Post will continue to make 'positive impact' in its community

Chartered in 1920, Rayson-Miller Post 899 in the Village of Pittsford, N.Y., has long played an active role in its community. Others recognize that fact and have made it possible for the post to improve its current facility and ensure its doors are open to all member of the community wanting to be a part of The American Legion.

A State and Municipal Facilities Program (SAM) grant awarded to the Village of Pittsford will be used to renovate the Village Hall, where Post 899 resides – specifically, to ensure the post is compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance guidelines.

New York State Assemblyman Joseph Errigo, a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve veteran, was able to secure the grant after meeting with Post 899 Commander Al Herdklotz more than a year ago.

“The announcement of the State and Municipal Facilities Program grant is a tremendous step toward providing fair and equal access for the handicapped into Village Hall and it is the least we can do for the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country,” said Errigo in a press release. “Village Hall has been out of date and out of compliance for too long, and it has left many disabled and handicapped members of our community from accessing this space completely. I would like to thank Commander (Alvin) Herdklotz, The American Legion, as well as all of our local leaders who worked with us to make this grant a reality, and I am confident this funding will allow them to continue to make a positive impact on our community.”

Herdklotz said he started the process of looking for funding to renovate the post three years ago when, after looking at the building’s entry way, said, “This is not adequate. Someone is going to get hurt, either in egress or entry.”

After meeting with Village of Pittsford Mayor Bob Corby to look at possible grants for Village Hall, Herdklotz connected with Errigo at the post’s annual steak roast. “I mentioned that we really need an entry way here,” Herdklotz said. “I didn’t want people to be hurt or be deterred from attending events or meetings, or even using the post. He jumped right on board. I didn’t even have to ask him.”

When Herdklotz got the call from Errigo that the grant – originally sought for $60,000 but coming in $40,000 higher – was on its way, Herdklotz was both ecstatic and appreciative. “I really applaud Joe Errigo,” he said. “I knew I had to get it done one way or the other, but he was a big aid in it. I respect him as a Marine and also for his help.”

The grant will allow for the redesign and construction of Village Hall’s second entrance, as well as for updating the current restrooms to meet ADA standards. Corby said the grant and pending renovation will “continue the collaborative efforts to make our entire community a better place to live and raise a family.”

The 112-member Legion post has long maintained a positive presence in Pittsford, sponsoring both the Post 899 Bolts American Legion Baseball team and Boy Scout Troop 129. The post also sends a local youth to Boys State each year and provides support to other veterans programs and the Canandaigua VA Medical Center.

Post 899’s honor guard is a regular presence at community events, and the post hosts a regular Tuesday breakfast to allow both Legion members and non-members to talk with veterans. “That’s changed a lot of outlooks (toward veterans),” Herdklotz said. “And (people) continue to come back. The camaraderie is great.”

And this past Christmas season the post found out a single mother wasn’t going to be able to afford providing a holiday for her two children. The post teamed up with a local church to provide the family with presents, a Christmas dinner and food to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

Herdklotz said the post’s reputation is one of the reasons the grant for the renovations became possible. “The community does value us,” he said. “We do what we can do – whatever possible – for our community. We want to be visible in the community and the community know that we exist, where we are and what we do.”