Top of the Morning, Dec. 17, 2023

Jim Rossow, The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
·1 min read

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This time each year, American Legion Post 996 in Royal donates to a worthy cause.

On Thursday, Kiel Rulon, Keith Frerichs, Trey Coffee, Lloyd Duitsman and Steve Froeschl delivered a check for $4,000 to the Danville Veterans Affairs Medical Center auxilary.

"It feels especially good to help veterans," Duitsman said. "As an American Legion, that's part of what we do."

Post 996 has a strong membership that meets the third Tuesday of every month at the Royal Community Building. Raising money through an annual gun raffle and a cookout at Royal Days, they're able to give back in substantial ways: donations to Salvation Army of Champaign County, Parkland College scholarships and helping Ruby Splittstoesser's care package project based in Thomasboro — to name a few

Thursday's traveling party enjoyed a golf-cart tour of the sprawling facility.

"Whatever money we get we try to put back in the community," 15-year member Keith Frerichs said. "We're proud of what we do, we're proud that we served proud and we're proud of anyone doing something for veterans."