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Fulton: Post home bad conditionCONTINUED FROM 1Acommander in January, as well as fellow Legion members, are doing what they can.He’s issued a plea to members “to pay their dues and support our endeavors” in an effort to regain the post’s status. The response he gets will determine the post’s course of action.“We are in dire financial condition,” he wrote. “We will accept any and all donations to the post.”Rhodes said the building at 158 N. Mechanic St. is in bad condition and in need of repair. It hasn’t helped that membership has dwindled.Woody Gordon, adjutant for the Sons of the American Legion, doesn’t hesitate to state what he believes occurred.“The thing that really disturbs me, being a black American and nearly 60 years old, is this should never have happened,” he said. “I blame management and the black community 21 and older for not supporting the place.”Gordon also felt Legion members should have become involved sooner.Post 153 has the support of a three-member receivership committee led by Lynn Patton, outgoing Mountain District commander for Allegany and Garrett counties and member of Grantsville’s Post 214. Ken Wilson, outgoing Garrett County commander, and Robert Snoeberger of Post 13 in Cumberland also were named to the committee.Patton said one of the first steps is to get the post back on track with Legion criteria.“Basically, we need as many American Legion posts to stay functional as possible to service veterans and the community,” he said. “In my opinion, FUlton Myers serviced theAfrican-American community for many years and there’s a certain pride with that. We’re trying to build back that pride.”American Legions also are vital to a community, Patton added.On the national level, the Legion is one of the largest contributors to the Children’s Miracle Network and among the largest group of blood donors to the American Red Cross. At one time, 40 percent of Major League Baseball’s players had come from American Legion-sponsored teams, he said.Youth remains a priority on the local level with several athletic teams and outreach educational programs sponsored by posts, he said. Local posts also support the schools.Chartered by Congress, the American Legion requires members to have served during a time of conflict. The Sons of the American Legion allows anyone with a direct male descendant who served during conflict to become a member. The Ladies Auxiliary is chartered by Congress forwomen whose spouses or either parent served.Patton is well aware of declining membership nationally but believes it’s in part to misconceptions.“Unfortunately, most people feel American Legions are only places for old veterans to get together, indulge in too many adult beverages and tell war stories,” he said. “That’s not the spirit of it.”The Legion has four pillars — make sure veterans are taken care of, support children and youth, Americanism, and national security and defense of the country.Patton said he hopes Post 153 doesn’t decide to turn in the charter.Rhodes said that American Legion Post 13 has offered its home for meetings. Post 153 will meet there Thursday at 7 p.m.For information, call (301) 777-3514. Dues and donations by check or money order may be sent to Flilton Myers Post 153, American Legion, PO. Box 1911, Cumberland, MD 21501-1911.Maria Smith can be reached at msmith (ti times-news. com.UMIJKRUNIAdvertising ConsultantStephanie Arnold301 -722-4600a miCUMBERLANI9771in, M.D
Newspaper Details
Cumberland Times News
Cumberland, Maryland, US
Sun, Jul 13, 2008
Page 4
Full Page
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