On Centre: Bald Eagle Area

Couple reach out to honor veterans

Chris Rosenblum

Linda and John Bressler were sitting around their Clarence home six weeks ago, just talking, when an idea popped out.

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“I told him, ‘I would like to do something different for Veterans Day, honor our living veterans,’ ” Linda Bressler said.

She’s the president of Clarence’s American Legion Post 813 auxiliary; her husband is the post adjutant. Working together, they came up with a special afternoon for the Mountaintop region men and women who served their country.

On Nov. 8, the post will feed as many as 130 to 135 veterans of World War II; the Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf wars; or the conflicts in Lebanon, Grenada and Panama.

The 2 p.m. meal promises roast beef, turkey and side dishes prepared by auxiliary members. Linda Bressler said state Sen. Jake Corman, R-Benner Township, has agreed to speak at the event.

Traditionally, the post and the Snow Shoe VFW Post 5644 alternate Veterans Day dinners. But the Bresslers wanted to reach local veterans beyond the posts. Starting with the active members of each, they began working the grapevine.

Once they had a lengthy list compiled — including fathers and sons who served during different wars and a brother and sister who both went to Vietnam — they sent out the invitations.

“We decided to give it a whirl this year,” Linda Bressler said.

At the end of last week, 40 veterans had accepted, and the rest have until Saturday to decide. Bressler said veterans can call her at 409-8277 or stop by the Legion post on Clarence Road to join the guest list.

If everyone invited comes, as she hopes, space won’t be an issue. The auxiliary will make sure all are seated, she said.

“It would be awesome if we could get the majority of them,” she said.

The meal is open to the public, no reservations necessary. It’s also free, though nobody at the post will spurn a donation of money, material or time. Anyone who wishes to help can call the post at 387-6711 or give Bressler a ring.

“It’s going well,” she said. “Our response is good, and everybody seems excited about it.”

Chris Rosenblum writes a weekly column about happenings in the Bald Eagle area. Send him news at crosenbl@centredaily.com or call 231-4620.