Indiana Legion thanks Cincinnati Police and South Eastern Indiana Community for service to veterans

Department of Indiana Cmdr. James May and 9th District Cmdr. Bill Scharold present Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot Isaac and Military Liaison Sergeant David Corlett with a plaque to show the Indiana Legion’s appreciation for the volunteer hours and donations their team put in for the veterans in South Eastern Indiana.

​The American Legion, Department of Indiana recognized the Cincinnati Police Department for going above and beyond their call of duty and volunteering hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to bring comfort veterans residing in nursing homes and retirement facilities in the South Eastern Indiana Region.
 
Indiana Legion Cmdr. James B. May presented CPD Police Chief Eliot Isaac, CPD Military Liaison Sergeant David Corlett and their teams at their department headquarters in Cincinnati.
 
“Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line for our safety every day,” said Cmdr. May. “But these officers went beyond their call of duty. They’ve truly brightened the lives of our Hoosier veterans, spending one-on-one time with veterans that live in nursing homes and retirement communities.”
 
Helping organize the event, 9th District Vice Cmdr. and Chairman of the Nursing Home Committee Bill Scharold coordinated efforts with the CPD as well as with local business in the South Eastern Indiana region. 

​Bill happened to be getting a haircut at the local barber shop when a Cincinnati Police officer overheard him discussing his work. This chance meeting led to more than 150 CPD officers donating time and money to veterans.
 
In another chance meeting, Bill stopped by local shoe store Shoe Sensations to buy a new pair of shoes. Manager Tami Atwell noticed Bill in his Legion attire and struck a conversation. Weeks later, Tami placed veterans donation boxes in her store as well as more than 20 other businesses in nearby towns including Lawrenceburg, Aurora, Rising Sun, Milan and Moores Hill.
 
Scharold presented Tami with an American Legion Certificate of Appreciation and thanked her for her part as well.
 
“I’m just overwhelmed, just awestruck by this wonderful thing,” said Bill. “Our senior veterans and our shut-ins, we can’t forget them. We can’t forget their sacrifice. They deserve this and it’s really just been the best Christmas ever thanks to the effort by Tami Atwell at Shoe Sensations and Sergeant David Corlett with the Cincinnati Police.”
 
Building on this success, Bill plans to organize an even bigger community outreach for local veterans next year.
 
Photos by Larry Judd, Post 464.