Roseville American Legion Post No. 169 last week presented $500 checks to three U.S. Army veterans from Roseville who sustained disabilities while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The awards were part of a broad-based recognition program for veterans made possible by a $500,000 donation from the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes to the national headquarters of the American Legion.
Local honored veterans, all of whom served in the U.S. Army infantry, were Sgt. Jonathon Gehweiler, a former Woodcreek High School student, Sgt. Marc Fishburn and Staff Sgt. Robert Sherwood, who was unable to attend the ceremony because of work.
Officiating at the check presentation was Placer County Supervisor Rocky Rockholm; Joe Handy, commander of American Legion District 7; and John C. Smith, commander of Roseville American Legion Post 169.
"Post 169 is honored to be able to deliver this gift to our fellow veterans here in Roseville, and we have made them members of our post," Smith said in a news release.
Local American Legion members and Charles Peterson, commander of the Roseville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1487, attended the ceremony.
Through the partnership of the American Legion and the nonprofit Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, posts such as Roseville's have distributed monetary awards to selected service members who have at least 30 percent or higher disability rating because of injuries sustained while serving in the theaters of operations for Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Veterans from American Legion districts across the United States have been nominated to receive this cash grant.
Thomas J. Palma, general manager of the coalition, said, "These grants are just a small token of appreciation for the sacrifices made by so many of America's men and women in uniform."
Smith, the local post commander, said, "Post 169 is honored to be able to deliver this gift to our fellow veterans here in Roseville, and we have made them members of our post."
