The Pasta for Patriots benefit, offering both lunch and dinner options, will be held Wednesday at American Legion Post 108, 210 W. Washington St. in Bradford.
Laying wreaths at Willow Dale Cemetery was an emotional experience for at least one Bradford resident. So much so that it sparked a flame to help the American Legion Post 108 in Bradford with its goal of placing wreaths at the headstone of every buried member of the military in the four Bradford cemeteries.
Steven Cavallaro, a volunteer last year at Willow Dale, said, “I had laid a wreath down at the grave of Mr. Rizzo and we were told we could say a few words and I did. Then I moved on to get another wreath to place when somebody came over and stopped me.”
The other volunteer told Cavallaro there were not enough wreaths for all the veterans and that they were only laying them at every other grave.
“I went back to Mr. Rizzo and said, ‘I’m sorry, Mr. Rizzo, I have to take this back. We don’t have enough.’ And that was hard to do,” Cavallaro said. He knew right then that he was going to do something to help get all the graves covered for the next time.
In order to cover all four cemeteries: Oak Hill, St. Bernards, Willow Dale and Degolia; at least 3,000 wreaths are needed. As of Monday, 2,011 wreaths had been sponsored for the 2024 ceremony scheduled for December. The spaghetti fundraiser may be what takes the group within range of its goal this year, Cavallaro pointed out.
There are already 60 to 70 meals ordered for the event and the organizers are hoping to feed around 250. However, Cavallaro advised either ordering ahead or getting there early, “once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
Lunch is available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and delivery is available. Lunch meals include the choice of spaghetti or rigatoni; sausage, pepperoni or meatballs; salad and roll for $8. Dinner, available from 4 to 7 p.m., includes a choice of spaghetti or rigatoni, choice of two meats: sausage, pepperoni or meatballs; salad and roll for $12. Rumor has it there may even be desserts at dinner.
Volunteers are also needed for the event. Reach out to Cavallaro on the Legion’s Facebook page or stop in at the club for more information.
