To the Editor:

On behalf of the Helderberg American Legion Riders, we would like to thank everyone who made our Poker Run a success again this year. We also want to thank all the people who have supported our ongoing bottle drive over the past two years. Both efforts raise funds to help veterans.

For the Poker Run, we thank all of the corporate sponsors, the businesses and individuals who donated gifts for our raffles, the many riders who supported us, and the many people who spent countless hours before, during, and after the event to ensure that we continue to be successful in our fundraising effort.

We are thankful for the establishments that provided stopping points throughout the day: the Voorheesville Fire Department, the Greenville American Legion, the American Tavern in Cobleskill, and the Rotterdam Eagles.

We appreciate all of the area businesses that continue to support us year in and year out, and the new ones that join us in our effort. We will continue to support area veterans and veterans groups that are in need and also support the community and those in need.

Last year, we assisted many local organizations with the money we raised in 2016. We supported the Victoria Acres Equine Center in its program for veterans suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder; the Mountains for Miracles Woofs for Warriors canine program; the Albany Housing Coalition home for veterans; the American Legion Legacy Fund; the Albany Hilltowns Christmas Fund of the Albany County Sheriff's Office; the Guardian House Shelter for women; and the Albany Veterans Hospital outreach program for homeless veterans to name a few.

We also donated gift cards to many area families that were in need.

We cannot stress enough how important your support is to us. We are very thankful, and blessed, to live in a community such as this. We will proudly continue to serve our local veterans and the surrounding community.

A little over two years ago, Richard Perras, also known as Big Bird, a member of the Helderberg American Legion Riders, suggested we start a bottle drive to raise money for the Leatherstocking Honor Flight to help send our World War II veterans to see their monument in Washington, D.C.

So Rich’s idea became a reality and we set up a bottle and can drop-off at the Legion Post on Altamont Boulevard.

Day after day, people would drop off their bottles and cans; week after week, Rich would load his truck to the brim and deliver the bottles to the Albany Beverage Center for counting and credit. Every couple of months, he would pick up a check and we would deposit the money in an account for the Honor Flight.

Who would have thought this would be the success that it is. So far, the bottle drive has raised in excess of $11,000. Yes, that’s $11,000!

With that money, and some additional money from our Poker Run, we are going to pay for every veteran who goes on the Leatherstocking Honor Flight on Sept. 30!

That’s right; because of your support, we are sending approximately 50 veterans to Washington, D.C. to enjoy each other’s companionship and camaraderie and to see the monuments that they so deserve.

Please come out that morning to support our veterans and send them off to D.C. And please continue to drop off your bottles and cans so that someday we can send another group to Washington.

Details of the flight can be found on the website LeatherstockingHonorFlight.com.

Allan Gaige for

The Helderberg American Legion Riders

Altamont Post 977

Voorheesville Post 1493