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2006 Click on the blue links or small photos to see full size pictures, they will open on a new page, use "BACK" to return here. Pearl Harbor Day, December 7                                     Up on the Legion Roof Raising Donations for our Troops, December 2 Lisa Robinson, Auxiliary Unit President, goes up on the Legion roof and raises over $30,000 in donations for our troops. With the help of the Clinton Heights Fire Department, and with warm clothes and a tent, Lisa climbs to the roof at 9am on a cold, windy Saturday vowing not to come down until a trailer is filled with donation of items that can be used by our troops and a large container is filled with money. Thanks to a generous public and good local media coverage (and some national) she was back on the ground in 3 days! TV Interview on Ground TV Interview on Roof On the Post Roof Donation to USS Slater, November 10 Robert Thibault, our deceased County and District Advisor, was a Chief Petty Officer in the US Coast Guard. In his will he left a $2000 donation to the Slater Foundation. At a meeting of the Rensselaer County Sons, we voted to add a donation of $150. Sam Sailor (left), receives donation from Tom Thibault  Sam Sailor receives donation from County Commander, Kevin De Russo Members of the Thibault Family, our squadron and Legion Post Commander Todd Wiley. Squadron Member SEAN BAGNARDI, wins New York State American Legion Press Association Scholarship of $1000 Presented at State Convention in Rochester on July 21, 2006 L to R Press Association President James Button, Sean, Sean's Mother & Step-Father Anne & Kevin Harrington Support Our Troops Fundraiser Picnic at VFW, July 15 Raises almost $1000 There was a great turnout at the East Greenbush VFW on Hays Rd. Guests played yard games and enjoyed the entertainment. Working the donations table are Anne & Kevin Harrington and Vicki & Todd Wiley. Legion Auxiliary Unit member Francine Kroll sold lots of raffle tickets and the sponsors donated many great prizes. Winners were announced by Francine Froll and Legion Auxiliary Unit President Lisa Robinson. American Legion Post Commander Todd Wiley "Turn(ed) The Page" and Don Essinter, VFW Post Commander spoke. Sons member Mike Schwind did all the cooking. Other Sons members in attendance: John Cleary, Denny Helmes, Dan Hebert, Kalob Failing and Kevin Harrington. Officers Installation Dinner, June 3 Squad Vice Commanders: Dennis Helmes, Kevin Harrington, Past Detachment of NY Commander and Adjutant and Mike Schwind   Herman Harrington, Past Dept Commander and Installing Officer and Kevin Harrington, (standing in for Squadron Commander Kevin De Russo). Ernest Hotaling, Squadron Advisor, His 30th year!         Squadron Officers Installed       Kevin Harrington, Ann Harrington, Past Auxiliary Department President and Secretary/Treasurer Todd Wiley, New Post Commander Warren Cushine, Past Post Commander   Herman Harrington and Rich Bender, MC, award Wray Tibbets for continuous membership. Pat Henessey, Auxiliary Installing Officer, Lisa Robinson, Auxiliary President Auxiliary Officers Installed     See more photos from this event, at: http://MRoadsSAL.photosite.com Above Photos by Anne or Kevin Harrington. A task that our squadron has carried out for over 25 years has been the placing of US flags to decorate the graves of veterans for Memorial Day in the Clinton Heights Cemetery. We usually pick up the flags around Flag Day. May 25, 2006 For the second year, we thank the Scouts for their assistance in putting U.S. Flags on our veteran's graves and we were glad to treat them to pizza and soda after. Unfortunately, we have no photos from this year, but everyone there wrote their name and we are posting the list here: 2005 Veterans Day Dinner, November 5 Joint Installation of Post, Auxiliary and SONS Officers Dinner, June 10 Our 2005-6 year officers being installed ... by County SONS Chaplain, Mike Stammel from O'Neil Squadron. Squad Commander Kevin De Russo presents Auxiliary member Lisa Robinson with a certificate of appreciation for her work in organizing fundraisers and sending needed supplies to our troops in Iraq. ...... Kevin & AnneH ...... Jeff & KraigB ... MikeS & NancyN ...... Master of Ceremonies, Herman Harrington. Memorial Day May 28: The 2005 Annual Memorial Day Parade was hosted by the Melvin Roads American Legion Post. The route is from the Bowling Green Lanes to the Clinton heights Cemetary, then