Photo provided by the American Legion post #150 - Three local Raymond men, Bethell Nichols, Clarence D. Koenekamp, and Russell Tanner all lost their lives when the USS Arizona was sunk on December 7, 1941 in Pearl Harbor. They are remembered on a plaque o
The American Legion Post #150 is now accepting membership of most U.S. veterans due to the LEGION act. This act was signed into effect on July 30, 2019, and honors U.S. service members that were killed or wounded during previously undeclared periods of war.
"It used to be that you had to serve during a time of war like the Vietnam Conflict or Korea," said American Legion Adjutant-Finance Officer Gordon Aleshire. "There were gaps in between those conflicts where those guys weren't eligible to join. The LEGION Act said that since December 7, 1941, if you served in the military, you can join the Legion."
The act gives approximately 6,000,000 veterans access to the American Legion programs and benefits. The main change was to reduce the seven war categories down to two: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 2918, and December 7, 1941, to a date to be declared later.
Veterans who were previously told no to Legion membership because their time served was not during a war, can now be reconsidered for membership.
The Legion offers veterans a variety of services. The local post has now hired a new Services Officer to help vets process VA claims and submit applications into the county's veteran's relief program.
Members also have access to the club at the Legion. There is a dining room that can be reserved for dinners and special events. They also host several events and other activities that help out the community that fill their monthly calendar. "[At one event], we had this place packed with high schoolers who did a fundraiser with bingo and a silent auction," said Aleshire. "We had the place wall to wall people."
But one service holds a special place in Aleshire's regard. "Anytime a veteran passes, whether you are a member or not, we have an honor guard that is available to go out and do the rifle salute, and the ceremony of handing the flag to the next of kin," he said. "That is a service that we are very proud of. We have a good honor guard going."
Both the local Legion and the VFW are struggling to attract younger vets. Unfortunately this means that incoming membership numbers are suffering. The VFW has a rented office at 308 Commercial St. in Raymond. VFW Quartermaster Dave Gauger said, "We were thinking a little more physical visibility would help. We [the VFW] have our meetings there."
"We are trying to figure out what it is that they [younger vets] need or would like, especially here at the Legion," said Aleshire. "We have a club. We are going through the kitchen remodel, and we should be done in the next few weeks. The we can say 'We have a family-friendly club and when we have hamburger night, bring the kids.'"
"We are going to look at establishing a game room for role-playing games, and card games," said Aleshire. "Just a place to come, play, and have a little bit of quiet. We have room for that now. We are reaching out to see what they would like in the way of a facility."
Aleshire has set up a Facebook page at American Legion Post 150 or @RaymondPost 150. "We have people watching it and checking," he said, "but they aren't leaving feedback. We need to do some face to face. You just have to catch them [vets] over a cup of coffee and see what it is they might like."
Meanwhile the Legion is offering soup on Veteran's Day, November 11 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The club is closed that day, except for the socializing over the soup meal. "Any vet that wanders in, we will surely feed them," said Aleshire. Also some of the members will also be going out to nursing and retirement homes on Veteran's Day to visit with the veterans living there.
If you would like to check out the local American Legion, Aleshire is available to talk with. Just stop by for a cup of coffee and say hi.