Seated is Meredith “Zeke” Valentine. Standing, from left, are Patricia Valentine, Cullen Candless, Wendy Spinuzza and Meredith Valentine.

When you are extremely busy you don’t think about what you have experienced, leaders go from challenge to challenge and do the best they can to cover all the bases.

When you are the commander of an American Legion Post you are busy.

When you are the commander of the County you are very busy and being the 8th District Commander is unbelievably busy.

The 8th District of New York covers the eight Western New York counties and two American Legion Posts in Canada with members in over 115 posts and there is always something to do.

Meredith “Zeke” Valentine, as a young man joined the Unites States Army to serve his country during the Vietnam War.

Missing the comradery and his desire to associate with others that had served his nation he joined the John W. Dill American Legion Post 434, Brocton, in 1981. Being dedicated, he progressed into the leadership of Post 434.

By 1986 he was deeply involved and was elected Post Commander. Part of the responsibility of being Post Commander is attending County meetings and bringing information back to your Post. Valentine not only attended County meetings he got involved. He was elected Chautauqua County commander in 1990. The county commander has the responsibility of attending the 8th District meetings and Zeke did. Here again, he not only attended but also became involved. Meredith (Zeke) Valentine was elected 8th District Commander for the Legion year of 1996-97.

Traditionally the district commander appoints a historian that documents the entire year of being commander. Things such as meetings, dinners, parades and conventions attended. Pictures and newspaper clippings fill pages to help bring back the memories of the whirlwind year. Zeke lived in the present and did not think much about what he had accomplished and moved on with his life.

Fast forward 23 years.

Current 8th District Historian Suzanne Quirk told the current 8th District Adjutant Patrick Bapst that she did not have any storage room and ask if he had room to keep some of the district’s historical items. Bapst did have room so he took the items for safe keeping. One of the items for storage was the 1996-97 History book for Past Commander Meredith Valentine. Curious and wanting to know more about the 8th District, Patrick started reading the book. He was awed at the presentation and coverage of the hundreds of events and meetings District Commander Valentine had attended. Bapst knew he had to try to reunite this book of memories to its rightful owner, Past Commander Valentine. He checked to see if Valentine was still a member of the American Legion and to his surprise, he found Valentine was a member of the John W. Dill Post 434, Brocton. Patrick and the Commander of Post 434, Henry Link, had worked on some projects in the past so Patrick knew who to call to get the ball rolling.

Commander Link received the initial phone call Aug. 3 and contacted Post 434 Adjutant and District Chaplin Stan Kawski to see if a meeting could be established to present Valentine with his book of memories. Kawski knew Valentine had multiple health issues so he contacted his daughter, Patricia. She was excited to know the book existed and she assured Kawski she would have her father at Post 434 to receive the history book.

Adjutant Bapst and June McDonnel, Hamburg Unit Auxiliary 527, Link and Kawski met at Post 434 for the presentation. Promptly at 2 p.m. on Aug. 5, Valentine and his daughters Patricia Valentine and Wendy Spinuzza, grandchildren Meredith Valentine and Cullen McCandless and brothers David and Reid Valentine arrived at Post 434. Commander Link made the introductions and presented the history book to Past District Commander Valentine. Valentine was emotional and nearly speechless. More stories ensued. Everyone left the meeting with the knowledge that a small act of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life.