Michigan ALR Chapter 53 helps out Vietnam veteran unable to maintain his own yard.
American Legion Rider Angela Snyder admits she can get a bit chatty on the phone. And when she recently was just that, it ended up making a difference in a Vietnam veteran’s life.
The director of American Legion Riders Chapter 53 in Hillsdale, Mich., Snyder organized an outdoor clean-up effort for the veteran after learning about his situation during a work call. Snyder and her husband, Kirk Wick, own a roofing company; the veteran called to see about getting work done on his home,
“We do offer a veteran discount, so through the course of the conversation I asked him, ‘Do you happen to be a veteran?’” said Snyder, a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 53. “So now I’m asking these other questions. Then the stories come out.
“He’s disabled. He can’t get around. He has lawnmowers, but his lawnmowers are broken. He’s got two acres of yard and it’s just out of control. And it just makes him so mad that he’s not able to get out there and take care of his yard. Instantly, my light bulb went off. I’m like, ‘This is what we’re here for.’”
Snyder said Chapter 53 had an event coming up, and it was then she brought up the veteran’s situation: “We’ve got this guy, I think this would be a perfect opportunity to go and help him. Who’s in?’” she said. “Now the hands start flying up.”
Snyder said when the group of Riders showed up at the veteran’s home, they realized it was a much bigger job than they’d anticipated. But after two hours, they mowed, trimmed and got the yard more under control.
“Everybody grabbed a tool, and we headed off in little groups and got things knocked down,” Snyder said. “I, personally, am very fortunate as director that I have this group of people who are so willing to jump in when something like this arises. It’s, ‘Hey guys, we have this opportunity. OK, let’s go.’”
Snyder said the veteran couldn’t thank the group of Riders enough. “He was, I think, humbled is the best way for me to explain it,” she said. “He was emotional about it. He kept repeatedly thanking us. And he kept saying, ‘When I get better, I’m going to get that motorcycle running, and I’m going to come and ride with you guys. I’m going to come and help you guys do something, because this has meant so much to me.’”
Providing the assistance to others that Chapter 53 does is more than a mission, Snyder said. “Yes, we’re all Legion Family members, and yes, we’re Rider members,” she said. “But at the end of the day we’re humans, and we need to look out for each other.”
- Riders