Post 211 Helps Send Off Ohio's Soldiers to Afghanistan

In a show of support for U.S. military forces, Avon Lake American Legion Post 211 donated food for a “send off party” Jan. 23.

Approximately 100 members of the Ohio National Guard’s 837th Engineer Mobile Augmentation Company enjoyed the outing, held at the VFW Post 451 in Lorain.

The 837th is stationed at the National Guard Armory on Grove Avenue in south Lorain and members are being deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on Jan. 28.

The 837th is made up of soldiers from all over Ohio and has been training for this deployment since they were notified in November 2011 they would be deployed.

Members will travel to Fort Bliss, TX and then to a classified location in Afghanistan. They are expected to remain in Afghanistan until January or February of 2014.

Attending from Avon Lake were Tim Swartwood Jr., Chef; Tim Swartwood Sr., Canteen Manager; Wayne Sherwin,Post Commander; Al Pina, Service Officer; John Shondel, Sergeant-at-Arms; and Jim McCoy, Executive Officer.

Post 211 open to all veterans

"Membership to Avon Lake Post 211 is open to all veterans of wartime service regardless of where they now live," Shondel said. "We have members from Bay Village, Westlake, Lakewood, North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls in Cuyahoga County and all over Northeast Lorain County (including) Avon, Avon Lake, Sheffield Village, Sheffield Lake, North Ridgeville, Columbia and all the Townships.

"if you're a veteran with one day of service during a period of War - you're eligible and welcome. Stop by the Post at 31972 Walker Road and pick up a membership application. We have over 900 Veteran Members."