a ceremony, then to the Legion for refreshments. There were about a dozen SONS members participating and for the first time, we had a vehicle, Past Squadron Commander Kevin Harrington driving current Commander Kevin De Russo. Squad before Parade ... Parade 1 ..... Parade 2 ..... Parade 3 Cemetery Service ... Firing Squad ... Bugler... U.S. & MIA-POW Flags Senator Joe Bruno & Squad Mom Anne Harrington May 27: For the first time this year we were assisted and for their help in setting out the flags, Melvin Roads Sons of The American Legion extends our thanks to these Scout Groups and members and friends: Boy Scout Troop 41: Royce Duda, Dominic Hunt and Zachary Jones; Cub Scout Pack 76 - Dens 3 and 8: Anthony Hunt, Tyler Lorette, Stephen Moore and Zachary Young; Pack #76 Treasurer Stephen Moore, Pack Master & Den #8 Leader Bill Young and Den #3 Leader Nancy Hunt. And these helpers: Cadet Girl Scout Chancey Young, Shelby Young, Coleen Murphy-Young, Floyd Hunt, Emeline Jones, Daniel Jones, Joan Duda, Denise Lorette and Keith Lorette. Our SONS members participating: Kevin De Russo, Kraig and Jeff Brooks, Sean Bagnardi, Anne and Kevin Harrington. Legion Birthday -- St. Patrick's Day Dinner / Dance Legion Birthday Cake ... Commander Bob Thibault ... Mike Cronin KevinD & Tom ............. St. Pat's 2 ....................... St. Pat's 3 St. Pat's 4 .................. St. Pat's 5 ....................... St. Pat's 6 2004 Christmas Dinner / Dance Staff ... Jack, Bartender ... Jim ........ Mary, Lori, Anne, KevinD Marge, Santa & KevinD ........ Mary, Lori & Anne ... JerryC & Santa Lori & Santa .......... Brady's ........ Mary & Santa ........ Anne & Kevin Veteran's Day Service Held in the Greenbush Cemetery on Hays Road at Melvin E. Roads' Gravesite. The Columbia High School React Club again honors Veterans. September 11 Remembrance On Saturday, September 11, 2004, at the Legion Post, Melvin Roads held their third remembrance ceremony for the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 in NY City, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania. Commander Robert Thibault Members of the Sons . . . . . Sons Members and Family Joe Pheland, Clinton Heights Fire Dept., Sounds Bell Nick Manzella; Kerry & Katie Flanigan; Chris Guyon, Columbia High School Choir Clinton Heights Fire Dept. . . . . . Clinton Heights Fire Dept.2 Mike Harty, Columbia High School Band, Plays Taps Audience Members . . . . . East Greenbush Police George Basher, NYS Veterans Rep. & Ken Governor, Renss. Co. American Legion Commander, Place Wreath James and Tom Thibault on an East Greenbush Fire Truck Robert Brooks, was given ½ credit for the first German jet shot down during WW2. He receives a restored photo of his air crew, presenting are (L to R): Jeff Brooks, his son; Mr. Brooks; and from Melvin Roads Squadron, Sons of The American Legion, Commander Kevin De Russo and Chaplain Kraig Brooks, his grandson. (11/24/04) Above Photos by Kevin Harrington. Melvin Roads Squadron #1231 Clinton Heights, NY Certificate Of Appreciation For Meritorious Service In Helping Those Less Fortunate By Making A Generous Donation Of Two Bicycles And A Bed Presented to Gage Michael Hillebrandt This 14th Day of October 2003 Signed: Kevin De Russo, Commander / Kevin Harrington, Past Commander Commander Kevin De Russo (r) assisted by East Greenbush Town Supervisor Robert Angelini present Gage with his Certificiate. Photographer Catherine Sager from The Independent Newspaper, Squad Advisor Ernest Hotaling, Chaplain Kraig Brooks and Vice Commander Rick Matters, Jr. Other members present were Squad Mom Anne Harrington and Past Commander Kevin Harrington. Gage being interviewed by Kumi Tucker of TV Station WNYT. Some of Gage's Family; Aunt Mary, his mom, Dorothy and cousin Stephanie. Here is the Broadcast of the News Report: Click To See Large Size News Video, for Broadband or Click To See Smaller Size News Video, for Dial-up July 27, 2003 BOB HOPE (1903-2003) will always be remembered for all the many Christmas Holidays he gave up being with his family so he could be with the American Military personnel in all parts of the world. He brought cheer and laughter to young men and women in dangerous places, in all sorts of weather, on the battle field and in the hospitals. As an entertainer, he received more awards than any other, as a human being, he is the only one to be named by the U.S. President as an Honorary Veteran. We will all miss him. . . . Thanks for the Memories...