Color our world: National American Legion pays area visit
MEL TOADVINE The American Legion Post 323 in Lehigh gets a new paint job in honor of a special visit by its national commander, Mike Helm of Nebraska.
When American Legion National Commander Mike Helm visits the Lehigh Acres Legion Post 323 on the corner of Ashlar Avenue and Taylor Road today, he’ll find an attractive building with a complete spruced up paint job on its exterior.
“We did that for the national commander’s visit,” said John Bennett, the post’s first vice commander.
The Lehigh post is one of several in District 13 located in Southwest Florida, of which the national commander will visit.
The building not only has had a fresh paint job, but has patriotic stars and stripes painted onto the exterior of the building.
“We were going to put up 13 stars, but somehow it didn’t work right, so we ended up with 17 stars and several vertical blue stripes around the building,” said Bennett.
Mike Helm
The work has been done by American Legion members Gregg Felton and Doug Hahn. Smaller sheds in the back were also pressure cleaned last week.
“We are honored to have the national commander visit us here in Lehigh. It is the first time for a national commander of the American Legion to visit here. We have had other dignitaries from the Legion visit in the past,” Bennett said.
He said Helm will also be in Fort Myers to present some type of charter to Hodges University, too.
“It didn’t take Gregg Felton and Doug Hahn long to do their work. They have been at it since February,” he said, “and they have done a good job.”
The American Legion Post often highlights its patriotic feelings during different times of the year. One such time is the annual “plantings” of American flags filling the front and side yards of the building on Memorial Day.
The post at 1124 Ashlar Ave. sponsors many events open to both members and the public. Just this past March 29, a show “Dean & Friends They’re Back” was held. It included impersonators for Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis Jr., and Frank Sinatra. With the show was a stuffed pork chop dinner. Many other events are held throughout the month.
Hardly anytime can you ride by the post and not see the American flag displayed in many ways. It’s also a site for the public to dispose of old or tattered American flags near the front entrance.
The American Legion Lehigh post will host a dinner at 5 p.m. tonight (Wednesday) at 5 p.m.
Not only are members are invited to meet the national commander, the public is invited to attend, too, Bennett said. If you want to visit and have not already replied to publicized invitations, call 786-351-5485.
The post also holds lunches served weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for members and guests. Active duty personnel always are welcome.
National Commander Helm in his inauguration address this past August said:
“We are a God and country organization, and we will not apologize for that. We know that a veteran is a citizen of this country who has offered his or her life to honor this nation’s commitment to justice freedom and democracy, and by that action has had his or her life radically and sometimes violently changed forever. We will not let this nation forget that we owe that individual respect and any help they need in making their lives whole again.”
-
- Mike Helm
Color our world: National American Legion pays area visit
MEL TOADVINE The American Legion Post 323 in Lehigh gets a new paint job in honor of a special visit by its national commander, Mike Helm of Nebraska.
When American Legion National Commander Mike Helm visits the Lehigh Acres Legion Post 323 on the corner of Ashlar Avenue and Taylor Road today, he’ll find an attractive building with a complete spruced up paint job on its exterior.
“We did that for the national commander’s visit,” said John Bennett, the post’s first vice commander.
The Lehigh post is one of several in District 13 located in Southwest Florida, of which the national commander will visit.
The building not only has had a fresh paint job, but has patriotic stars and stripes painted onto the exterior of the building.
“We were going to put up 13 stars, but somehow it didn’t work right, so we ended up with 17 stars and several vertical blue stripes around the building,” said Bennett.
Mike Helm
The work has been done by American Legion members Gregg Felton and Doug Hahn. Smaller sheds in the back were also pressure cleaned last week.
“We are honored to have the national commander visit us here in Lehigh. It is the first time for a national commander of the American Legion to visit here. We have had other dignitaries from the Legion visit in the past,” Bennett said.
He said Helm will also be in Fort Myers to present some type of charter to Hodges University, too.
“It didn’t take Gregg Felton and Doug Hahn long to do their work. They have been at it since February,” he said, “and they have done a good job.”
The American Legion Post often highlights its patriotic feelings during different times of the year. One such time is the annual “plantings” of American flags filling the front and side yards of the building on Memorial Day.
The post at 1124 Ashlar Ave. sponsors many events open to both members and the public. Just this past March 29, a show “Dean & Friends They’re Back” was held. It included impersonators for Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis Jr., and Frank Sinatra. With the show was a stuffed pork chop dinner. Many other events are held throughout the month.
Hardly anytime can you ride by the post and not see the American flag displayed in many ways. It’s also a site for the public to dispose of old or tattered American flags near the front entrance.
The American Legion Lehigh post will host a dinner at 5 p.m. tonight (Wednesday) at 5 p.m.
Not only are members are invited to meet the national commander, the public is invited to attend, too, Bennett said. If you want to visit and have not already replied to publicized invitations, call 786-351-5485.
The post also holds lunches served weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for members and guests. Active duty personnel always are welcome.
National Commander Helm in his inauguration address this past August said:
“We are a God and country organization, and we will not apologize for that. We know that a veteran is a citizen of this country who has offered his or her life to honor this nation’s commitment to justice freedom and democracy, and by that action has had his or her life radically and sometimes violently changed forever. We will not let this nation forget that we owe that individual respect and any help they need in making their lives whole again.”
-
- Mike Helm
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