2021 Activities
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Post 162 and Park Ridge Elks Support Bergen County Tracers Program
American Legion Post 162 and the Park Ridge Elks #2234 have worked together to support veterans causes for many years. These coordinated activities are led by Phil Langner who is a Past Commander of the Legion Post and a Past Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge.. As a continuation of their donation to the Tracers Program run by Bergen County Veterans Affairs, Post 162 donated socks and knitted woolen shawls to the program. Phil also worked with the Elks to obtain a grant from their national organization for the program as well. The Lodge used the grant to buy additional clothing and Kindle tablets for the veterans to use. Bergen County Veterans Affairs Director A. J. Luna commented that the support from these organizations is critical to the continued success of the veteran's support Tracer program of the County. Past Commander Langner stated that both organizations welcome public support for these activities. The pandemic has made these donations more critical than ever. Due to current Covid conditions, only cash donations are accepted at this time. To donate you can do so at www.americanlegionpost162.org, or Elks Lodge PO Box 42 in Park Ridge, NJ 07656.
Pictured are
Legion Commander Doug Frank, Phil Langner, Bergen County Director A.J. Luna, Elks Veterans Committee Person Bev Mancini, Elks Exalted Ruler Ken Reynalds
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Post 162 Supports Eagle Scout Project for Veterans Home
Pictured are Melissa Saldana, Vice Commander Mike Gela, Alex Saldana, Doug Frank, David Saldana
American Legion Post 162 in Hillsdale made a $1,000 donation to the Eagle Scout project of Alex Saldana of Troop 36 in Oradell. Alex, who is a student at Riverdell High School, is collecting clothes and contributions for necessities for the residents of the NJ State Veterans Home in Paramus. He will provide undershirts, socks, sweatpants tee shirts and personal hygiene items. His project was brought to the attention of the Post by the Bergen County Legion Adjutant. Alex's mother Melissa and his father David have strong ties to the military. His father has served in the both the Marine Corps. and the US Army.
Post 162 has been a strong supporter of the Veterans Home for many years, providing donations and sponsoring monthly Bingo games. The pandemic, which devastated the Veterans Home and spurred investigations and many changes, put the Post's activities on hold. While still under investigation, the Home is slowly recovering and Alex identified these needs and that the Home can now accept these items. Alex was also in the news last year for playing taps every week at the Home as well as assisting in planting American Flags for each resident who passed away from Covid.
Vice Commander Mike Gela, who coordinates the Post's activities with the Home, also directs its annual Poppy Program. Last year students Jennifer Pulsiano and Angelina Giustra in Mr. Jeff Jasper's AP Government class at Pascack Valley High School, held a virtual Poppy Drive at the school and directed the donations to the Post for the Veterans Home. With the issues at the Home, the Post put the donation on hold. Now the Post is using their donation and adding to it, to support Alex's project. Commander Doug Frank and VC Mike Gela both expressed their thanks to the ladies, who have now graduated from PVHS, and to Alex for his project to provide these needed items to our aging veterans. The American Legion has a long record of support for scouting. Remembering and supporting those who served in the U.S. military is one of the key objectives of the Legion.
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Post 162 was contacted by Ms. Leah Jerome, Social Studies Teacher, and Thomas McDevitt, Student Council, to see if we would participate in a contact program with our veterans. We agreed and 17 members signed up to take phone calls from students to discuss our pre-military, military, and post military lives. The program was judged a success and our members and the students all had a chance for meaningful discussions.
Post 162 Members who participated are:
Don Averna USA Vietnam
Jim Gerbig USN Gulf War
Guido Borella USA WWII
Ron Kriegl USA Vietnam
Phil Langner USA Vietnam
Al Foti USAF Korea
Phil Fonde USA Vietnam
Scott Pomygalski USA War on Terror
Andrew Elbert USN War on Terror
George DeRosa USN Korea
Robert Keil USA Korea
Joe Sgroi USN Vietnam
Zoltan Horvath USA Vietnam
Doug Frank USN Vietnam
John McGoldrick USN Vietnam
Garry Pinke USN Vietnam
Ji Ho Park USN War on Terror
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Another Post 162 Honoree as Bergen County Veteran of the week.
Click here to see the page for Past Commander Phil Langner.
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Past Commander George DeRosa was honored as Veteran of the Week by Bergen County.
See the link here
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