Vincent Bulla

March 10, 1922 - February 15, 2018

"In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3:6

Vincent “Ben” Bulla was born to Placido Bulla and Pasqua Bettina on March 10, 1922 in New York City. As the Great Depression impacted families across the country, Vincent, age six, and three of his brothers were sent to live at the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin at Mount Loretto on Staten Island. After the family was reunited the Bullas lived across from the Salvation Army Cherry Street Corps. A few years later a Christmas outreach to the family led to Vincent accompanying his mother to the Corps to pick up a holiday food basket. He was invited that afternoon to join the Boys’ Woodwork and Leathercraft class which met in the Corps basement. During those classes, the sound of brass band music lured him to where the corps band was rehearsing. The bandmaster saw his interest and soon was teaching him scales on an alto horn. Over the years Vincent would share that he became “marvelously trapped by the magical lure of Salvation Army music” and spoke of his respect and affection for his corps officers. It was at a Young People’s Day at the Brooklyn Citadel Corps that Vincent “sensed the Lord’s call” to his life and accepted Christ as his personal Savior.

Vincent continued as a faithful Salvation Army soldier and, while serving in the US Army Air Corps during WW II and while stationed in Australia attended the Ipswich Corps playing regularly in the band. In 1941 he met and fell in love with Anne Castiglione at Star Lake Fellowship and Music Camp. They were married on May 5, 1945 and, once he was discharged from the US Army in November 1945, both worked as Salvation Army employees in NYC. In 1958, now parents to three young children, Anne and Vincent felt the Call to Officership, entered the School for Officer Training, and were commissioned in 1959 with the Pioneer Session. Vincent described in his candidate papers “I owe my life to the Salvation Army for leading me to Christ, shaping my life and for the opportunities given me for service.” Along with deep Christian faith and devotion to family Vincent described his 33 years as a member of the New York Staff Band as the highest pleasure and privilege. An active and faithful officer for 28 years, he was stationed in the Eastern Territory at Corps, DHQ and THQ, retiring in 1987 and settling with his beloved wife in Maryland. After sharing 69 years of love and devotion, Mrs. Major Anne Bulla was Promoted to Glory in 2014.

Major Vincent Bulla’s loving spirit will forever be cherished by his family and those whose lives he touched. He is survived by his children, Stephen (Randi) Bulla of Crownsville, MD, Philip (Renee) Bulla of Monroe, NY, Laurel Dehnel of San Diego, CA and Selene (Alex) Bonnington of Gambrills, MD; fifteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren and younger brothers, Anthony Bulla of Staten Island, NY and John Bulla of Midway Park, NC. He will be laid to rest with full military honors at the Maryland Veterans’ Cemetery.

PATHWAY OF DUTY:

1959 - 1960 Corps Appointment Alliance, OH

1960 - 1971 Finance Officer THQ – NY

1971 - 1972 Territorial Accountant THQ – NY

1972 - 1973 Divisional Financial Secretary DHQ – NNE

1973 - 1974 Corps Appointment Lockport, NY

1974 - 1979 Assistant Financial Secretary DHQ – PENDEL

1979 - 1987 Statistical Bureau Director THQ – NY

ARRANGEMENTS:

Celebration of Life Ceremony

Date: Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Place: The Salvation Army Annapolis Corps

Time: 2:00 PM

Interment/Burial

Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Place: Maryland Veterans’ Cemetery

Time: 10:00 AM

Messages of condolence for the family may be sent to:

The Bulla Family

406 Sandera Drive

Gambrills, MD 21054

In recognition of the important role that music and Star Lake Music Camp played in their father's life, the family has established the "Major Vincent Bulla Music Scholarship." Contributions can be sent to:

The Salvation Army, Music Department

Major Vincent Bulla Music Scholarship

440 West Nyack Road

West Nyack, NY 10994