Veterans and families invited to Appreciation Day Picnic and to welcome new Vice Commander by Lorraine Glowczak

Vice Commander, Jeff Cook

The American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 will celebrate area veterans, with a special focus on Vietnam Vets by holding a Veterans’ Appreciation Day Picnic on Saturday, July 15 at Sebago Lake State Park on the State Park Road from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fun, games and comradery will be a part of the activities, along with the welcoming of the Post’s new Vice Commander, Jeff Cook.
 

“Jeff Cook, a Field-Allen Post 148 member since 2016, has taken his Post Officer responsibilities seriously and has professionally stepped up as the Post's new first Vice Commander,” Mel Greenier, Post Commander stated. “He has accepted the challenges that goes with his office and has gone the extra mile to make our Post's events better. Jeff is a hard worker and very much appreciated Field-Allen Post 148 American Legion member.”

Cook served in Afghanistan and was a member of the Air National Guard as well as the Navy Seabee. He recently retired honorably from 26 years of military service and wanted to find a way to get involved. He chose to become a member of both the Field-Allen Post as well as the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

“After I retired from the service, I missed the community and brotherhood that I received when I was involved,” Cook said about his membership to the Post and acceptance of the role as Vice Commander. “My involvement and membership filled this void. But I also wanted to give back to a community that was there for me and supported me, as well as my family, when I was serving in the war.”

Cook’s greatest hope is that he can help the Field-Allen Post increase its membership so that the organization can always be a supporting entity to veterans in Windham and the surrounding area.  “I want to put an emphasis on membership, including women veteran members,” explained Cook. “I want to continue the support I have received and give that support back to younger and future veterans. I feel like it is time for me to give back.”

A part of this giving back to the community includes various activities the Post offers in and around

Windham; such as raising money to give to local schools, providing a Veteran’s Memorial Park for all to reflect and enjoy at the Windham Veterans Center as well as the Sebago Appreciation Day picnic to name a few.

 “The American Legion Field-Allen Post has conducted several Veteran outreach and appreciation activities, including our weekly Social Coffee on Wednesday mornings as well as the Veteran Appreciation day at the Windham Indoor Shooting Range this spring,” stated Post Adjutant, Dave Tanguay. “The picnic [at Sebago Lake] is the Post’s latest opportunity to meet our local veterans and their families in a social setting for a day of comradeship and fun.” 

If you are a veteran and wish to become involved with American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 or would like to attend the Veterans’ Appreciation Day Picnic for a day of fun and to meet the new Vice Commander Cook on Saturday, July 15, please contact Dave Tanguay at Dtanguay46@aol.com or Mel Greenier at mgreenier@myfairpoint.net.

All veterans and their families are invited and encouraged to join in on the festivities.