Community Service

The Legion Riders at Post 7 like to “Give back” to our community and our local Veterans.

John Fassett Scholarship Fund

If you knew John, you knew he had a heart of gold.  John would always be there for a person in need and no request was too large or too small.  He was always ready to lend a hand or make an anonymous donation.  He wasn’t the sort of person who expected anything in return.  John loved serving his community.  He had volunteered as a firefighter for the City of Ferndale and had been a member of the local Lions Club.  He also served as Worshipful Master of Ferndale Masonic Lodge #264 and volunteered with the Old Settler’s Association and the Ferndale Heritage Society.  He built many sets for school plays at Central Elementary School.  For many Christmases, John played Santa in local nursing and retirement homes and took the residents to see the Christmas lights around the area.

John was active in the Bellingham American Legion Post #7.  He enjoyed riding motorcycles his whole life and attended Trinity Biker Church in Ferndale.  He especially loved his Harley, which he and his wife Linda rode together often.

After John’s unexpected passing, his family dedicated a scholarship fund in his name.  The scholarship targets, but not exclusively, are for first year students to either trade schools or community colleges.

Toys For Tots

If you knew John, you knew he had a heart of gold.  John would always be there for a person in need and no request was too large or too small.  He was always ready to lend a hand or make an anonymous donation.  He wasn’t the sort of person who expected anything in return.  John loved serving his community.  He had volunteered as a firefighter for the City of Ferndale and had been a member of the local Lions Club.  He also served as Worshipful Master of Ferndale Masonic Lodge #264 and volunteered with the Old Settler’s Association and the Ferndale Heritage Society.  He built many sets for school plays at Central Elementary School.  For many Christmases, John played Santa in local nursing and retirement homes and took the residents to see the Christmas lights around the area.

John was active in the Bellingham American Legion Post #7.  He enjoyed riding motorcycles his whole life and attended Trinity Biker Church in Ferndale.  He especially loved his Harley, which he and his wife Linda rode together often.

After John’s unexpected passing, his family dedicated a scholarship fund in his name.  The scholarship targets, but not exclusively, are for first year students to either trade schools or community colleges.

Fallen Soldier Escorts

Sometimes we have to gather and ride for reasons we wish we didn’t have to.

Sometimes we gear up, line up and silently roll down the streets lined with a grieving community as we escort a Fallen Soldier “Home.”

Sometimes what we do – means more than words can express.

Sometimes what we do hurts.

But oh is it an honor to hurt – for them.

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Festival of Flags

On Memorial Day weekend, the Legion Riders and the Sons of the American Legion participate in helping to set up the flags at Greenacres Cemetery on the Saturday before the Holiday.

These flags are donated by families who’s loved ones are interned at the Cemetery and each pole is engraved with their name. They meet at the Post and ride out together, put up the flags and then enjoy a breakfast together. It is a time of fellowship and solemn moments to remember those that are gone.

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During the Service on Memorial Day – the Riders and the SAL provide and serve free hot dogs, chips, and water to those that are attending the events that day. It is always great to see so many people come out to honor our Veterans and Remember those that have been lost.

It is always a joy to see so many young children attend as well and know that their parents want to make sure that these children learn about their Nation’s history and what Memorial Day is really all about.

Every year, the Legion Riders have participated in the Toys For Tots Run with other Local Motorcycle groups, to help provide Christmas gifts to local children who’s families are unable to provide gifts for them on their own. It is one of our favorite events every year and one of the more emotional ones. On delivery day, the Riders meet and pile all of the toys we gathered and got donated for the children, into any vehicle that is available to transport them all and then make our Run to the Toys for Tots distribution center.

Once we arrive at the Toys for Tots donation location – we make two lines and stagger ourselves so that every single toy that we were able to provide – gets handed to each person to touch and hold before passing it down the line.

Sometimes we laugh a lot.

Sometimes we try to hide the cool toys in our jackets.

Sometimes we have mini sword fights.

But most of the time…we think about the joy that another child will have when they open that very toy on Christmas morning and know that we were able to bring happiness not just to that child – but also to the parents who were so worried about being able to provide even one gift for their child that year.

It is an amazing feeling.

If you would like to participate in helping gather new toys for local children in need – please bring your new and unwrapped toys to the American Legion Post 7.