By JARRETT CARROLL

For the Express

BROADALBIN — Area soldiers received a hero’s welcome back home on Saturday at the Robert Lee Walsh American Legion Post No. 337.

Dozens came out to support the troops and enjoy each other’s company in Broadalbin as the community showed that it truly cares about every son and daughter serving over seas.

They remind them every month with a care package from the newly formed “A Rose For Soldiers Project” affiliated with the legion that lets them know everyone will be here waiting for them when they return.

The new group sponsored Saturday’s event to help raise money for the cause and to get the word out about their group and what they are doing. The event was free and tables full of food and live music, which was all volunteered, greeted guests as they walked into the legion.

Treasurer Nancy Hoyt said A Rose For Soldiers Project was formed in order to send the care packages from home to locally deployed soldiers.

“Basically we just want people to support our troops anyway that they can, because without them we have nothing,” she said. “This event was put on just as a welcome home to our soldiers and to thank them for serving.”

Hoyt said a recent deployment of local troops from Gloversville means the group will have even more care packages to create and ship out and a donation box was out during the group’s first Welcome Home Celebration.

American Legion Post No. 337 Commander Mario Cristaldi was there to greet local soldiers and said he was impressed with his newest support group and their endeavors.

“First of all, this post is a very active post with all of the organizations we have under us ... they are basically the backbone to any American Legion,” he said. “I certainly am proud to be the commander of this post.”

There are several different groups associated with the Broadalbin post that specialize in different aspects of a veteran’s life and needs and they try to help make a soldier’s transition back into civilian life a bit smoother.

As a veteran himself from the Vietnam era, Cristaldi said these kind of events are very important to soldier and are something that many his age unfortunately never had the luxury of.

“The importance of this is that these soldiers need to be thanked because they really deserve it,” he said. “We didn’t have this to come home to, and it would have made a big difference, we were spit on and yelled at back then.”

Following the controversy of the Vietnam War and a socially and economically divided nation, Cristaldi said he believes attitudes began to change for returning soldiers following Desert Storm, or as many are now calling it, the First Gulf War.

“I think that’s when people starting to say, ‘Hey, these guys are here to protect us,’ and you started seeing the support,” said Cristaldi. “Especially now, because it’s important to remember that we were attacked and 3,000 Americans lost their lives on our soil.”

The other officers of A Rose For Soldiers Project include Patty Markes as president, Dawn Bell as vice president, Linda Mickus as secretary and fundraising chair, Hoyt as treasurer, and April Jackson as public relations officer and web promoter.

Hoyt said the group is always looking for suggestions and is also looking for donation box locations. Those interested in sending nonperishable food items or making monetary donations for the care packages can contact the group at 883-3531 or aroseforsoldierproject@yahoo.com.

Also those who know of deployed military personnel who is a member of Post 337 or is affiliated with a member are encouraged to e-mail the group to add them to their list. Additionally, the organization has a Facebook page and mailed donations can be sent to PO Box 305, 19 N. Main St., Broadalbin 12025.