Community Corner
American Legion Post Provides Wounded Warriors with Dinner and a Break
The honorees and their families were ecstatic about being recognized.
Wounded servicemen and woman receiving treatment at nearby military hospitals, were honored Saturday at Silver Spring’s American Legion Post 41 during the 5th Wounded Warrior Family Appreciation Dinner.
About 80 wounded soldiers and their families were treated to a seafood feast, including crab, beer, and other dinner favorites. The honorees and their families were ecstatic about being recognized and said the monthly dinner helps not only with their recovery, but also provides them with a break from the routine of the hospital.
To produce the dinners, Post 41 located on located at 905 Sligo Ave., partnered with two other organizations, the Walter Reed Society (which funds the event) and Helping Hometown Heroes.
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The organizations also coordinate transportation for the troops from as far as the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda to the appreciation dinner.
Kenneth Gaines, the post’s commander said he “feels very fortunate to be able to do something for them, because they’ve sacrificed their legs or arms.”
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Needing to get out of his hospital room is why Marine Lance Cpl. Josh Misiewicz, who on July 20, 2011 lost both his legs above the knees to an improvised explosive device (IED) while on duty in Afghanistan. He attended the dinner with his father Bill Misiewicz.
“Everyone needs to get out of the [hospital] room,” he said, adding the dinner, particularly the crabs, were delicious, and as he called the event amazing.
The event was organized by Rosita Underwood. She founded Helping Hometown Heroes after she was inspired back in 2007 when her son Drew was deployed to Iraq.
While on a convoy, an IED detonated near a Humvee that was part of the convoy. It injured a friend of her son’s, Army Specialist Reno Roethle.
When Specialist Roethle arrived in the United States, Underwood took care of him for three years. This emotional experience motivated Underwood to create her foundation.
“We like to take these guys out of the hospital setting, for a fun time and to help them forget about their injuries for few minutes,” she said.
