American Legion Angus England Post 54 is facing the same difficulties other units like them are. Young members are not signing up.
In fact, the membership is so low at the American Legion that they cannot fill of the offices.
Currently, the American Legion has four offices filled with Shelby Fuller as Commander, Steve Wilcoxson as Vice Commander, Deb Clark as Adjutant and Glenn Parker as the Chaplain.
Royce Kelley serves as the Sergeant of Arms and John Huntley is the Service Officer.
Clark said she believes it is because veterans think the American Legion is a government-run organization.
The American Legion is a veterans organization that is run by volunteers who work to protect the rights of veterans, Clark explained.
The American Legion also has programs that offer scholarships for high school students.
Despite having a low membership and many of the members living out of state, the American Legion is active in the community.
They feed the veterans who attend the Wounded Warrior Event sponsored by Platte Valley Trout Unlimited.
They also offer scholarships through the American Legion Auxiliary.
One of the scholarships is local by Ruth and Doyle Thompson, which offers a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior. The awardee must complete one semester of college and enroll in a second semester to received the award.
Students can also earn American Legion Auxiliary Scholarships and American Legion Boys State scholarships.
Other scholarships include an Eagle Scout Scholarship and Oratorical Scholarships.
Money collected from dues are used to lobby congress when a bill that will is detrimental to veterans benefits comes in for vote.
Clark pointed out that most recently, the American Legion lobbied to stop a bill that would have cut veteran benefits dramatically.
In the past, veterans who served during wartime were eligible even if they were stationed stateside. That has been broadened to include all veterans who were honorably discharged.
“All they have to do is come in, fill out and application and pay the dues,” Clark said. Currently, the dues are $40 per year. Part of that money stays with the post and the rest goes to the state and national American Legion for the state and national programs offered.
The American Legion meets in Saratoga on the third Saturday of the month at the post home on the corner of Veteran Street and Bridge Avenue.
A project the American Legion is currently working on is the Tyler Pickett Park. Carrie Craig has been helping with the grant writing.
“The town donated the land for the park,” Clark said. The American Legion is purchasing the obelisk with SSG Tyler Pickett’s name on it, with room to put more if needed. Clark said she hopes they won’t have to add names to it.
The American Legion also maintains the park next to Lollypops in Saratoga. The building used to house the American Legion and Khe Sanh West Park was built to honor the fallen. Every two years, Hope Miller, an American Legion Auxiliary member, volunteers her time to repaint the names etched in granite.
Recently, Robert Dailey, a veteran who lives in Encampment, painted the American Legion’s new sign on its building.
For more information about the American Legion, visit http://www.legion.org or call the post home at 307-326-9600.
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