We are now collecting for the USMC Reserve Toys for Tots. Please bring an unwrapped, new toy to go to some needy children and make their holiday an unforgettable one!
Saturday December 8, Sean McNeill worked with the Wilton Police Dept. and their "fill a cruiser". Post 86 donated some toys, we have also offered to let them use the Post facilities for future events. Later on, we enjoyed a fun tailgate party for the Army-Navy football game. It was well attended and special thanks go out to Post Historian Bo Lotocky, and his family for the delicious tacos and for setting up and clean up. We will definitely do this every year!
Saturday, December 15 at 10:00 AM, Boy Scout Troop 125 will hold their annual wreath ceremony at the Veteran's Memorial. Uniform will be dictated by weather, but Legion cap is required. After the ceremony the scouts will head to Hillside cemetery to lay wreaths on veteran's graves. Post 86 is welcome to join them.
Wednesday, December 19, Post 86 will host the 3rd District meeting. It begins at 7:00 PM, with food afterwards. Members should try to attend, to experience other Post officers and what they do.
Friday, November 9, Middlebrook school held their annual Veteran's Day program. The students did a wonderful job, with the video shown being very good. Look for it to be posted when we get it.
Saturday, November 10th, we had a busy day. The Veteran's Day program at Brookdale Home in Wilton was a hit, the residents especially enjoyed the video and accompanying music. About 25 residents and family members attended. Then came the Post 207 program, we had a packed house with about 60 residents, staff and family members. They also enjoyed the video and music. Finally, the Centennial Kick-off Gala was a memorable evening. Tom and Nancy Moore had a wonderful evening, with music from Connecticut's own 102 Regimental quartet, a DJ, dancing. About 800 Legionnaires from five Departments (CT, NH, VT, RI and MA) and National current and past officers, including Past National Commander Denise Rohan.
Sunday, November 11th, the parade and ceremony went well, if sparsely attended. Our speaker was Alex Kuchenmeister, a 6th grader from Middlebrook who won the Essay Contest. He was not only very well spoken, but his essay was very well written. After coffee and donuts at the Post, Bing Ventres, Frank Dunn, Sean McNeill, Toni and Bud Boucher and Tom Moore went to The Meadows Home in Wilton for a Veteran's Day program. After initial confusion, it went very well. 40 residents, staff and family members attended. The highlight was Bing presenting Post 86 member and Meadows resident Harold Barton with his 65-Year Membership Certificate!
Monday, November 12th, Alex Ruskewich and Tom Moore presented the Colors for the Wilton High School Veteran's Day program. Once again, it was very well put together with the school singers and band doing an outstanding job!
Saturday, October 13, 2018 Post 86 provided a Color Guard for the Memorial Service of 66-Year member Robert Keeler and his wife Glenna. Thank you to Sean McNeill, Paul Niche, Alex Ruskewich, Don Hazzard, Bill Glass and Tom Moore for their services.
Raw Video of National Commander's Visit
October 2, 2018 is an historic date for Post 86. National Commander Brett Reistad, 100th Legion National Commander, visited the Post for about two hours, and it was great to host him. We had approximately 50 visitors, including members of Legion Posts 12, 78, 202 and 204. In addition, Department officers including Commander Tom Flowers, Sr. Vice-Commander Dennis Beauregard, Adjutant Butch Hansen and Sgt-at-Arms Bruce Carlson accompanied Brett. The food was delicious, Post 86 Commander Bill Glass presented the Commander with a Christmas ornament commemorating the visit, as well as a book about Connecticut's Yankee Division who served overseas in WWI. A special thank you must be given to Sgt.-at-Arms Sean McNeill for ensuring the visiting party had everything they needed, Service Officer Paul Niche for making sure the food was warm and ready, Finance Officer Don Hazzard for the ice (as usual) and clean-up afterwards, Alex Ruskewich for keeping our video playing, Frank Dunn for the prayer before our meal and Commander Bill Glass for hosting the day. An especially big thank you goes out to Bill Madaras, who ALWAYS stays until the fat lady sings, and helped to clean-up after everyone left. Post 86 members should be proud of the commitment your officers made to provide an enjoyable day to all who attended.
If you wish to find out whether a Veteran's charity is not a scam, Check out these two websites, from the Federal Trade Commission:
FTC's fight against veteran's charity fraud
Check out the video of Nick Madaras being inducted into the Wilton High School Hall of Fame here.
Please check out our Links Page, we have some new additions for military families, including spouses and children.
Watch Here - Post 86 Video
Watch this video of a Kick for Nick soccer tournament from the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa.
Watch this video from NBCs Nightly News about Kick for Nick.
Thank you Bill Glass: Click to download an app for easy filing of Veteran's Benefits through the VA!
Unemployed Veterans:
Register for 12 months of free retraining assistance from the VA!