Post 1 Supports Troops at Walter Reed
On Tuesday, September 18, 2007, American Legion Post 1, in collaboration with the USO of Metropolitan Washington participated in a Texas Hold-Em Poker Night. The event was located in the outpatient care area at the Mologne House on Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Volunteers included: Scott Sundsvold, Chad Martin, Alec Petkoff, Ron Chamrin, Jacob Gadd, Andrew Robertson, Allan Link, Michael Wise and Kathleen Skarbek. Andrew Robertson is the Department Commander of Virginia, Allan Link is a current USO volunteer and American Legion member and Michael Wise is a current member of Post 56, the FBI American Legion Post in the Department of DC. Kathleen is a current MBA student at the University of Maryland- College Park.
USO has been doing Poker Night at Walter Reed for two years now and is continually looking for dealers and sponsors to help in providing prizes for the winners. USO provided snacks and beverages and Post 1 donated a $75 best buy gift card, $50 best buy gift card, $50 McCormick and Schmidt’s gift card, $50 Ruby Tuesday gift card, (2) $25 Simon gift cards, $25 I-tunes card and a military teddy bear.
All enjoyed the evening. Many stories of combat, hometowns and families were shared and Post 1 looks forward to hosting two more nights in the upcoming months. The next Poker night will be held on October 23, 2007 at 6pm. If you are interested in donating or volunteering to be a dealer, please e-mail Jacob Gadd at jgadd@legion.org.
Post 1 again wishes to express their appreciation for the Department of Ohio generously donating a thousand-dollars in support of these Poker nights and in support of troops at Walter Reed.
The History Channel has developed a Take A Veteran to School Day
campaign to link veterans of all ages with young people in our schools and communities. This nationwide initiative will help strengthen ties in your communities and bring history to life in classrooms. The History Channel is encouraging people throughout the country to organize events at their schools in the weeks leading up to Monday, November 12th, the official Veterans Day holiday. To learn more about how to organize a Take a Veteran to School event at your school or in your community, log on to veterans.com. This website will include sample agendas, curriculum links, how-to guides, and information about how to work together with your local cable company to organize an event.
This campaign is not only celebratory or commemorative, there are
clear links to classroom course units and lesson plans. The Story of
Veterans Day – a 25-minute documentary produced in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education – will be linked to state standards. A teacher's guide to this program will be available on the website as well. This site will also include oral history guidelines for middle and high school students, and suggestions for in-class activities for grades K-12 related to this program. If you have any additional information, contact us at veterans@aetn.com.
For all Post 1 World Team Sport Riders!
Friday night started off with what could be considered a fortunate course of events for one of my fellow compatriots. After persuading a novice rider to go out and purchase a quality pair of padded cycling shorts I spared my buddy countless hours of uncomfort but nothing compared to months if not years of agonizing recovery of our fellow riders and that is where the story begins
The 2007 Face of America Ride, hosted byWorld team sports, consisted of a 110 mile, 2 day cycling ride to promote athletic activities for severely injured people on April 28-29. Specific focus was placed on severely injured and wounded veterans of years and wars past in addition to the majority of riders that are heroes of today.
From Gettysburg and the site of the largest civil war battle, traveling along scenic country roads, beautiful farmland, surrounded by fresh air and majestic sites, the 2-day trek concluded in Bethesda, MD.
The American Legion was one of the primary sponsors of the approximately 150 strong contingent of riders with an equal amount of volunteers in support of amputees and other ailments riding specially modified bicycles to unify and solidify support and reintegration into outdoor recreation activities.
Ron Chamrin (myself), Alec Petkoff, Chad Martin, and Jake Gadd of Washington, DC post one rode side-by-side encouraging, pushing, pulling, dragging, laughing, smiling, and living with the fellow riders. Each one of us took turns pushing wheelchair bound riders using hand cranks up steep hills only to see their competitiveness race us down the hill on the other side.
Bruce Dunlap, a National Guard Sgt from Kansas City, MO was riding with large metal pins sticking out of his disfigured leg on a tandem recumbent bike. I talked to him at length about baseball, girls, music, trips planned, places we've been and sites that we wished to see, his recovery, plans, employment, college, and finally the IED that took his fingers and mangled the leg of the promising mid -20 year old man.
Chris Lynch survived a TBI and relearned how to swallow, talk, stand, walk, and unbelievably ride a bike once again.
Alec and I are both combat veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq respectively but riding alongside blind veterans of the Vietnam War, spinal injured Gulf War veterans, amputees, TBI, and scarred veterans of OIF and OEF really connected us with the veteran community.
It wasn't a race to finish, and it certainly was not a timed event but you could not convince the heroes otherwise. The grit and determination of these men and women who must battle to overcome tremendous obstacles was evident in their efforts on the ride. They asked for help, they accepted assistance when you approached them; the proudly waved off aide on tough climbs, and always said thank you.
The experience that I had reaffirmed my belief in the human spirit and the inherent drive each person has. The ability to search within oneself and find that little extra, that untapped level of motivation must occur everyday for these wounded veterans. Even the simplest of tasks require great effort in contrast to a healthy person. I walked away with a sense of awe in these heroes who will most likely continue through their struggles and yet, strive for success and let nothing stand in their way.
By: Ron Chamrin
Join George Washington Post 1's President's Volunteer Service Award Team!
Go to www.presidentialserviceawards.gov and, if you have not already, register to have your own Record of Service (click on the link that says Track You Volunteer Hours!). Once you login in, go to the Groups tab and enter this code: HQQ-548S. It's that easy!
By registering your volunteer hours, Post 1 will receive Presidential recognition for your volunteer time. Collectively, from the World Team Sport Ride, Post 1 will receive a Bronze level Presidential Volunteer Service Award for 100-294 hours of service. As each person
will spend at least 25 hours of volunteer service over the 3 days, a 4 person team could earn this collective award.
Individual, you will each be --at least-- a fourth of the way to your own award.
It's very easy to sign up and worth your effort to document your effort as all volunteer hours a collectively counted towards your lifetime award of 4000 hours!
Volunteers who earn the lifetime award earn a personal visit to the White House and a meeting with the President.
So count your volunteer hours at www.presidentialserviceawards.gov
Thank You!
