Mission Accomplished

Rochester, NY - The call for assistance to the Wounded Warriors program was again deemed a success.

The Chili Fire Department spearheaded the drive for the second year in a row for clothing and other necessities for our nations wounded veterans of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Soldiers are flown back, usually from Landstuhl Germany to the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington D.C.. The problem is, all of their personal effects, including their clothing is shipped back to their base, and thus, don’t have any comforts of home to aid them in their recovery. Families, in a haste to be with their loved ones often don’t realize that it is cold in Washington this time of year. A majority of them come from the southeastern part of the US and don’t even own cold weather clothing.

The Pittsford Baptist Church was the gathering point for the donations of clothing, blankets, toiletries,gift cards and even cards addressed simply to “a soldier”.

Donations from Brockport (totaling over $1100 in cash from members pockets), Gates IAFF, Churchville Fire Equipment, Brighton, Mendon, Fairport, East Rochester, Chili, Ridge Culver, Kodak Park Clifton, and even the Reserve Hose Company from West Seneca donated.

All of goods were transported in a van, two pickup trucks and a station wagon by Gunnery Sergeant (ret.) Jim Lechner and his family this weekend to ensure that these soldiers and their families could celebrate the holidays a little warmer, and a little happier.

Photos and Story by John Spaulding