Celebrating Volunteers: Cliff Shingleton & Terry Rundell from American Legion Riders Post 31

SHINNSTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — WBOY and the Miley Legal Group are celebrating Cliff Shingleton and Terry Rundell from American Legion Riders Post 31 as its August volunteers!

The American Legion has several charities that it supports. Post 31 often does elimination dinners, motorcycle ride fundraisers, veteran funeral escorts, and even an oratorical contest, and they help with Mountaineer Boys and Rhododendron Girls State.

Cliff Shingleton joined the American Legion in 2010, after retiring from the U.S. Air Force in 2009. He now serves as a First Vice Commander for American Legion Riders Post 31. Within that role, he is in charge of membership. Shingleton says that the Legion is always looking for more veterans to join.

If interested, all you have to do is show up to the Legion, knock on the door, meet members, find out what they have to offer and go from there. There is a way to do it online by going to this link, and selecting the “join” button . But be sure to pick a Post when joining or else you will be put in “Post 200,” which is more difficult to find.

Shingleton mentioned the decrease in social organizations around the country, saying he thinks organizations like the Post 31 helps veterans understand the value of community.

“When a veteran’s in need of something, we can pull together a community of like-minded individuals to go help them. Whether it’s painting a ramp, or building a ramp for a veteran, or attending a veteran’s memorial, cleaning it up and repairing it—those sorts of things. But you need a community of people to make these programs work well,” Shingleton said.

Shingleton said that veterans are the last people in the world to ever ask for help, but that the American Legion does need veterans to speak up, especially to congress for things that are beneficial for veterans, as well as helping in serving other veterans.

The motorcycles are what inspired Shingleton to join the Legion. Someone had come to him and asked him to check out the motorcycle program they were starting at the Legion.

“I jumped in and took off and never looked back,” Shingleton said.

Shingleton is also the American Legion Director of the Rider’s Programs in West Virginia. He sets up and guides those programs.

Terry Rundell is a member at Post 31 who joined over a year and a half ago. She is also part of the Lady Auxiliary out of Shinnston.

“I didn’t know hardly anything that these people do as far as events, community, just even—I didn’t think about it. The veterans at the hospital and all they’ve got to go through, so yeah, it’s just made an incredible difference in my life. And I needed it,” Rundell told 12 News.

She joined the legion when a friend she grew up with asked her to come to a meeting with her. While at the meeting, Terry felt so at home and welcomed. She said it was like the old saying, “you had me at hello,” and it just blossomed from there.

Some upcoming events and fundraisers include for the Post are:

• Aug. 15 – First American Legion National Legacy Run, from Shinnston to New Orleans
• Sept. 7 – Monument clean-up and repair at the Clay District Veterans Memorial in Shinnston
• Sept. 14 – The Honor Flight , and Legion will be doing a motorcycle fundraiser that same day to raise money for next year’s flight
• Sept. 28 – Veterans Service Fair at Post 31

You can find future updates on Post 31 on its Facebook page .

Congratulations Cliff and Terry, and thank you for all that you do for our communities! Due to the amazing work these two do with their organization, the Tim Miley Legal Group has given the American Legion Riders a $500 check.

To nominate a volunteer for WBOY and Tim Miley Legal Group’s Celebrating Volunteers, click here .

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