Belleville Legion Helps Member With House After Death In Family

BELLEVILLE, NJ — The following letter to the editor comes courtesy of Rusty Myers, Adjutant, SAL Squadron 105. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

This happened this week at my home squadron in Belleville, New Jersey – and it speaks directly to how amazing our organization is. I feel like this is a story that has to be told.

This story’s basis is in the words that we as Sons of the American Legion (SAL) – as well as members of the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary – recite at each and every meeting. It lies towards the end of the Preamble to the Constitution of all of our respective organizations … the words that we exist “to consecrate and sanctify our friendship, by our devotion to mutual helpfulness…”

That mutual helpfulness is evident in much of what we do … it is shown in every moment when we support the four pillars of the organization – Veterans Affairs, Children and Youth, Americanism, and National Security. It is in how we look out for our veterans, as in the “Be The One” veterans mental health awareness campaign. In how we work to make the lives of our children better. In how we work towards the betterment of our community, state, and nation.

But it is most important in how we look out for each other. As Americans. As fellow Sons. As friends. As brothers.

This week, a member addressed the 14 members present at a SAL monthly general meeting, towards the end. He began speaking about family.

He lost his mother a few months ago, whose health see-sawed over the previous months and years. She was a dear friend of the Squadron and the Post, who we all miss very much. Both he and his children shared a house with her, which since her passing is now stuck in probate. As anyone who has been through this is aware, it seems like an open-ended shoveling out of money just to keep the estate afloat until everything is settled.

This Son is a man filled with pride who never asks for help, even now going through perhaps the hardest time of his life.

He asked for a loan from the squadron – in a substantive amount, offering his truck as collateral – planning to repay it once the house affair was settled and transferred to his name.

And now is the part that speaks to the best of who we are as Sons of the American Legion.

After no more than 15 seconds, members at the meeting start taking bills out of their wallets. Not twenty’s, but hundreds … $100 from this member, $200 from these members, $300 from another member.

After thirty seconds, $2,080 was on the table. All without anyone being asked to give from their own pocket. Stunning. Just stunning.

And not from members who are rich in money, but from people who are rich in word becoming action. Not one of the 14 members asked for his money back; it was given in the spirit of brothers helping out a brother in need. Sons just doing a good thing for a buddy, and in so doing living up to every square inch of what this organization stands for. Living up to our devotion to mutual helpfulness. Truly awe inspiring.

I am proud to stand amongst men of this caliber. I am honored to be part of an organization filled with people of such integrity … of such strength of character. And though those 14 members are representative of the entire membership of this squadron, the organization nation-wide is made up of such men. That is truly a testament to their devotion to doing the right thing.

If you are not involved, I implore you – do so. Become a member. Make a difference in the lives of our veterans, of our children, of our communities – and of each other. Contact your local American Legion Post to join – as a vet, as a son, or as a spouse, or family member … and Be The One to make a difference in someone’s life.

– Rusty Myers, Adjutant, Squadron 105

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans. Founded in 1932, Sons of The American Legion exists to honor the service and sacrifice of Legionnaires, and is open to all male sons and grandsons of eligible veterans. Completing the Legion Family, in the spirit of Service, Not Self, the mission of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion and to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military, and their families, both at home and abroad.

Post 105 is located on Washington Ave. in Belleville, next to the Motorcycle Mall, and is open daily from noon to midnight.

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