Bob Paoli - THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Ridgewood American Legion Post 53 was recently honored for its community service, receiving the Post Excellence Award.

The award, which is given to an American Legion post that has shown exceptional service to the community and those in need, was presented this summer at the 97th annual state convention at the Wildwood Convention Center, according to Bob Paoli, commander of the Ridgewood post.

To be considered for the award, a post must have achievements in the fields of membership, youth activities, community service and service to troops/veterans.

However, excellence in other categories is also a must, as evidenced by the fact that the Ridgewood post’s focus on “Americanism,” as Paoli puts it, was the thing that put the group over the edge.

“They praised us for American Legion principle No. 1, Americanism, for our annual Gold Star Mother’s Day event,” he said, referring to an event, hosted by the American Legion, at which mothers of fallen soldiers are honored. This year’s event is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Sept. 27 at Van Neste Square (see sibebar).

While being recognized with the award is great for the individual post, it is also useful for the organization as a whole.

“The purposes of this award are membership growth, exposure of American Legion values to the youth of the community and increased visibility of the American Legion Family through service projects,” the American Legion’s website said. “A post achieving this qualification will have had numerous post members involved in planning and achieving these goals.”

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/clubs-and-service-organizations/legion-honored-for-its-service-1.1412701

August 17th 2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, On Sunday, September 27, 2015 our Nation honors our Gold Star Mothers and families. The Presidential Proclamation in 2011 commemorating this day pronounces, “As members of a grateful Nation, we owe a debt we can never repay, but hold this sacred obligation forever in
our hearts, minds, and actions. We honor their sacrifice, and stand with our servicemembers, military families, and Gold Star families as they have stood for us.”

The American Legion Post 53 and Ridgewood NJ’s Blue Star Families are committed to bringing awareness to our community and to commemorate the sacrifices these mothers and their families have made for our Country.In the aftermath of World War I, Washington D.C. resident Grace Darling Seibold formed an organization called Gold Star Mothers to support the moms who had lost sons and daughters to the war. Grace’s son, First Lieutenant George Vaughn Seibold, was an aviator killed in combat over France in 1918. In 1928, the small D.C.-based group decided to nationalize its efforts. In 1936, a joint congressional resolution established the last Sunday in September as

Gold Star Mother’s Day. The Gold Star Mothers grew from a support group of 60 women to today’s extensive nationwide network with tens of thousands of members and hundreds of local chapters.

In Ridgewood, NJ the Gold Star Mother’s Day Committee will sponsor our fourth annualevent commemorating Gold Star Mother’s Day on Sunday, September 27
There will be a short ceremony starting promptly at 7:00 p.m. and hundreds of luminaries will be lit to honor Gold Star Mothers and their families. But in addition, our goal is to see thousands of other luminaries lit throughout Ridgewood and other towns on September 27th to honor the Gold Star Mothers and families!

Luminaries will be available for a donation before the ceremony at the following

location:

Residence of Bob Paoli, Commander American Legion Post #53,at 368 N. Pleasant Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ. 07450

Call 201-445-1738 to arrange time to pickup

Everyone also can stand with us in honoring the Gold Star Mothers and families by

helping to raise awareness through:

 talking to your family, friends, and neighbors about the event;

 joining us at Van Neste Park; and,

 supporting this event with a donation (please make checks payable to the American

Legion Post #53, write “Gold Star event” on the memo line, and send it to the American Legion Post #53, P.O. Box 1525, Ridgewood, NJ 07450).

Thank you for your support and cooperation,/s/ Ridgewood, NJ Gold Star Mother’s Day Committee.

Ridgewood American Legion honored for its service

Gold Star Mother’s Day Commemoration