At Eldeez Tobacco
Stogies are free for vets on their day



GUILDERLAND — A salute and a cigar.

That’s what veterans can expect this Saturday when they go to Edleez Tobacco in Stuyvesant Plaza.

Edleez Tobacco, which sells a variety of tobacco products, is giving a free cigar to every veteran who walks through the door in honor of their service. Veterans can choose any cigar up to a seven-dollar value.

If the cigar they want is more than seven dollars, according to co-owner John Zyniecki, the store will knock seven bucks off the price.
"I wanted to start getting the word out this year," said Zyniecki about the store’s Veterans Appreciation Day. "Last year was the biggest. I probably gave away about 50 cigars."

The store can easily be found in the plaza because of the life-sized wooden Indian standing outside of it. Inside are large comfortable chairs and ashtrays for customers to sample their newly-bought goods and to talk with friends.

One grateful local vet looks forward to his free stogie every year — and the program all began with him.

Arthur Best, an 80-year-old veteran who served in both World War II and Korea, started the give-away five years ago.
"I offered him a cigar on Veterans Day and he was absolutely pleased," Zyniecki said. "He was just so happy."

Best was delighted when he got an extra cigar this year during an interview with The Enterprise at the store.
"Thank you, John. You are just too good to me," Best said to Zyniecki with a beaming smile.

Best came to Albany after his wife died in the mid-1980s. He was in the Navy for both of the wars. He also served in the Coast Guard, and has worked for the New York City Police Department, and the post office.
"I worked for the post office after the war, and my friends said, ‘What" Your going back"’ Then I went off to Korea," said Best.

Best showed The Enterprise a professional studio portrait of himself wearing his NYPD uniform in 1972. He smiled with pride as he showed the photograph and reminisced about his days on the force in New York City.

He remembers when the World Trade Center towers were built. He was one of 10 officers who rode up and down each tower on patrol.
"I kept the pin after I turned in my badge," Best said while looking at his photo. "We paid six-cents for them," he said of the frame on which the badge was mounted.

Selecting a cigar from Edleez Tobacco, Best did not hesitate. He went straight to one display case and quickly grabbed a large cigar out of its box.

He knew exactly which one to get.
"I’m a Monte Christos man," said Best with a smile.

Zyniecki said the turnout has been good, and, most importantly, veterans really like the cigars they get.
"Most of the customers are surprised when they expect to get a 75-cent cigar," said Zyniecki. "They really appreciate it,"

The store will be giving away cigars all day on Saturday to veterans either in uniform or who have military identification.

Once Best was finally able to light up his cigar, he smiled from ear to ear. He quickly began talking with another patron in the store who was also enjoying a cigar.
"Boy, this is one good cigar," said Best.