I.P. American Legion helps Amityville Legion

Presenting the check to Amityville Post 1218 Commander Charles Martin are (from left) From Island Park Post 1029, John Marino, Jimmy Hughes and Commander Joe Aniano, while Amityville members look on. (Courtesy Joe Turner)

Island Park’s American Legion Post 1027 came to the aid of the historical Hunter Squires Jackson American Legion Post 1218 in Amityville. “It was the right thing to do,” said Island Park Post Commander Joseph Aniano.

Hurricane Sandy destroyed the Amityville legion’s building, and then thieves made off with the air conditioners from the roof, leaving the place in shambles. The post members and ladies auxiliary are trying to raise $200,000 to rebuild. Babylon Town organized a “Kayaking for a Cause” race to help raise the money.

“I called [Babylon Town] to get their information, because before we give to any money we want to make sure the recipient is legit. I called the town, and the Deputy Supervisor Tony Martinez, who organized the race, told me they are legit and they are hurting.” Aniano explained the Amityville building was used in the same way Island Park used its former building, for community events, weddings, dinners and more.

The race raised $15,000 from kayaking fees, donations from local business, and a $10,000 check from Post 1029. No one knew about the Island Park donation in advance. Post 1218 Commander Charles Martin said, “[Aniano] had called me and asked if he could make a donation, he said it was going to be a large amount. I told him about the kayak race and said come out. When I saw the check it just blew my mind to tell you the truth, being in the legion from Nassau County and I am in Suffolk, I don’t have the words for it.” he said they had been working on repairs of the old building when the thieves struck. “The took the copper from the pipes, the air conditioners were maybe 15 years old, and no one could get replacement parts for them, so we have to get new ones. That will cost $60,000.”

Post 1027 has donated more than half a million dollars to various veterans causes since it sold its building five years ago. Aniano learned about the plight of post 1218, and on the spur of the moment called the members of his post who agreed to make the donation.

This is an unusual post, he explained, it was founded and named after three Amityville men who participated in a meeting held on March 15, 1919 in Paris, France for the purpose of organizing a group now known as the American Legion. These men were Arthur Hunter, Arthur Squires and Frederick Jackson who served with the Army’s 360th Regiment in World War I. “After the war, black and American Indian veterans were not allowed to join other posts, so they decided to build their own,” he added. Post 1218 was chartered in 1938, and the ladies auxiliary was formed the same year.

“I am sending news of this post to the national commander,” Aniano said,“ my hope is they will put it into the Legion book every member gets monthly. Maybe members can send five or 10 dollars or whatever.” There is also a national legion fund they can look to for help.