Legionnaires provide tents to villagers in the Himalayas
Legionnaires reached the Tengboche monastery Wednesday morning, nearly 13,000 feet into the Himalayas. Photo courtesy Andy Politz

Legionnaires provide tents to villagers in the Himalayas

A group of six Ohio veterans representing Summit for Soldiers and wearing The American Legion emblem is in Nepal this week delivering relief supplies to villagers who have endured an earthquake and a massive ice fall in the last two years.

Their fellow veteran – Summit for Soldiers co-founder Mike Fairman, also a Legion member – reached the top of Mount Everest on May 19. The group delivering supplies is making its way to the 17,565-foot Everest Base Camp, connecting with Fairman along the way.

On Wednesday, the Legionnaires – Steve Downey, Andrew Oakes, Rick Amoroso and Anna Pelino – reported on Facebook that they had reached the renowned Tengboche monastery at nearly 13,000 feet in elevation. Near there, they delivered tents to families in need after the recent natural disasters devastated many of their homes.

“This morning, the Summit for Soldiers crew wakes up in one of the most revered monasteries in the area, Tengboche,” the team posted on its Facebook page. “There is very little flat ground to build on in these remote villages.

“Communities built on bedrock managed the 2015 earthquake better. Those built on glacial sands and gravel were often decimated. The SfS trek crew has 10 tents to provide interim housing, until homes can be rebuilt.

“The people are poor and the government has been incapable (to be kind) of providing support to struggling families. Shelter is needed, but also, a return of tourism. Trekking is the leading industry in this poor country. As beautiful as the area is, to see the need here has to be indescribably heartbreaking.”

Summit for Soldiers is a non-profit organization that raises awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide prevention among combat veterans.

Follow the team as it continues its climb on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/summitforsoldiers


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