John Laskey takes on new role as St. Cloud group’s leader

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John Laskey takes on new role as St. Cloud group’s leader

County News

Monday, 04 October 2010 10:25

By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer
After only three years with the St. Cloud VFW, resident John Lasky was elected commander of the organization and assumed leadership July 1.
Although relatively new to the group, support from the preceding commander, Johnnie Hayes, and World War II, Korea and Vietnam veterans helped sway Lasky's decision to run. “I'm so proud to be the commander here,” Lasky said. “This organization is unique because every member fought in a foreign war. We have a very tight club.”
Of the 335 members, few are from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, fueling one of Lasky's major goals this year to increase the younger membership.
“The way the World War II veterans are going, we need to get younger members in here because it's going to be their organization in the next 20 years,” he said. “The problem is we're graying. The future belongs to the younger generation.”
Lasky plans to reach out to local recruiters to gain access to enlistment rosters and send out applications to campaign for new, younger members.
Another goal for Lasky is to work more closely with the American Legion on activities such as Memorial Day events. He also plans to uphold the amount of community service such as supporting local girls and boys scout troops, donating to needy veterans and offering scholarships to local students.
His wife, Carolyn, a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, is partnering with Lasky's group to improve the turnout of scholarship applications.
Lasky began his military career in 1966 after his father issued an ultimatum but he never intended to make it a career.
First stationed in Maine, his 22-year career had him in Vietnam working on B-52s, in California, servicing the SR-71 Blackbirds, and in England several times. He retired in 1988.
"All of my old Air Force bases are now airports because they closed them down," Lasky said.
He taught at several flight schools including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona before accepting a job with British Aerospace in England, where he met his wife, Carolyn, a special education teacher.
“I owe everything to her, She helped me get my degrees,” he said.
Lasky holds a bachelor's degree and master's degree in public administration.
In addition to the VFW, Lasky is also a member of the American Legion and the Osceola Veterans Council, which plays “Taps” and provides a 21-gun salute at veterans' funerals.
Lasky has collected unused U.S. commemorative stamps for more than 20 years. His collection includes a large binder of the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial stamps.
A proud grandfather and great-grandfather, Lasky began exploring genealogy and discovered ancestors who fought in the Civil War.
A self-proclaimed history buff, Lasky said,” If you don't learn from the past, you're doomed to repeat it.”
One piece of history Lasky hopes is repeated is his ongoing tenure as VFW commander.
“I am very enthusiastic about my position,” he said. “I hope I never lose that enthusiasm.”