Legionnaires install ramp, prepare meals

Last Wednesday, April 8, Legionnaires, Denny Pittman, Glenn Farrington, Bob Lewis, and Steve Daniell paid a visit to the home of the Legion’s oldest member, Ray Davis, at 222 20th St., to install a ramp for the 87-year-old Korean War veteran’s motorized wheelchair. By noon that day the two-piece metal ramp and railing was in place and ready to roll.

Davis, a former Okanogan County Deputy Sheriff was gifted his new wheelchair by the Sheriff’s Office. The chair had been purchased for Christian Johnson, the volunteer assistant chief of Okanogan County Fire District 3. Johnson, 55, was badly burned while battling a brush fire last September and died less than a month later as a result of his injuries. Davis’ son, Gene, is a detective with the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office.

“It’s a small world,’ said Ray Davis’ wife of 57 years, Vernice.

The chair allowed Davis greater mobility, but he still needed a ramp to access his home. His Legion friends took care of that chore.

Auxiliary members including Margi Allen, daughter Julie, and Kathy Johnson prepared and delivered meals for 24 Legion members.

“Now we’re cutting fabric for masks,” Johnson said.

There is always a need to fill if one just goes looking for it.