FONDA - The ceremony to merge the Glen-Mohawk VFW Post 942 in Fonda with the Reed-Barrett VFW Post 562 of Fultonville was conducted recently.

The ceremony was hosted by Hal Burke Jr., past VFW state commander, a news release said. Other officers taking part in the program included: Don Mackey, commander, Dept. of N.Y. VFW District3; Jim Miller, commander, Old Tryon County Council;John Chicoski, commander, Reed-Barrett Post; and A.B. Wadsworth, quartermaster, Glen-Mohawk Post.

Burke opened the ceremony with a prayer, followed by a salute to the colors. Mackey led the group in the pledge of allegiance. Chicoski thanked his members for their support in joining VFW Post 942 and showed a full size poster of the memorial stone his postwill have made and displayed in Fultonville, the release said.

Members of the Reed-Barrett post decided to merge with the Glen-Mohawk VFW group because of decreasing membership and the lack of a central location.

Wadsworth discussed the history of the Reed-Barrett post - established in 1939 - using some information provided by Montgomery?County Historian and Records Management?Officer Kelly Farquhar.

"The Post was first named the Twin Cities, but was soon changed to Reed-Barrett after two men killed in WWI," Wadsworth said in the release.

He said Dr. Stephan John Henry Reed came to Fultonville in 1911 to practice medicine. Reed was a coroner in Montgomery County and volunteered for the Medical Reserve Corps as a Lieutenant, Wadsworths said. Reed was killed in France on Oct. 21, 1918, three weeks before the end of the war.

Philip Barrettwas born in 1890 and was a weaver at Fultonville's Mohawk Silk Fabric Co., Wadsworth said in the release. He married Anna Hoffman at St. Cecelia's Parish in Fonda.

"He was considered the first local casualty of World War Iand was also killed in France," Wadsworth said in the release. Wadsworth thanked the members of VFW Post 562 fortransferring to VFW Post 942, and hopedmany would become active at the Post.

Chicoski surrendered thecharter of the Reed-Barrett post to Mackey. This officially ended its affiliation with the VFW. Its members became full life members of Post, the release said.

There were about 20 veterans who were members of the Reed-Barrett post. Post 942 had about 90 members before the merger.