HISTORY OF BUTEHORN BROTHERS POST 4987
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES
Compiled by Vito P. DeFanis,Quartermaster
Past Post Commander
Charter Member
To my knowledge, the only men from Central Park who served overseas during World War I were Ralph Amendola, George Benkert, and Henry Butehorn Sr. There were not sufficient members to form a VFW Post until after World War II. During World War II we had 272 people from Bethpage who served in the Armed Forces, seven of whom were women. After the war we came home in dribs and drabs. The first person to meet you when you stepped off the train was Mr. Greco, the gatekeeper. He would give you a big hug and say "Glad you came home." The next one who greeted you was Ralph Amendola, with a "Welcome home" and an application for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 1945 overseas veterans of World War II held a meeting at the Powell Avenue grade school, now the site of our beautiful library.
That was the beginning of the Bethpage VFW Post, and the first order of business was to find a name for the new Post. A list of Bethpage servicemen who lost their lives during World War II was made up. Among those names were the brothers Joseph and Charles Butehorn. It is these two men we honored by calling the Post Butehorn Brothers Post 4987. Their story is told later in this document.
The first Commander of the Post was Ralph Amendola, veteran of World War I. Meetings were held for several years in the auditorium of the Powell Avenue School. Later, an old barracks from Camp Upton was donated and moved to property on Lexington Avenue, now the site of the Bethpage Nursery School. The property was donated to the Post by Ralph Amendola. It was our home for over 20 years. After that we moved to the Police Boys Club on Stewart Avenue, then to the Archie McCord American Legion hall, and presently we are back at the Police Athletic League building on Stewart Avenue.
The Post presently has 104 members, representing all branches of overseas service in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, and other lesser-known conflicts since World War II. Meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month except July and August, when we meet only on the first Tuesday of the month.
Service Awards Earned by Post Members
To Learn how Butehorn Brothers Post 4987 got its name.....Click here.