Mahopac American Legion Gets Ramp, Rails

Purple Heart Homes NY Downstate Chapter has completed another project installing a ramp with hand railings to help members of the Mahopac American Legion, Post 1080 safely and easily get into the front door to gather with fellow Veterans and attend regular meetings.

Purple Heart Homes NY Downstate Chapter invites the public to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate another successful Mission Accomplished at 10 AM Saturday at 333 Buckshollow Road, Mahopac, NY. American Legion, Post 1080 is located in the old historic Mahopac train station and has the railroad historical marker located near the intersection of 6 and 6N. The railroad came to Mahopac in 1871 and the first station was built in 1880. In 1930 construction began on Buckshollow Road and the Mahopac American Legion Post moved in 1970.

“It was the conversion of the perfect story,’ said Eugene Parrotta, Executive Director of the Purple Heart Homes NY Downstate Chapter. “Council Woman and Chapter board member, Suzi McDonough received a call from the past post commander Anthony Pelliccio asking her if the chapter could help. I no sooner hung up the phone and town resident Damian Kennedy said he had a ramp he wanted to donate. Ian Fisher, from the Fisher Brothers donated all the labor and Joe Fitzgerald from By Hammer By Hand donated the custom hand railings.”

The Brewster Home Depot Store 1271 with Team Depot members helped beautiful the American Legion train platform with shrubs and flowers.

“This is a welcomed and needed improvement to help to some of our older members, who had difficulty getting up the step or who are in a wheelchair gain easy assess to our building,” Anthony Pelliccio, past Commander of the American Legion, Post 1080 said. “We are grateful to Purple Heart Homes NY Downstate Chapter for taking on this project.”

American Legion Post 1080 has 203 members, whose ages range from 40 to 80, and who attend meetings held on the last Thursday of the month at 7:30 PM.

“Please join in the celebration at the American Legion Post, 1080 and take a walk on the new ramp,” said Parrotta. “We are so appreciative of how the community came together to make this simple project that means so much happen,” Parrotta added.

The Purple Heart Homes NY Downstate Chapter is always looking for projects to do in the area to help older veterans and their caregivers age safely and successfully in their own homes.

Donations to help fund future projects can be made out to: Purple Heart Homes NY Downstate Chapter and can be mailed to: Eugene Parrotta, Executive Director P.O Box 27 Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520