To the Editor:
We are back in full swing! The American Legion Riders are hosting our 9th Annual Poker Run on Aug. 28.

When you hear the riders’ thunder, stand proud!

Help from our riders is needed locally more than ever this year. Our members of the Altamont American Legion Post 977 work hard to uphold the highest of standards in reaching out to veterans and their families in need. This help comes in many forms and is offered with strong hands and open hearts:

— Standing flag lines in final respect at any veterans final salute;

— Stacking wood for a widow of a fallen soldier;

— Building a ramp for a disabled veteran, or for an equine facility assisting veterans struggling with the aftermath of trauma;

— Supporting community organizations assisting homeless or displaced servicemen and women;

— Escorting veterans flying to Washington, D.C. to see magnificent memorials built to pay honor to those who have sacrificed;

— Standing in support of a local organization that provides veterans with service dogs rescued from local shelters, providing intensive training for both dog and soldier — at no cost to our veteran! For a veteran to get the service dog through regular channels, there is a long wait, and a huge ($20,000) fee; and

— Supporting the American Legion legacy fund. This is a scholarship for the children of active United States military, guard, and reserve personnel who were federalized and died on active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001.

These are all local, grassroots programs that the riders, with your help, have supported for the last nine years.

We are always reaching out to new organizations. And we are always there for those old friends. We support:

— The Albany Housing Coalition for  Homeless Vets;

— The Leatherstocking Honor Flight;

— The Victoria Acres Equine Facility Inc.;

— The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund;

— Operation At Ease — and more.

You are welcome to ride with us, or just come for the dinner, music, raffles, and camaraderie. To ride with us, meet at the Voorheesville firehouse at 12 Altamont Road in Voorheesville.

Registration is from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The cost is $25 per person. The ride ends at the Altamont American Legion Post 977 at 988 Altamont Blvd. in Altamont.

The $25 fee covers participation in a beautiful well-thought-out circuit with stops at our tried-and-true establishments to draw poker cards; dinner; dancing; raffles; and a 50/50 raffle.

Come join us, meet new friends, reconnect with old friends, get involved with helping those who valiantly fought for our freedom.

If you are unable to attend and still wish to contribute, you can call 518-861-6848 after 4 p.m. or make a comfortable donation with a check made out to American Legion Riders Post 977.

When you hear the thunder, see the magnificence of this proud display of riders, stand proud with us, as the proud Americans that we are, to make it loud and clear to our veterans, that we support them, honor them, and back them up in every way!

Hellen Wager

Altamont