This week the Gazette was happily overwhelmed by news from the local American Legion Post, the Walter E. Cole Post 187, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Wake Forest Memorial Post 8466. We have always known they were not just a bunch of old duffers, but it is remarkable what they have been up to lately. See all the articles below which were written by Rich Heroux.
Local veteran receives home repair assistance
The North Chapter of the Purple Heart Homes is a national organization dedicated to assisting Wake disabled veterans receive help by making improvements to their home to accommodate their disability.
Henry (Hank) Pierwola is a Vietnam veteran and has been awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. Hank is also a a member of Walter E. Cole Post 187, American Legion and the Wake Forest Memorial Post 8466, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Purple Heart Homes were able to fix a few unsafe things in his home that he is not able to do for himself. Put in some GFCIs, fix some wiring issues, install a new bathroom fan, fix the outdoor floodlights and fix a dilapidated deck.
Thanks to the Home Depot foundation for providing materials and for the crew for giving me their Sunday! Local veterans are delighted that Hank is the recipient of this assistance.
“It was an honor to serve a man that served for our country and our freedom”, said Joe Sheehan, Chapter spokesman.
Legionnaires make COVID-19 metal mask strips
A local engineer, Dean VerHoeven, was looking for space to manufacture the metal nose strips for COVID-19 masks he had designed. “We agreed to this community action and, after moving some equipment into our building at 225 East Holding Avenue, started production.
Face masks can be fabricated on any number of sewing machines; however to reinforce the masks to the contour of the face requires the addition of a small flexible strip of metal. The Joeveo, COVID Mask Nose Strip, was designed by VerHoeven.
The strips are fabricated by hand from 100% free range electric cable up-cycled from the local electric co-op’s scrap bins (Thank you, Wake Electric Membership). After securing a working space from the Walter E. Cole American Legion Post 187 as a community human relations endeavor, production began.
Legion volunteers from Post 187 pitched in to man the fabrication stations. The hand- made, up-cycled, organic, annealed aluminum face mask nose strips once completed are given away free of charge for the price of shipping. To date the co-op effort has resulted in the production and shipping of over 150,000 COVID-19 nose strips all over the world. To order supplies of these very useful additions to homemade face masks, simply address your request to joeveo.com/COVID Masks. Check the button below the advertisement to place an order.
Red Cross blood drive at Legion Hall Oct. 19
The Walter E. Cole, Post 187, American Legion will team up with the American Red Cross to conduct a blood donor drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. October 19, 2020 at their Wake Forest home located at 225 East Holding Avenue, Wake Forest.
Due to the increased demand for blood the Red Cross is encouraging citizens to participate in the blood drive to improve the shortness of whole blood available within the area.
The American Legion spokesman Henry Pierwola said, “This is the tenth such blood drive conducted by the Legion Post this calendar year. Approximately 280 pints of much-needed blood have accumulated this year.”
If you are interested in donating blood during this period please contact Henry at (919) 556 3619, contact the Red Cross at Red Cross.com, or just drop in at the donation location during the hours of operation.
Legionnaire Golf Tournament to be held Oct. 19
It isn’t too late to register for the fourth annual American Legion Post 187 Legionnaire Golf Tournament.
The tournament will be held at the Brevofield Golf Links October 19, 2020 with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. A rain date has been planned for October 20, 2020.
According to Tournament Director Mike Janssen, “This year we are only seeking corporate sponsors. We will use last year’s hole sponsors as a courtesy to last year’s sponsors.”
Individual entry fee is $60 and teams of four entry fee will be $225 before October 1, 2020; after Oct 1 individual fees will be $70 and teams $250.
Overall winner of the tournament will receive a 40-inch color smart television with a complete wall mounting bracket. A putting challenge will be part of the tournament conducted at the end of the round and the winner will receive $100.
The golfer who gets a hole in one on the designated par 3 hole will receive a prize of $5,000. Other designated par 3 holes will carry prizes for a hole in one.
A lunch will be provided to all participants and volunteers by the Post’s talented kitchen staff. Food to be provided by Sam’s Club and awards by Wake Forest Awards and Engraving.
Entry forms are available by contacting Mike Janssen at Mikejanssen816@gmail.com. Eight of the 18 teams have already registered for the tournament. Mike Janssen has ten corporate sponsors registered as of this writing. Proceeds from this tournament will be used to benefit local veterans with hardship. Mike can be reached by phone at (919) 703-5867.
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