Legion hosts annual Thanksgiving dinner

It was a frigid 24 degrees Fahrenheit outside Thursday, but inside the American Legion Post 927 in Gilbert it was warm and welcoming with the promise of fellowship and food.

“It is very nice. I enjoy the fellowship and am grateful these volunteers took time to make our day pleasant,” said Barbara Ziegenfus of Saylorsburg.

This was her second year attending the feast with friends. She was not the only one who emphasized the fellowship.

“It is usually just us on Thanksgiving, so we decided to come here for the fellowship,” said Laurie Ramirez of Effort.

She and her daughter, Vanessa Ramirez, were first-time attendees. Their neighbor, who is a veteran and Legion member, told them about the dinner.

“The mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy were amazing,” said Vanessa Ramirez.

Volunteers also served white and dark turkey meat, ham, green beans and rutabaga.

Guests could help themselves to cranberry sauce, apple cider, water and coffee. There were two tables of desserts, including sugar-free apple pie, pumpkin pie, cherry pie, blueberry pie and snickerdoodle cookies.

Legion members and volunteers began cooking on Monday and continued each day until the feast was ready.

Two of the cooks were Robert Calcavecchia, a veteran of the Navy, and Hank Miller, a veteran of the Marines who spent 11 years as a cook or mess sergeant.

With help from others, they prepared and cut up 25 turkeys and six hams, made the gravy, cranberry sauce and other trimmings.

They were prepared to feed 200 attendees and volunteers.

“There was no chaos in the kitchen and no chaos overall with the event thanks to all the volunteerism,” said Brett “Hightower” Moyer, a veteran of the Navy submarine service and the Legion’s adjutant.

This was his first year as leader of the Thanksgiving dinner coordination and cooking. It was a team effort by the whole American Legion family, he said.

All the food was donated by club members. Don Urlich donated bread for the stuffing. Weis and ShopRite also donated some items, Moyer said.

“You can’t minimize the families and groups that are part of this event,” Moyer said.

These include the ladies auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion, Legion Riders, the West End Home Association and the Latin American Motorcycle Association — Poconos Chapter.

“The ladies auxiliary makes sure it feels like home. They give it that extra touch with how they set the tables and decorate the room every time,” Moyer said.

Eight-year-old Audrey Alicea of Brodheadsville poured water and helped her dad and other volunteers during the event.

“I’ve been volunteering somewhere on Thanksgiving for 21 years. I love it,” said Danny Alicea, president of Latin American Motorcycle Association — Poconos Chapter since 2015.

This was auxiliary member MaryLou Morrison’s fifth year volunteering at the dinner.

“It’s so self-rewarding. I wouldn’t do anything else on Thanksgiving than volunteer here and see everyone so happy,” she said.