Veterans of VAMC recipients of gifts

To the editor:

We, the American Legion Virgil E. Deyo Post 1327 and American Legion Auxiliary Virgil E. Deyo Unit 1327 under the chairmanship of Bob and Ginny Gurley, will be giving our hospitalized veterans at the Stratton VAMC, Albany a special Christmas Celebration with gifts and an extended visit to spend some time with them. This is in appreciation of their service to our country and to let them know they are not forgotten.

Last year at Christmas time we gifted them with more than $14,000 worth of personal presents plus items to be used by those veterans in need or homeless. During the course of the last 11 months we have given more than $13,500 in needed items and paid for 11 veterans to ski in the VA’s Adaptive Sports program at Ski Windham with their lunches paid for by our funds.

Their needs are ongoing so our support is ongoing. Anything you can do to help us help our veterans, is appreciated and 100 percent will be used strictly for those hospitalized or officially certified veterans at the Stratton VAMC. A list of always wanted/needed items and the departments that are part of the Voluntary Services, James Keller Director, are available for your use and you will see the needs are great.

Our shoppers will be out the first week of December purchasing the wanted and needed items. The annual wrapping party will take place at 1 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Gurleys. The delivery and presentation of the gifts will be Dec. 16, leaving Prattsville around 8:30 a.m. All are invited to join in with the wrapping and gift giving. If you can’t make the wrapping, we encourage all to be there to present the Christmas gifts to our veterans. Although we give them gifts, the sparkle in their eyes and their eagerness to talk and for us to listen to them is their favorite gifts.

If you want to help, call 518-299-3219 or gurleyrv@gmail.com.

Bob and Ginny Gurley

Prattsville