Glen Head legion's car show: A driving force to remember America’s history

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Sea Cliff resident Joe Brandes spent a short year and a half restoring a 1954 M38-A1 Navy Jeep to its former glory. The design is reminiscent of the multitude of military-grade vehicles one would have found on an American Naval base during the late 50s, which was the same time Brandes’ late brother, Allen, served his country.

“The car was built primarily as a dedication to my brother,” Brandes, 77, said, describing the emblazoned plague that sits on its dashboard, which lists every ship Allen worked on during his years in the service. “When I found it, it was a total disaster, but I repaired it as a designated Navy Jeep. I did everything but the paint job.”

The distinctive gray Jeep has been on the road since 2009.

For Brandes, who is a member of the New York Military Vehicle Club, a non-profit dedicated to the collection and preservation of historic military vehicles, he is always on the search for classic cars from wartime, having served in Vietnam himself.

To generate interest for the Glenwood Landing American Legion, while combining his love of cars, Brandes decided to organize a military and classic car show, which will take place on July 22 at the post. Brandes said this is the first time in a number of years that the legion will host such a show.

“We haven’t done it in four or five years, but because we’re trying to generate more interest in the post, we figured something like this would draw people out and catch their attention,” Brandes said. In the past, the show featured trucks, jeeps and ambulances from wartime restored by area veterans. Brandes said this weekend’s show would have more of the same.

Aside from showing off flashy cars, legionnaire Ken Kraft said the event is also an opportunity for the public to see what its local veterans actually do. “You don’t have to be a veteran to come over and see what we have to offer,” Kraft said. “We just want to get everyone together, and get some veterans interested in joining.”

Like most veterans, Kraft, 72, shares a penchant for mid-century cars. Back in the 80s he restored a 1952 MG TD Volkswagen Beetle chassis, which he had for almost 40 years. “I’ve gotten so much joy and pride out of it over the years,” he said.

“Some of the veterans would have vehicles like that — old cars, trucks, motorcycles,” Kraft added. “There’s a big love for the hot rods and the muscle cars. They’re the cars we grew up with.”

Brandes said the veterans’ appreciation for such antiquities offers a “connection to history.” A restored military vehicle almost acts as a calling card for veterans, bringing them back to their time in the service. For the public, it’s a way to touch a piece of the past in person.

“As new, young people come in, you need to keep them up to date about what happened,” Brandes said. “You have to keep bringing up history before you forget it.”

Glen Head resident Byron Nernoff remembers the “trial and error” he and his grandfather faced while fixing cars together. They’d occupy car clubs where engine enthusiasts would exchange parts on the weekends. “It brings back a lot of memories,” he said. “People communicated and helped each other in real time.”

Nernoff, 75, is also a Vietnam veteran. He said he believes classic car shows are an intrinsic part of the American culture. “This whole movement of hot rods is really big on Long Island,” he said. “There’s so much history here to remember.”