Belmont Country Club: AL Post 2001 Feature Article

The following article will appear in the Belmont Country Club publication: Summer 2020

The mission of the Leonard W. Kidd Memorial American Legion Post 2001 in Ashburn,
VA, is to support our Veterans and Active Duty members and families, promote
Americanism, and mentor our youth. The Post is a 501(c)(19) nonprofit organization
established in 2000 and named after the first Loudoun County serviceman killed in the
Vietnam War.

Note: eligibility for membership in the American Legion changed in 2019 — now all
veterans who served on active duty since December 7, 1941 are eligible to join the
Legion and our Post.

We meet monthly on the second Thursday of the month at 730PM at the Ashburn
Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department Station Six, 20688 Ashburn Road. However due
to the Pandemic, we will meet virtually for the near term. Because we do not own a building, all of our efforts and finances are focused strictly in the mission areas mentioned above. A short summary of some of our activities follows.

Veterans helping Veterans: Post 2001 members have been annually increasing our
support to the veterans of Loudoun County. In 2019, we provided over $22,000, on
behalf of 38 military veterans (87 total children and family members), to landlords and
utility companies for eviction avoidance and/or to prevent utility cut off. Unfortunately,
this need is growing dramatically in high-cost Loudoun County, up over 30% from 2018.

Americanism: Post 2001 coordinated a Vietnam Veterans pinning ceremony for 25
veterans and 25 surviving spouses in special recognition of their service during that war.
Additionally, the Post 2001 sponsored a Flag Retirement Ceremony with a local Boy
Scout troop in which over 250 American flags were properly disposed of. An Eagle
Scout project we sponsored several years ago provided collection boxes in six local
communities, including our HOA office area, so that any resident can drop off worn flags
for collection by Post members, who will insure they are properly retired.
Twice a year during Memorial Day and Veterans Day weekends, Post Legionnaires
hand out approximately 5,000 paper poppies in remembrance of those who served
and/or have lost their lives serving in the Armed Forces. The generosity of the community is wonderful and the stories we hear from veterans or family members about
their relatives are very inspiring.

Mentoring our Youth: Post 2001 coordinated and helped to fully sponsor (no cost to the
student) 16 junior class boys and girls from 7 of our local High Schools, including
Riverside and Stone Bridge, to attend a life-changing, week long Virginia Boys or Girls
State educational program. The cost is approximately $400 per student. Unfortunately,
while our goal was to more than double the students we would select and sponsor this
year– 49 students were recommended by the Guidance Counselors of those schools —
the programs were cancelled due to the Pandemic.

And, the Post’s 2019 American Legion Baseball team provided summer skill sharpening
opportunities to 18 of our some of our most promising baseball athletes (ages 15-19)
and we were delighted when they made the Divisional playoffs.

We are always looking for Veterans who would like to be involved in the American
Legion’s mission areas. Please contact us if you would like more information on
membership and how to get involved. Our web address is: http://ashburnlegion.org/
All donations are tax deductible. There is also a supporting 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the
Leonard W. Kidd Memorial Post 2001 Charitable Foundation which also accepts tax
deductible donations.

The web address is: http://ashburnlegion.org/post2001cf/
Post 2001 and its members are standing by to assist members of our community at this
time of crisis. We work very closely with Loudoun County’s Veteran Services Officer,
Tom Grant. He is a wonderful source of information for services and assistance. The
official website is https://www.loudoun.gov/3555/Veterans-Services-Program .
If you know of a veteran in need of financial or other support, you may also contact the
Post’s Financial Officer, Richard Ryan at 202-258-4109/ Richard.ryan@verizon.net or
the Post 2001 Adjutant at adjutant@ashburnlegion.org
Thank you for taking the time to read this, stay well.
Picture and caption

American Legion (AL) Post 2001 in Ashburn, VA donated a battery operated scooter
to a Vietnam Veteran and successfully delivered it on Monday, February 10. AL 2001
led the way to give our Veteran added mobility to get “out and about.” It will not only
enable him in a physical sense but will also serve to reduce his feelings of isolation, as
he can now get out and interact with his neighbors and community.

FLAGS FOR HEROES

This Memorial Day weekend, starting May 23, 2020, the Rotary Club of Ashburn is conducting their Flags for Heroes. American Legion Post 2001 has been invited to participate. This event is to remember those who made a difference and honor their military service, sacrifice and devotion to our country, as well as our first responders and health care workers .

They will place 100 USA flags at the south side of Route 7, near One Loudoun plaza. The flags will remain 23 May through 7 June, 2020. In remembrance, each flag can be sponsored to remember a hero for $50 and the written medallion of the heroe’s name and sponsor will be placed on the flag pole. Please click on the Rotary Club’s site link for more information:  http://ashburnflagsforheroes.org/Please fill out the sponsor and hero information and pay or write a check and mail to:

RCOA Foundation PO BOX 392

Ashburn, VA 20146

Write your check out to the Rotary Club of VA Foundation. Your contributions are tax deductible.

Events Timeline

*Please contact Comrade Richard Ryan if you want to participate in any of these.

Thursday, May 21 (9-11AM)   Set up three Ashburn Rotary Banners and a separate banner to support local nurses/workers/teachers etc. on site along Route 7. Post volunteers will set up our Post banner as well.

Saturday, May 23 (10-12PM)  Erect all 100 Flags on site. Sleeves are already in the ground. Drone video from a Club member and Ashburn Boy Scouts. Mission BBQ Lunch!

Main Event Monday, May 25 (10AM)  Memorial Day Ceremony. The details of how this ceremony will unfold are still being worked out. Envisioned is a FB Live event with the reading of the names with a small amount of personnel on site, in accordance with the Virginia Governors order. Our Post has considered having members interested in participating, being nearby within the guidelines of safety and social distancing. The plan may be adjusted as circumstances permit.

Many of us participated last year and it was a very special ceremony. If you have any questions, give Richard Ryan a call at 202-258-4109.