Mount Kisco Chamber of Commerce

Post 136 American Legion
Named Citizen of the Year

Citizen of the Year - Legion Parade
(l to r) 2005 - 2006 Westchester County American Legion Commander
Don Ford, Post 136 1st Vice Commander Tim Egan,
Post 136 Commander Frank Bjerke,
Post 136 2nd Vice Commander John Egan,
Post 136 Past Commander Kevin Quinn.
Photography by: Mary Lee Fox Roe, at the Mount Kisco Fireman's Parade, July 2003.

There is no higher honor the Mount Kisco Chamber of Commerce can bestow than that of Citizen of the Year. The award is usually given to a person who has distinguished him or herself by contributing his or her time and talents to benefit the entire community. Only twice before in the 39-year history of the Citizen of the Year Award has it been given to a group.

Moses Taylor Jr. Post No. 136 American Legion members not only meet the criteria for the Citizen of the Year Award — they more than surpass it. Over and above all else, Post No. 136 members have served our country in the Armed Forces. Post No. 136's community projects — some charitable, some social and some within the tradition of the work of the American Legion — put in context of ideals stated in the Preamble of the American Legion:

"...to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation..."

Without Post No. 136, the Mount Kisco Chamber's annual Holiday Tree Lighting would be nowhere near the special event it has become. The Post provides its facilities free of charge so we can offer local children of all ages cocoa and cookies and the chance to meet Santa Claus. Post No. 136 also provides its facilities to the Mount Kisco Lions and Rotary Clubs for their fundraisers; to the Recreation Commission's summer camps on rainy days; to local Boy Scouts troops and to churches. During the recent construction of the addition to Mount Kisco Elementary School, Post No. 136 was a hubbub of after-school activities.

The Post serves free dinners to our community on Columbus Day and Saint Patrick's Day and hosts a not-to-be-missed Clam Bake/ Lobster Fest. They provide scholarships to Mount Kisco Elementary School and to Fox Lane High School students. They hold fundraisers to benefit such worthy causes as Rosary Hill Nursing Home.

The Moses Taylor Jr. Post No. 136 Color Guard leads off the Volunteer Fireman's Parade and the Saint Patrick's Day Parade each and every year.

Two active members sit on the Mount Kisco Village/Town Board of Trustees: Mayor J. Michael Cindrich and Trustee George Griffin. Trustee Griffin is a Post No. 136 Past Commander.

"...to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness."

The greatest service Post No. 136 American Legion does for Mount Kisco is ensure we never forget. Members perform 24-hour Honor Guard duty in front of the Mount Kisco Memorial Honor Roll each Veterans' Day eve and hold a Veterans' Day Service in front of the Honor Roll every November 11th at 11am. Every December 7th the Post holds a Pearl Harbor Day Observance. Post No. 136 places American Flags on all Veterans' graves to honor them on Memorial Day; they host the Memorial Day Parade and sponsor the Post No. 136 Memorial Day Children's Essay Contest.

As a unit, the members of Moses Taylor Jr. Post No. 136 do so much good for Mount Kisco and our neighbor communities. Individually, the members of Moses Taylor Jr. Post No. 136 are our business associates, our co-workers, our clients and our customers.

Most important of all, they are our families and our friends.