Name: Perna, Dengler, Roberts Funeral Home
Address: Williamsville, NY

Debbie:  Very sorry to hear of your dad's passing.  He was a loyal neighbor of my parents for 40 years and a true patriot.  RIP John.

DearJohn,
You must be with Joe Cash now. The two of you can now keep on driving to the many meetings together. You have traveled many miles here on earth. There must be another American Legion in heaven some where.
We will miss you. Rest in peace.
Lia Cash

May 5, 2013.  John with WWII Navy SeaBee Norman Hameister.

At the World War II memorial, May 30, 2015

Honor Flight Buffalo dinner, May 30, 2015 (Baltimore)

Dear Debbie,
Please accept our sincere condolences in the loss of your beloved father. John was a true American patriot and we thank him for his unselfish service in protecting our freedoms. It was our honor to escort  him to Washington on the final “Honor Flight Buffalo” excursion.  His assistance  and dedication to the program was very much appreciated by the Board Of Directors and our World War II veterans as well.
May the blessing of grace be his soul.

Lisa and Jo-Anne Wylie
Past President and Vice President 
Honor Flight Buffalo

His many accomplishments in the American Legion include:
Post Commander of post 708 in the years 1968, 1969, 1977, and 1978.  Past Erie County Commander 1994 -1995. Post Commander of post 1449 in 1997 and 1999. Legionnaire of the year in 2000. He transferred to the Francis J. Donovan Post in 2019. John was a 40 & 8 member in the Voiture 476 holding numerous positions over the years.  
He was the past Department Sergeant at Arms, past District Adjutant. John’s most recent positions were with the National Sergeant at Arms Committee and the County Resolutions Committee. By far his service as the Department of New York American Legion Advisor to the ROTC & JROTC was one he truly loved. He would coordinate with local high school JROTC and college ROTC programs to provide support to parades and help decorating the graves of Veterans at Forest Lawn Cemetery every Veterans Day and Memorial Day and Served as the Captain of the County Rifle Team. John loved attending the Awards Dinners with the JROTC Cadets where he had the opportunity to present American Legion medals and looked forward to the Drill competitions presenting trophies the Legion would sponsor. He also chaired the Department JROTC Cadet of the Year Scholarship committee. 
Throughout his career he has attended 23 American Legion National Conventions and met 7 American Presidents. He got to ride in an F18 Hornet and took part in the first WNY Honor Flight trip for Korean War Veterans where he was able to travel back to Arlington National Cemetery.  He just recently received his 65 year Star pin for service with the American Legion. He had an amazing 94 years of life and career and truly exemplified Service to his Community, State and Nation.

A Salute to Service

Captain (Ret) John R. Kasmer Jr. – U.S. Army
24 years of Service (June 30, 1948 - November 1, 1972)
John was born on April 18, 1929 to the late John Sr. and Lillian and raised in Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania until age 6 then moved to Buffalo, NY where he grew up and has lived in Williamsville, NY for over 40 years.

Following in his father’s footsteps, a WWI veteran, John joined the US Army in June of 1948 and after basic training he was selected to attend Officer Candidate school at Fort Dix. His dad encouraged his membership to the American Legion immediately where he joined as a life member in 1951. John Served in the Korean War as an Infantry Officer with the 101st Airborne Division. Upon returning stateside he was selected to serve as a member of the “Old Guard” for 4 years at Arlington National Cemetery. One of his most memorable events was leading the procession at the funeral of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy as the Captain of the Guard riding atop of his beautiful white horse named “Sally”. John would then go on to become an inspector at Fort Bragg North Carolina for the remainder of his career in the Army.  John later served in the Air Force Reserve for a short time before finally retiring from military service. John and his late wife Stella were married in June 1960 and lived in Western New York with their daughter Debbie. Upon his retirement from the military in 1972, John worked as a mechanic for General Motors until his retirement in 1996.

A Salute to Service

Captain (Ret) John R. Kasmer Jr. – U.S. Army
24 years of Service (June 30, 1948 - November 1, 1972)

Following in his father’s footsteps, a WWI veteran, John joined the US Army in June of 1948 and after basic training he was selected to attend Officer Candidate school at Fort Dix. His dad encouraged his membership to the American Legion immediately where he joined as a life member in 1951. John Served in the Korean War as an Infantry Officer with the 101st Airborne Division. Upon returning stateside he was selected to serve as a member of the “Old Guard” for 4 years at Arlington National Cemetery. One of his most memorable events was leading the procession at the funeral of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy as the Captain of the Guard riding atop of his beautiful white horse named “Sally”.

Please accept my sincere condolences. He was such a great man. I always enjoyed our conversations! Prayers for the family. Past National SAL Commander Doc Gibbs

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

John R. Kasmer

18 avril 1929 – 8 janvier 2024

Perna, Dengler, Roberts Funeral Home

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