OXFORD — Recently, The New York State Veterans’ Home in Oxford, New York, invited the Bainbridge American Legion Post 806 for breakfast and a tour.

“Since COVID, we have been trying to open back up to the community and decided to reach out to the Post, inviting them in to review rules for admissions and answer any questions they may have about the home,” said Oxford Veterans’ Home Administrator Kurt Apthorpe.

“Randy Lambrecht arranged the breakfast and tour and afterward, Lew Whitney, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and member of the Bainbridge American Legion Slater-Silvernail Post 806, presented his wooden game board to our Veterans’ Home,” said Apthorpe.

Apthorpe encourages other Legion Posts and Auxiliary Posts, veterans and their spouses to contact the Oxford Veterans’ Home to set up similar visits.

Apthorpe was grateful for the game and said “I believe anybody, regardless of age, can benefit from game playing,” he added. “Playing a game provides social engagement and mental health benefits.”

Whitney said, “I presented my game on behalf of my Post 806 when we were visiting the Oxford Veterans’ Home.”

"The original game was in my wife's family, her grandfather made it and they let me use it in my barbershop in the late 50s. It was quite old and chipped up, but kids and adults could play it while they waited for a haircut,"  said Whitney. 

Whitney explained he created the board using different machines, including a lathe and drill press he has on his bench.