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Manchester's veteran volunteer Al Heidenreich earns Union Leader's Maurice McQuillen award

New Hampshire Union Leader - 2/22/2019

Feb. 22-- Feb. 22--MANCHESTER -- In veteran circles, lifelong city resident Alan E. Heidenreich might be considered Mr. Volunteer.

Since ending his U.S. Army tour of duty in 1954 following the previous year's Korean War armistice, Heidenreich spent the next 65 years in a variety of helping capacities back in New Hampshire:

* He founded the baseball boosters at American Legion Post 79, where he was a member for 37 years.

* At Henry J. Sweeney American Legion Post 2, he has served as president (three terms), commander (two terms), senior vice commander, historian, chaplain, executive board member, honor guard member, color guard member and rifle team member.

* He serves as post chaplain for VFW Post 8214, and is an 18-year member.

* He is commander of the New Hampshire Korean War Veterans Association, a 13-year member.

* He received the Manchester West High School ROTC outstanding citizen award for volunteering with the program.

* He is a three-time blood drive organizer and two-time leader of safe driver programs at both American Legion posts.

* He has organized two Vietnam Moving Wall visits to the state.

* He has raised money for three special days of recognition for veterans at New Hampshire Fisher Cats games.

Heidenreich, 88, said many people don't realize how much their help is needed by the civic groups they support.

"If you want to offer public service there are so many ways to do it. You can be a volunteer in any field. There are so many nonprofit groups that need your help. Every organization is just out there waiting for you to be involved," Heidenreich said.

Heidenreich is the recipient of the 2018 Maurice McQuillen Service to Fellow New Hampshire Veterans Award, which recognizes service to veterans in memory of the late Maurice McQuillen, the Union Leader's first veterans editor.

Maurice McQuillen's son and daughter, Scott and Christine, presented the award to Heidenreich; their sister, Maureen, also takes part in the annual selection process.

"I've known Al for a number of years. I am glad we are recognizing him with this award because he would never draw attention to himself," Scott McQuillen said. "He's done so much for veterans over the years in countless roles and he's not been someone who always had to be the leader."

Heidenreich even knows what it's like volunteering under Scott McQuillen.

"I was vice president of the New Hampshire Order of Hibernians to Scott during his presidency and did what I was told," he said.

"Few people know he was my joke teller," McQuillen said.

Many years later, Heidenreich recalls his Army service stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, as part of an occupation force.

"I was in the military police. If there was a local civilian involved in a crime, (the local police) handled it, while if there was a member of the military (accused), we took the lead. We actually worked together pretty well," Heidenreich said.

To this day, he believes he got the assignment because his name would be well received in Germany and also because he could speak the language.

"I spoke what they called low German so I could engage in conversation. If there was an investigation or interrogation of someone then I was moved out and the high German individual moved in and did the interview."

The selection committee each November seeks nominations for this award that's presented a few months later.

klandrigan@unionleader.com

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(c)2019 The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.)

Visit The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.) at www.unionleader.com

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