Helping Hands Events

Joe Ryan needed help cleaning up his yard and Dan Oberhauser organized a clean-up crew to accomplish the task. On a chilly and windy Wednesday, Bill Meyer, Jim Broughton, Tom Masch and Bill Kriebel joined Dan at Joe's home. After the crew filled several bags with leaves and other debris, the yard looked a lot better.

American Legion Post 1758 was out today in the 15° weather assembling and installing a handicap ramp for a Hopewell Junction veteran! Post 1758 purchased the ramp. Many thanks to post members Tom Masch, Bill Meyer, and John Call who joined Jim Reynolds in his semi-warm garage to assemble the ramp. Then Tom of Momma's Towing moved the ramp to the veterans home where the crew installed it. Both the veteran and his wife require walkers to maneuver around and this will help them immensely. Thanks guys!

On Friday, June 11, 2021 at 6:00 pm, six members of the post gathered at Norm Dauerer’s house for an M1 cleaning party for the post's ceremonial rifles. Six rifles, 6 legionnaires, perfect! Following Norm’s instructions, the M1’s were broken down and cleaning commenced. After a short pizza and beer break, oiling and reassembly started. Norm had to help each person when it came to installing some of the smaller parts. I don’t think any breakdown and reassembly records were threatened by this group. Work was finished about 8:45. The rifles were pretty dirty for being rarely used. Norm says that’s pretty normal for firing blanks. Thanks to Norm, Len Hart, Mark Baaden, Dan Oberhauser, George Dickman and Jim Reynolds.

At the June membership meeting, Commander Jim Reynolds reported that he had learned from the Town of East Fishkill of a local veteran in need: Colin Williams who served in the US Navy during Vietnam. Williams is at the Grand Rehab in Poughkeepsie and his working age wife has been left to care for their home which is out of compliance with the town. The Commander proposed a Post volunteer project with the goal of clearing downed brush and possibly a fence line. Lance and others agreed to document the effort in a piece for the media.

On Wednesday June 19, Commander Reynolds, along with John Call, Bill Meyer, Norm Dauerer, Tom Masch, Bruce Coneeny and Len Hart assembled at Commander Reynolds home and proceeded to the Williams residence and began cleaning up a large brush pile on the property. They loaded the brush on a trailer and transported it to the town drop-off point for brush.

Photos and slide show courtesy of Jim Reynolds.