Saturday, April 19, 2025
Residents of West Hempstead celebrated St. Patrick’s Day on Friday, Mar. 14 at the American Legion’s Cathedral Post 1087. The Legion hosted a party and bingo night, inviting the community to get decked out in green and raise money for a cause.
The funds raised by the Legion are donated to the Nassau County American Legion Children and Youth Committee. Over 60 people attended the event, which raised $800 for the committee.
“This is our annual St. Patrick’s Day dinner. We have a great dinner, corned beef and cabbage, a little Irish music, and we’re gonna do a couple things for the fundraiser,” said Peter Johansen, post commander of the West Hempstead American Legion. “We’re going to play some Bingo, there’s some other entertainment. Everybody comes out here and has a good time.”
For a $30 donation, each attendee received two bingo cards and the food, along with beer, wine and soda, were included. Johansen helped prepare and serve the corned beef, cabbage, mashed potatoes, carrots and potatoes. Fish was also available to community members observing Lent.
“We feel it’s a really positive thing, they do a lot of great things, we like to give back.”
Dawn Samuel, adjutant of the Nassau County American Legion and head of the Nassau County American Legion Children and Youth Committee, thanked the Cathedral Post for their support during this event. “I’m really happy that all of these posts and cathedrals support this program with the children and youth, it’s so great,” said Samuel.
Samuel explained that the committee is supported by the American Legion to support military families, their children and the children on the community as well. “This is to support the things we do,” she said. “So now we can do more for all of them.”
“We feel it’s a really positive thing, they do a lot of great things and we like to give back,” said Johansen. “So it’s a good time for all.”
