A Palisades American Legion hall became a beacon after the fire. On 1-year anniversary, tears flowed there

For Cindy Kirven, a Palisades resident since 1982 and president of Palisades Village Green, the aftermath of the Jan. 7 fire that devastated the community unfolded in stages—practical, emotional, deeply human.

But while the stages varied, one place became a staple hub amid the chaos of the early aftermath and the subsequent journey to recovery and rebuilding.

“The American Legion was the first—and for a time, the only—entity to set up shop immediately after the fire,” Kirven said.