Wounded Warriors Treated to Delights of Eastern Shore
By JOE VACCARO
American Legion Post 56
August 4, 2014
Post 56 recently hosted a Wounded Warrior weekend barrier island excursion with the assistance of an organization called the Freedom Hunters. The event started with a Saturday breakfast with 23 wounded warriors, their family members, and numerous members of Post 56. The Warriors were led to the Miss Jennifer at Cherrystone Campground where they enjoyed a day of fun, fellowship, and fishing under the expert guidance of Capt. Ray Cardone.
The Warriors returned to Post 56 and were treated to a wonderful meal of ham, chicken, vegetables, and desserts prepared by Post 56 Chaplain Wilson Leggett and his wife, Diane. The Warriors then proceeded to the Rittenhouse Motor Lodge where Bob Rittenhouse provided free rooms to several members of this organization.
On Sunday the Warriors met again with Post 56 members for breakfast and were directed to the Oyster Boat Ramp where they boarded boats and toured the barrier islands and beaches. The group was led by Capt. Wilson Leggett and Capt. Chuck Williams, Bobby Cheney, Bernie Davis, Jim White, Hank Jones, Post 56 Adjutant Bob Roche, and Lester Clark.
This was a weekend filled with both poignant and triumphant moments and created a friendship and bond between the Warriors and Post 56 that will never be broken. At the end of the weekend event and as a token of their appreciation, the Freedom Hunters presented Post 56 an encased American flag that was a flown over a base in Afghanistan.
Weekend participants in front of American Legion Post 56.
Very generous on the part of Bob Rittenhouse to provide lodging and his famous hospitality for some of these Veterans. I think I remember correctly that Mr. Rittenhouse is a WW II Navy veteran also.
Mr. Rittenhouse has been a great asset to Post 56 with our Wounded Warriors/ “Freedom Hunters” Project.
The people who volunteered their time and facilities to help these men and women are a classic example of what makes the Shore so great.