Jewish War Veterans Copper State Post 619 will install its officers at the April 14 luncheon celebrating the Post’s 30th anniversary. The event will be held in Sun Lakes at 11:30 a.m. in the Poolside building at Oakwood Country Club, 24218 S. Oakwood Blvd. in Sun Lakes. The speaker will be Reggie Yates, Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame (AVHOF) induction ceremony chair, who will explain the Unified Arizona Veterans (UAV) program.

Unanimously elected to the board of Post 619 are the following officers: Post Commander Robert Kaplan, Senior Vice Commander Dan Tilsner, Junior Vice Commanders Arthur Uram and Bob Howard, and Judge Advocate Ron Siegel. All other positions are appointed by the Post commander after the installation.

Unified Arizona Veterans, which is made up of over 55 veteran organizations, annually recognizes excellence in veterans’ contributions to their communities, the State of Arizona, and the nation. Of the approximately 600,000 veterans currently living in Arizona, only one in 25,000 will be so honored for selection to be inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame each year.

Speaker and chair in charge of the annual induction ceremonies, Yates, annually leads the induction ceremony into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame. Veterans selected for this special recognition have honorably served their country through military service, as well as their fellow man, through deeds and accomplishments outside the military. Reggie himself was inducted in 2013 with this highest honor conferred upon veterans by the governor. Since his retirement from the Army in 1990, Reggie has been acknowledged for his outstanding work in several veterans organizations and was also recognized by the Arizona Chapter of Nations Finest as one of the 50th Anniversary Local Heroes in 2023.

Post 619 is proud to posthumously honor two Arizona Hall of Fame inductees: founder Jesse Gersten and Art Sloane. Jesse and Art were inducted in 2004 and 2008, respectively, for their outstanding work with homeless, hospitalized, and disadvantaged veterans. Their widows Shirley Gersten and Vivianne Sloane will be in attendance.

The Post will also honor its only living AVHOF inductee, Steve Weintraub. Steve serves as Chief Strategy Officer for the Veterans Ticket Foundation (Vet Tix) in addition to his civic and community service work on both the national and local level. Vet Tix provides tickets for sporting events, concerts, performing arts, educational, and family activities across the nation to all currently serving military personnel and veterans.

Post founders Irvin Plafker and Richard Ashkinazi will be recognized, along with World War II veterans Robert Stone and Bernard Domsky.

Registration for the buffet luncheon is $35 each. Those wishing to have a table reserved for up to eight people, please mail one check made out to JWV Post 619 to Bety Dar, 26402 S. Truro Drive, Sun Lakes, AZ 85248, listing all names. Otherwise, you will be seated by the committee. Deadline for response is April 7. Reservations after that date will be put on a waiting list.