LI Merged Branch 6000 NALC Veterans Group
Happy and Healthy New Year to everyone! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Gary DeGrijze and I have been a Letter Carrier for 28 years in Brentwood, NY. I am currently Trustee #2 for Branch 6000 and the Primary N.A.L.C. Long Island-Westchester Step B Dispute Resolution Team (DRT) Member. I am an Army veteran currently serving in the Army Reserves and have been serving for the last 17 years. I would like to introduce you to the N.A.L.C. Long Island Merged Branch 6000’s own Military Veterans Group.
Did you know that the USPS currently employs nearly 100,000 Military members and Veterans? The purpose of our group is to bring together veteran USPS City Carriers who have served, are currently serving, those who have retired and those who plan to serve within any one of the now six Branches of the US Military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Space Force: Reserves and National Guard). We are devoted to the assistance to these service members and their employment with the USPS.
The goal of the Veterans Group is to provide information and resources to USPS City Carrier military veterans in areas of focus such as Military Buy Back, Military Leave, MSPB Rights, Battle Assemblies (Drill Weekends), Annual Training and Mobilization/Deployment and your Employment with the USPS, USERRA, Joining the Military after your hiring with the USPS, VA Claims and Disability, Veteran Preference Information, Resources such as Military OneSource, Vet Center, Veteran Crisis Line, etc. and Family Assistance for USPS veterans who are away in training or deployed to name a few.
For now, the group will begin by providing information on our Branch’s updated website, www.nalcbranch6000.com. Our hopes are that the group will grow, and we can become a great asset to the veterans of Branch 6000 as well as the Long Island (NY2) District. In the future, we plan on attending events supporting veterans and their families, volunteering in assisting fellow veterans and eventually creating events of our own.
The group is headed by myself, Dave Vanderwerf – Shop Steward of Seaford Post Office and Bill Link – Director of Retirees. I am an Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF) veteran that has been serving in the U.S. Army since 2004. I spent 6 ½ years in the N.Y. National Guard as an 11B, Infantryman, deploying to Afghanistan in 2008 with the Fighting 69th Infantry Regiment. I transferred to the Army Reserves in 2011 and became an Engineer as a 12V, Cement and Asphalt Operator with the 455th DET. I became an Observer, Coach / Trainer (OC/T) in 2016 with the 75th Training Division and became a Transportation Management Coordinator, 88N, in 2018 to this present day with the 1174th DDSB.
Dave Vanderwerf served in the Army, 2 ½ years stationed in Korea as an Armorer and 8 years in the National Guard Field Artillery.
Bill Link was drafted into the Army in 1970 during the Vietnam War. He was stationed in Germany for 18 months.
If you are a Military member or Veteran and are interested in becoming a member of our group, please don’t hesitate to contact any one of us. The only requirement is that you must register with the NALC’s National Veterans Group prior to becoming a member of ours. A copy of the National’s registration card can be found on our website. You can leave a message at the Branch Hall at (631) 789-1616 for myself, Dave or Bill or by email at gary.degrijze@gmail.com.
This We’ll Defend. Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful). Non sibi sed patriae (Not self, but country) / Semper Fortis (Always Courageous). Aim High…Fly-Fight-Win. Semper Paratus (Always Ready). Semper Supra (Always Above).
