two-way street. To the protesters, I say to be a positive force for change- speak out. But first, understand what you argue for. We still live in the greatest country in the world, with imperfections, but I would not want to live anywhere else. As Americans, we all need to pull together for the common good. Change must be peaceful, but it also must be legitimate change.
Sgt Eric Spinner, proud US Army Veteran and one of the directors of the NY Metro Chapter of ACT for America
Call Your Elected Officials on Public Safety and Rioting
Call your elected officials and ask them about the rioting, looting and your personal safety. Democrats have abdicated their duty to keep us safe. They are turning criminals loose on the streets. Many have turned against our police who are the protectors of our communities, and are pushing to defund them. But if your elected officials don’t hear from you they are going to think it is perfectly okay. So call each of them, local, state, and federal and voice your concerns. This isn’t about George Floyd. This is about public safety.
ASK THESE QUESTIONS:
1. I’m concerned about my family’s personal safety. What are you doing to keep our neighborhood safe amid the rioting, looting and anarchist violence?
2. What are you doing to stop turning criminals loose on the streets?
3. What are you doing to stop the mayor’s plan to defund the police?
4. What are you doing to open our synagogues and churches, schools, restaurants, gyms and beaches now?
CALL:
Governor Andrew Cuomo 518-474-8390
Attorney General Letitia James 800-771-7755
Mayor Bill de Blasio 212-788-3000
NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams 212-669-7200
Find your New York State Assembly member here.
Find your New York State Senator here.
Find your New York City Council Member here.
Find your Congress Member here
Carefully document the date, time, who you spoke to, and how they answered and email it to INFO@qvgop.org. We are going to use this information in future campaigns.
We Mourn the Passing of Heroic War Veteran Lt. Col. John W. Peterkin
We Mourn the Passing of Heroic War Veteran
Lt. Col. John W. Peterkin
It is with the deepest sadness we announce Lt. Colonel John W. Peterkin passed away on Saturday morning, June 6, 2020. LTC Peterkin was our beloved friend, freedom-loving patriot and decorated heroic war veteran, long standing member of the Queens Village Republican Club, “Veteran of the Year” honoree at the 139th Anniversary Lincoln Day Dinner, U.S. Navy WWII Veteran, U.S. Army Korean War Veteran, U.S. Army Vietnam War Veteran, U.S. Army, Infantry, Retired, and New York City Police Officer, Retired.
He was one of the greatest, kindest and most beautiful souls we have ever known, always caring, always high spirited, always giving, loving his family and friends, active and involved in Veterans causes and Republican campaigns until his last moments. We love him and will miss him dearly. R.I.P. our dear friend and great American hero.
WE REMEMBER LT. COL. JOHN W. PETERKIN
Photos and Complete Bio on the Occasion of the Honoring of LTC John Peterkin as “Veteran of the Year” at the 139th Anniversary Lincoln Dinner, February 9, 2014
For a lifetime of service to his city, state and nation in his U.S. military and civilian careers in the City of New York, Lt. Col. John W. Peterkin is highly deserving of the “Veteran of the Year” award and the praise and gratitude of all Americans.
Veteran of the Year Honoree, Lt. Col. John W. Peterkin
Lieutenant Colonel John W. Peterkin (Ret.) U.S. Army, a decorated war hero who served in WW II, the Korean War and Vietnam, leads a humble life in the charming Village of Bellerose Manor, Queens. A descendant of Jamaican, Native American and African heritage, John lives with his Vietnamese wife, Ngoc Thi, and his two sons, Captain Sylburn Van Peterkin, who serves in the U.S. Army Reserves and as a Police Officer for the City of New York, and Captain James Van Peterkin Thach (Ret.) U.S. Army, who was seriously wounded while serving in Iraq, and now supports the Wounded Veteran Initiative helping his fellow veterans.
Only the limited circle of John’s closest friends and family have known of his lifetime of service to our city, state and nation up until now. He now has the opportunity to tell his story given the occasion of being honored at the gala Lincoln Day Dinner on Feb. 9, hosted by the Queens Village Republican Club, of which he is a longtime member. With a stellar line-up of speakers in the elegant setting of the famous Antun’s of Queens Village, the Lincoln Day Dinner is a commemoration of our greatest American president and the father of the Republican Party, Abraham Lincoln.
A modest man, John realizes the value of passing on the baton to the next generation so they too will understand that freedom isn’t free. While many of his peers have long been deceased, he is still going strong at a ripe age of 86 and will speak out to share the heritage of our great warriors who have sacrificed life and limb so that freedom and democracy will live.
Grand Marshals of the 2014 Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade
He served in WW II in June 1945 as a U.S. Navy Steward’s Mate, First Class, in the Pacific area of operations and was released from active duty in August 1946. John then served two combat tours in the Korean War from May 1950 when he was commissioned from the City College of New York ROTC program. He was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia, the U.S. Army Infantry School, where he received Basic Infantry Officers Training (BIOC) and went on to serve in Korea as a First Lieutenant. He was released from active duty in 1954.
John was recalled to active duty in Vietnam where he served two combat tours between 1968 and 1973 as a U.S. Army Major. His first tour of active combat in Vietnam was from 1969 to 1970, where he was a District Senior Advisor, responsible for directing a team of 3000 field personal to provide civilian and military assistance to 80,000 Vietnamese. He was then called to Puerto Rico, to serve as an advisor to the Puerto Rican Army Reserves. His second combat tour in Vietnam was from 1972 to 1973, after which he was reassigned to Fort Dix, U.S. Army training center in N.J., with the 9th Infantry Training Division. He was released from active duty October 1973 and reassigned to Fort Meade, Maryland as an Operations and Training Officer for Reserve Affairs on the General Staff. For his service in Vietnam, John received two Bronze Stars and two Air Medal awards. He received numerous service awards for every war and every area of operation in which he served.
For the next five years after his active military service, he traded his U.S. Army fatigues for a civil service uniform in the NYPD. He served the citizens of the City of New York as a Police Officer, Teacher in the Police Academy, and Criminal Investigator. As a Police Officer, he served in various Precincts throughout the city and affected over 5000 arrests resulting in a 70% conviction rate.
Since then up until the present time, John has been active in security operations, education and training on a management and executive level as Director of Security at New York City Technical College (CUNY), Senior Operations Manager at New York University, Security Operations Supervisor at Time Warner Inc., and Chief Operations Officer at First Central Security in Fresh Meadows, Queens.
September 11th Memorial Community Gathering On September 11, 2016 at Tribute Triangle Park in Glen Oaks Village
In the civil service sector John has been actively involved in public safety and security for several decades. His lifetime memberships in Veterans organizations include: the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Catholic War Veterans, Korean War Veterans, Knights of Columbus, Military Officers Association of America, National Association for Uniformed Services, 24th Infantry Division Association, Uniformed Services Disabled Retirees, and others. He sits on the boards of the 77th Reserve Officers Association at Fort Totten, the Hospice Care Network of Long Island and Queens, and the 307th Infantry Regiment Association at Fort Totten.
John’s broad educational background includes a BA from City College of New York, an MA from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is also a graduate of the US Army’s Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas and a graduate of the U.S. Dept. of State Senior Advisor Course.
For a lifetime of service to his city, state and nation in his U.S. military and civilian careers in the City of New York, Lt. Col. John W. Peterkin is highly deserving of the “Veteran of the Year” award and the praise and gratitude of all Americans. All local Veterans organizations and their membership are invited to participate in the honoring ceremony of Lt. Col. Peterkin at the commemorative Lincoln Day Dinner on Feb 9th.
Grand Marshal of Little Neck-Doglaston Memorial Day Parade
