American Legion Receives Generous Gift

On the 4th of July the Doylestown Legion Baseball "family" made a $10.000.00 donation to the Albert R Atkinson Jr. Post 210 Legion Veterans. This donation is a gift of gratitude from a former Legion baseball player’s family and the donor is contributing the generous amount in order to highlight the many good things that the American Legion does in support of the baseball team players and veterans in need of assistance. The donor does not want to be recognized or to have the limelight to fall on him so he has asked the Team to make the donation.

The donation was made at the July 4th Support the Troops Day baseball game. The presentation was made by former player and present Marine, Matthew Ponente and soon to be United States Merchant Marine, Ben Tracy, presently a pitcher on the squad. Tracy will be leaving the team after this game to start his USMMA training.

The players have always displayed a great deal of support for  veterans and this has fostered a much greater understanding of the world around them by getting them to know these guardians of our Freedom. Year after year, Coach Ruane  hears from the parents that “their sons come to us as boys and leave as men”. The coach adds “These are wonderful young men and we are so honored to be part of the overall Legion Family.”

Below you will find an excerpt of the letter from the donor:

Dear Coach Ruane:

When my son joined the Doylestown Legion Post 210 Baseball Program, I remembered specifically two things you said:

You stated that our son would participate in a highly competitive league and he would learn a lot of baseball, and you mentioned how supportive the Post was toward the baseball program to the point of giving a large percentage of their operating budget to you for the team.  I remembered both points very clearly and made a promise to myself that if I were ever in a position to help the Post out with their expenses I would do so.

Clearly you and your staff succeeded with the first point too as I’ve watched boys turn into men right before my eyes.  Over the past 4 or 5 years that you’ve been running the program, I’ve been impressed with the level of commitment that you demand from the players not only on the field but off the field as well.  (Not to mention the level of commitment you demand from the parents too!!)

In choosing your team, you not only look for how well a players hits, fields and throws but whether he has the character that is necessary to fulfill the obligation required of a Post 210 player.  They not only have to perform in a team environment but perform community service as well and that has always stuck with me.

Well, here I find myself in a position to help the baseball program give back to the Post for all of the selfless support that they’ve given to the team over the years.  I am aware of the very tight operating budget that they exist under and I am hoping this donation can lessen the worry of existing from month to month.  I prefer to keep this donation not from me but from the Doylestown Tigers as the attention should be given to the Post membership for all they do to not only support the team but the community at large.  I am hoping that news of this donation may spawn others to step up and support these “American Heroes” as well.

Once again, many thanks for helping to make my son the man that he is today and my thanks to Post 210 for affording you and your staff the opportunity to do just that.

Picture credit: Steve Ruane

Ben Tracy and Marine Matthew Ponente presented the check to Del Campbell, Legion Commander.