Last December, we lost a true comrade and our friend Larry Strozyk. When I arrived at this Post in 2005, Larry was the face of our organization. He had all the answers to questions I was asking about our Post operations, veterans outreach, community involvement, even down to how we got our lawn mowed.
Wearing many hats for this organization, Strozyk was the Adjutant and Quartermaster, Bingo Manager, and Service Officer. He was the voice people talked to when they called the VFW and was the person that greeted you went you came to the Post. In those days, Larry was it! From 9:15am to 4:30pm, Larry was at his volunteer duty station providing answers and helping veterans and their families. Of course, as the Bingo Manager, he didn’t leave to go home until 10pm on Friday nights.
Over the 15 years that he was Bingo Manager, the Post was the recipient of over $100K in profit from the games he managed. I’m sure he averaged over 40 volunteer hours per week keeping the doors open, answering the phone, and keeping the VFW relevant in our community.
A vital program that Larry really took to heart was his service work to help veterans and their families. He volunteered for training to become a Service Officer from the WDVA and our Department of Washington VFW Service Office. Larry had a sympathetic and kind way of talking to veterans and their family about serious issues like filing a VA claim, or providing the paperwork to have a veteran buried in a National Cemetery. He truly cared for every case that walked in his door. I have no doubt that the claims he filed on behalf of veterans has resulted in millions of dollars in earned benefits and assistance being paid into North Central Washington over the years. Many of us owe him a debt of gratitude for the financial security we find ourselves in today.
Larry was also a key member of a local coalition, made up of numerous veteran organizations in the valley, to lobby the VA and our Congressional members for the construction of a VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). The effort paid off with the clinic opening in August 2007 and later named for Cashmere VFW member Elwood “Bud” Link, who sparked the grass roots movement that ended with the state-of-the-art new facility for our valley. Strozyk was involved from the beginning to opening and dedication of the clinic. A wonderful accomplishment that will continue to serve the veterans of North Central Washington far into the future.
Rest easy my friend knowing that you left our Post, the VFW, and our valley in much better shape. Thank you for all you did.
Submitted by Brad Pieratt, Commander
I wandered into the Wenatchee Valley VFW Post soon after I moved to East Wenatchee. I was curious about the process of getting glasses and hearing aids through the VA. Larry Strozyk welcomed me and a relationship started. As I was already a VFW Life Member, I transferred my membership into my new community and learned about the VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (VBOC). Before I realized it, Larry wrapped me in the community projects and social activities of Post 3617.
Remember, all I wanted was hearing aids and glasses.
Larry asked about my military service, what I did and where I served. I gave him my DD-214, and he asked me to write 3 things that I did in the Army. I filled in a few blanks and Larry suggested I attend the Agent Orange Registry at the Spokane VA Facility. I attended, and they suggested I file a Service-Connected Claim. The next time I met with Larry I had lots of questions.
Larry reminded me of the 3 things I had written about my experiences and suggested I start to write more about them. Sentences turned into paragraphs and paragraphs into pages. Twelve months in Vietnam and the Infantry in 1968 fueled a lot of memories, some not so good. I described what I saw, what I smelled, what I experienced and the impressions that they had had on me throughout my life.
Remember, all I wanted were hearing aids and glasses.
At Larry’s Celebration of Life, friend Dave theorized that Larry probably helped a Vet every week in his role as Volunteer Service Officer. Over his 20 years of service, that rolled to about 1000 Vets. I am one of Larry’s 1000 Vets, grateful for all he did for me. Thank you, Larry!
Submitted by Steve Johnson, Junior Vice Commander
Editor’s note: These articles were originally published in our Newsletter (Vol 16, Issue 2). If you have your own stories you’d like to share remembering our Comrade, please email webmaster@vfwpost3617.org
