By Chris Frost
EAGLE TIMES NEWS EDITOR
CLAREMONT, N.H. — The Claremont American Legion Post 29 is a community resource hub for active members and veterans of the United States military. those who have served at one day of active military duty since Dec. 7, 1941, and were honorably discharged or are still serving active military duty honorably, are eligible for membership with the American Legion.
Post 29 is an integral part of the community. Among its special efforts are a poker reun for a lady diagnosed with terminal blood cancer, a spaghetti dinner that raised $3,500, and raising over $6,000 to help Jaidyn Harlow, who is dealing with her third bout with leukemia.
On an ongoing basis, the Post, a member of the Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce, supports lacrosse teams, youth baseball, schools, the scouts, Lebanon Legion Baseball, the Fall Mountain JROTC, all-star tournaments for kids 10 and under in Claremont and more.
Post Commander Steven Blish said the Legion started in Paris in 1919, after World War I, and evolved so veterans could gather and relate military stories.
“We’re people who understand what they saw, heard and felt,” he said. “Our motto is ‘still serving.’ Even though we’ve removed our uniforms, we still believe in serving our communities and people.”
He said Post Service Officer Ray Gentle does much work through the VA and keeps the Post informed about what’s happening. Veterans who need help with mental or physical disabilities rely on his efforts.
“Gentle gets the information for us about all the new things in Congress,” Blish said. That includes information for soldiers exposed to burn pits, who will get paid for being in a dangerous situation. “Now, we realize there are a lot of chemicals and stuff that wasn’t good for us,” he said.
The post helps the Stevens Alumni Parade with its honor guard and adorns every veteran’s grave with the flag on Memorial Day, he said.
“We put all the flags out around town,” Blish said. “People think the city of Claremont does that, but the American Legion puts it on and spends all the money on the flags, along with the Flags on Veteran’s Day.”
He said the support the Post gives is amazing.
“We do community meals after every ceremony and invite the public in,” he said. “Our Auxiliary brings all kinds of potluck. In March, we had a Vietnam Veteran’s Appreciation Day, because it was their 50th year of pulling out of Vietnam.”
He said returning Vietnam Veterans were not treated well.
“These guys put their lives on the line and gave their lives defending the Constitution and this country’s freedom,” he said. “Every veteran here would do it all over again.”
If a veteran struggles, Blish said they’ll sit him down, get Gentle, and talk through their problem no matter how long it takes.
“We’ll reach out to the VA, get them set up with a counselor and make sure he’s taken care of well because he has to be,” he said. “We’re losing 22 Veterans a day to suicide and that’s wrong because these Veterans have nowhere to talk.”
He said if vets need help with something as small as a ride, they need to holler.
“I’ve worked with Key Motors [Chevrolet, GMC, Buick] in Newport and they said if you can’t get a ride, let us know 24 hours in advance and we’ll get a car over there,” he said. “We’ll pick them up and bring them to the V.A.”
Blish said through these efforts, one veteran decided against taking his life. “He was distraught and down, lost his brother, job, best friend and wife in six months,” he said. “We talked, and he cried and cried. I talked to him and said I’ll get you the help and get you in tomorrow.”
They talked for four hours, and Bliss talked him down from using his pistol to end his life. He turned his pistol over to the cops after Blish called them to watch over the Veteran.
“We’ve done that often,” he said. “The psychiatrist told me if you have a problem, you have to vent and that’s what I’m here for.”
Blish, a fuel systems mechanic in the Air Force from 1975 until 1982, decided to help fellow veterans after being honorably discharged.
“I decided more soldiers are coming back that need more help than I do,” he said. “I got involved with the Legion, doing things in the area, and became an officer. The more I did, the better I felt. What we do here is a long, gratifying road.”
To get involved or for more information, call 603-542-9222 or stop by Post 29 at 119 Broad St. in Claremont.
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