Michigan post’s Legion Family steps up to assist one of its own
A health issue has kept Richard M. Jopling Post 44 Service Officer Richard Jacobson from working, and the expenses from his medical care and travel to and from that care have started to add up.
When his fellow members of Post 44, located in Marquette, Mich., learned about his situation, they wanted to help out. Because that’s what they knew Jacobson would do if the situation was reversed.
“Everybody can end up in a medical situation where you can have loss of income and new bills,” Post 44 Vice Commander John Mayotte said. “And when that happens, you want to help out. Richard is the kind of guy you want to help. He’s helped out here in the kitchen, he’s helped out with trivia here and now he’s the service officer. He’s the kind of guy who wants to help others, so we wanted to help him.”
That’s why the post’s Legion Family organized a fundraiser for Jacobson, his wife and their five children. Mayotte said the idea for the fundraiser came from the post’s kitchen manager, Deb Smith, for whom Jacobson had worked for previously at the post. The post met to discuss the possibility and gave the go-ahead, and also got permission from Jacobson. A day was chosen when the post already had live music scheduled, and the community was invited to attend and take part in a silent auction and raffle.
The day of the event, approximately 300 people came to Post 44, helping raise around $6,500 for the Jacobsons. Sons of The American Legion Squadron 44 also donated $1,000, while Auxiliary Unit 44 is planning on voting soon to make its own donation to the cause.
“Everybody pulled together,” Mayotte said. “I’ve been involved with this post for 20-plus years, and I’ve seen big things happen, but never something so smoothly coordinated with everyone pulling for the same goal. Everything just came together so smoothly. It was really good to see everything click like it was supposed to.”
Jacobson took to Facebook to thanks those who organized the fundraiser and those who attended. “To all that came out to fundraiser, my wife and I can’t say thank you enough!” he wrote. “Was more than I anticipated, made this bearded tough guy choke back emotion. The ones that did the leg work you all hold special plays in my heart, the ones in attendance meant just as much to me! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
Mayotte said helping the Jacobsons is one of the reasons why Post 44 exists. “We know this is what we joined for and what we do things for,” he said. “But to see it come through and happen in such a measurable way as $6,500 … it was unbelievable.”