Veterans from all branches gather for reunion

Veterans from all branches come together for reunion at Black River Landing
Chronicle Online
by Steve Fogarty
Filed on October 14, 2013

ORAIN — Algie Nelson’s reason for showing up at Saturday’s inaugural Lorain County Welcome Home All Veterans Reunion was simple. “Camaraderie,” Nelson answered emphatically with a big smile. A Marine combat infantry veteran of Operation Desert Storm and the current Afghanistan war, Nelson returned to his native Elyria after retirement as a Norfolk, Va., police officer. He endured not only being in the thick of things in Iraq but failing health from kidney problems before receiving a new kidney in April from a younger sister. “I’m surviving,” Nelson said as he peered at displays by veterans’ organizations set up at the Black River Landing.

These days, Nelson is happy to do what he can for fellow veterans through his involvement with AMVETS. “I just decided to get into it,” Nelson said as he expressed growing satisfaction with the greater emphasis on help for veterans. “Everything is building … going up … for veterans,” Nelson said.

Still proud of his days in the Marines, Nelson wore a colorful red, white and blue jacket emblazoned with the words: “And the Lord said “Let there be Marines and the gates of Hell opened.” “Yeah, that’s an old Marine saying,” Nelson said.
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