On September 27, the remnants of Hurricane Helene turned Asheville, N.C., into a post-apocalyptic landscape: fallen trees blocking streets; roads turned into creek beds; power lines down everywhere; city water lines destroyed; bridges torn apart. The region’s two rivers carried whole houses downstream. What buildings that remain in the lower areas of Buncombe County are larded with a foot-deep layer of toxic mud. People died.
After hearing of the devastation, Commandant Bruce Aldrich of the John J VanGyzen Detachment took it upon himself to reach out to Marine Corps League Detachment 1417 Asheville, NC to see if they needed any assistance. The Det 1417 Commandant – Randy Reynolds asked if we could help one of their own. Commandant Reynolds told the story of Taylor West who lost everything but fortunately Marine West was able to huddle his family together and keep them safe as the tides washed his home away. During the John J Van Gyzen detachment meeting in Dec 2024, it was motioned to provide Marine West a $1000.00 to help Marine West in rebuilding what the West family lost. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved to send the donation to Marine West. Marine West received his donation just in time for the Christmas holiday. Attached is an image of Marine West receiving his oversized check!
