American Legion to hold open house, seek new members

They’re out there in the community, holding fast to the morals and truths they learned while serving in the armed forces.

Now, members of the American Legion Davis Pence Post No. 69 are reaching out to the public with an open house from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 12. The goal is to get more interest in the Legion and for more people to join.

Two prominent members are Davis Pence Post No. 69 Commander John Sharp and member and former commander Dan Hooper.

"We always need younger members … because we've got a few World War II people who are still active as they can be," Sharp said.

The open house is at the American Legion Hall, 136 W. Jefferson St., on the square in Osceola.

Beginnings

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness.

It is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youths and sponsorship of wholesome programs in local communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security and continued devotion to fellow service members and veterans.

The American Legion’s success depends entirely on active membership, participation and volunteerism.

Members of the Davis Pence Post No. 69 meet the second Wednesday of every month with a meal starting at 6 p.m. and meeting at 7 p.m.

“To me, personally, it has just really helped me get involved in the community,” Sharp said. “I’m retired. It gets me going. My phone rings before seven o’clock and up until 10 o’clock at night. It’s just a very good way to be active in the community.”

Locally

So, what does the Davis Pence Post No. 69 do in the Clarke County community? The answer is — a lot.

Members help to:

• Support Osceola Volunteer Fire Department’s youth projects

• Work with fifth grade class on their American flag essays

• Assist the oratorical program for high school students on the U.S. Constitution

• Have a medical loan locker for the community

• Assist with local military funerals

• Assist with community events, ceremonies

• Help with Boys State, which helps youths understand the function of government

“We always send at least two boys up to Boys State, and we’ve not got a bad report back from any of them. They just love it,” Sharp said.

Members of the Davis Pence Post No. 69 have also done military funerals in other communities such as Pleasantville, Humeston, Lamoni, Leon and Chariton.

Requirements

The requirements for joining the American Legion are set by Congress, and a person has to have served in the military during a time of war. For more information, a person can ask a local legion member questions.

"It's very rewarding to know that you're helping somebody, and the results that they tell you when they hospital equipment back, how much they appreciated us doing this for them," Hooper said. "Even though they're not veterans, just regular everyday people, it's very rewarding to know that somebody appreciates what we're doing for them. And it is for them. It's not for us, it's for them."