Legion raises money for Wounded Warriors
When a friend asked for a couple dollars to help injured soldiers, the Chicora American Legion Post 642 decided to raise $15,000.
The Legion has accepted donations for the Wounded Warriors Project since January, after Chicora native Mike McNallen, now of Annapolis, Md., asked for a small donation from Fred Callihan of Chicora.
McNallen and the other 27 members of the class of 1971 U.S. Naval Academy 11th Co., including Lt. Gen. John Sattler, are trying to raise $71,000 for the Wounded Warriors Project, in honor their 40th reunion in October.
The Wounded Warrior Project mission is “to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded warriors in this nation's history,” according to its website.
When the Legion held its rededication of the Community Honor Roll in Chicora on Memorial Day in 2010, McNallen asked his old roommate, Sattler, to speak at the event.
“We all served in the military at one time,” McNallen said. “(Sattler) recently retired after 37 years, having gone to Iran and Afghanistan.”
Sattler and his wife, Jennifer, are supporters of The Wounded Warrior Project.
After McNallen asked for the donation, Callihan, chairman of the fund drive, asked the commander at the time, Bob Ripper of Chicora, if he could propose fundraising at the next Legion meeting. The Legion accepted the fundraiser, wanting not only to thank McNallen and Sattler for their help in the rededication ceremony, but also to thank all who are injured during service.
“I was just trying to get a few bucks from some old friends in Chicora and Fred ran away with it,” McNallen said.
With the rededication of the Honor Roll and fundraising complete, the Legion asked the community once more for their generosity.
“We decided to send out letters to the people that had donated to the renovation drive for the Honor Role,” Callihan said.
After just a few letters, the Legion met its original goal of $5,000 and began to surpass it, raising about $8,800 with 237 out of 500 letters returned.
With the Legion's quick success, the group decided to increase the goal to $15,000 by September.
“The people have just been so generous, so kind and so supportive,” Callihan said. “It's just unbelievable that we are going to reach about three times our original goal.”
A fun night on June 17 with the Chicora Moose Lodge 962 raised an additional $3,000
.The Legion also participates in local parades with a float dedicated to the Wounded Warrior Project. Either Legion members, local National Guard members, Marine reserves members or Cub Scout troops walk alongside the float collecting donations in camouflage cans.“We made the float for the Memorial Day parade and we had about $600 donated just from the people in the parade,” Callihan said. “So, we decided to take it to the Riverfest parade and we raised about another $600.”The Legion's next parade appearance will be Monday in the North Washington Rodeo parade. It will make its last appearance at the Bruin Labor Day parade.Callihan and Ripper hope the generosity continues for the next two events.“We've even had people come up to us to donate after the parade because they didn't have the money at the time,” Ripper said.So far the Legion has raised a total $13,000 for the Wounded Warriors Project.McNallen, Callihan and Ripper all agree the fund is a worthy cause year-round.“The government does so much and then there's a line drawn,” Ripper said. “This is actually to fill in what hasn't been covered or isn't covered by the government.”The Wounded Warriors Project has many different programs to “nurture the mind and body, and economic empowerment and engagement,” according to its website.The project helps thousands of service men and women, as well as their caregivers, receive the funding and support needed to improve their lives.McNallen is unsure what the other members of the 11th company are doing to help raise the money for the $71,000 dedication, but he is confident with the help of the Legion, the company will reach its goal.“I'm very surprised and thrilled,” McNallen said of the Legion's success.Those wishing to donate can do so at the Wounded Warrior float during the North Washington Rodeo parade and at the Bruin Labor Day Parade, or by mailing their donation to American Legion Post 642, P.O. Box 43, Chicora, PA 16025.
