SAL Squadron 105 of Belleville, N.J., voted to donate $1,000 to the detachment commander’s project at their February meeting, with this being the fifth year the Sons have supported the annual commander’s project.

“Gentleman, I hear a lot of good things about this squadron ... you guys do great work and continue to do great work”, noted 2024-2025 Detachment Commander Rich Hodum in addressing the squadron membership at that meeting. “You continue to help us [the detachment] grow and move forward.”

Each year the detachment commander runs a project, either on his own or in conjunction with the rest of the New Jersey Legion and Auxiliary leadership. This year’s project is called “The Forgotten Veteran Project.” The project’s goal is $25,000, earmarked to help veterans who live in New Jersey in homes outside the VA system. The project calls for putting $5,000 into five homes throughout the state to purchase things our veterans need to make their lives a little better.

“As you know, no veteran should ever be forgotten and we are taking that on this year,” reads the project challenge letter drafter by Commander’s Project Chairman Nick Wingler. “The Detachment of New Jersey is bringing this project to those who sometimes get overlooked or get lost in the shuffle of our busy lives.”

After listening to the detachment commander speaking about the project, the squadron voted to donate $1,000 in the tradition of supporting such projects over the years. They have done so since 2019.

At that meeting, the squadron also voted to donate $2,000 to the Fisher House Foundation, $105 to the Veterans & Children’s Foundation (VCF) and $105 to support the Detachment’s POW/MIA Annual Watchfire. The latter is the hallmark event held by the detachment each year, where in late September a bonfire on the beach is held as a 12-hour vigil to honor those who served and have never returned home.

Supporting projects like these is at the core of what the Sons of The American Legion exists for and is the least we can do to honor the legacy of service to this country we’ve inherited and benefited from. Squadron 105 supports these donations by running fundraisers throughout the year.

In the part of the meeting called “For the Good of The Sons,” Vice Commander Murph thanked the Belleville membership: "It is known that 105 does a lot throughout the state ... you contribute a lot and fundraise a lot ... and it doesn’t go unnoticed.”