Tattler Post 973 raises more than $2,000 for Ukraine relief efforts.
In late April, members of American Legion Tattler Post 973 in Chicago and others came together to raise more than $2,000 to support the military and people of Ukraine.
One of the reasons the post did so, Post 973 Junior Vice Commander and Illinois Second District Commander Brent M. Webb said, was because the connection Legionnaires feel to other veterans – even if those veterans reside in a country more than 5,000 miles away.
“It goes across the boundaries of just who we are as Legionnaires,” Webb said. “We’re a veteran community. The veteran community includes everyone who serves for a righteous cause.”
Webb said Post 973 had been trying “to figure out how to support (Ukraine) for a while,” Webb said. “Ultimately it took one of our members … who had been working in the restaurant and bar industry in Chicago, and a lot of folks he worked with were trying to find an excuse to throw a fundraiser, too. We said, ‘Let’s just put our heads together, invite as many people as we can and let’s do something.’”
The nonprofit Revived Soldiers Ukraine (RSU) – which provides medical and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, its soldiers and their families – was chosen as the beneficiary of the event’s proceeds. According to its website, RSU has provided people in Ukraine with 21 ambulances for military and civilian hospitals, 1,050 bulletproof vests and 650 helmets for medical personnel and civilians for evacuations, 174 generators for hospitals and bomb shelters, and 550 first aid kits meeting NATO standards.
Post 973 began promoting the fundraiser through its various media channels and also got local media coverage. And on April 25, between 50 and 60 people showed up at Post 973 for the event. Those working the bar donated their time, and all their tips went to Revived Soldiers Ukraine. The post also held a 50-50 raffle, from which the winner donated money back.
By the end of the night, $2,295 had been raised. “That’s not bad for a Monday,” Webb said with a laugh.”
Webb worked the bar during the fundraiser and had the opportunity to talk with someone who has a personal connection to Ukraine. “We actually had at least one guy come (to the fundraiser) who was a Ukrainian military veteran who lives in the United States now,” Webb said. “He said he was just so grateful to see other veterans (fundraising for Ukraine). And he and I had a moment where I told him straight up this is how I feel: ‘You and I, we are allies. You and I both served in different militaries for different countries, but we are fighting the same fight. We’re trying to fight for democracy, and we’re trying to fight against tyranny and the kind of authoritarianism that comes from what the Russians are doing.’ The guy was really appreciative of that.”
- News