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  • The American Legion Honor Guard is pictured last year at Bache Cemetery during the funeral of Donalee Boatright, post member and former Krebs mayor. Members, from left, include: Jim Snyder (with trumpet), Gene Heathcock, Arthur Jr. Stanton, James “Bud” Johns, Thomas Watts, Bill Kirk, Roy Baskin, Jim Barton, Commander Bill Sykes and Loxi Sykes.

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July 16, 2010

Hidden talent arises in Legion

By Kriss Beckham Staff Writer

McALESTER — McAlester often has many great things to offer its community, some of them are for veterans. The Harrison-Powers American Legion Post No. 79 is among such organizations.

The American Legion encompasses the VFW, or Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the DAV, Disabled American Veterans. It is an origination that is open to all veterans. The organization was founded in 1929; nationally the organization is currently 91 years old. There are 350  members, currently, with members from several other states, including Alaska.

The American Legion has aided the community on several instances and it has many programs that are of significant importance and aid. Emphasis is placed on patriotism and flag etiquette with programs that are presented to schools and other organizations. The group provides proper disposal of old flags and have new flags available upon purchase. The American Legion Honor Guard provides Military Honors along with a 21-gun salute at the funerals of veterans; they make monthly trips to Talihina Veterans Center for Bingo night. Along with them they take desserts, magazines, books, clothes, toiletries and etc. to the veterans in the center. The post also has a fund set up to help veterans on a one-time basis.

Among these many assistances, the post also collects cell phones for soldiers. Old, working or not, cell phones are recycled and phone cards are provided to military personnel overseas. “In March”, Legion Post secretary, Judy Gray said, “the post received a certificate from Cell Phones For Soldiers for over 2,300 minutes of phone time being provided to soldiers by the post thus far.”

This is a continuing project for the post, she added.

Yearly, the post has a Christmas program for children in the area. They are given a gift, food and a visit from Santa. They sponsor the Boys & Girls Club Sports Programs, Special Olympics, the Library Summer Children’s Program, the fire Departments Fire Pup Program for children, and the American Legion Children’s Home in Ponca City. The legion gives a yearly scholarship to an area high school senior, and also made a donation to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. The post sends a high school junior and senior to Oklahoma City where the student works at the capital with a state official and learns about state government. On Veterans Day, the post provides and coordinates the placing of flags on the graves of veterans at approximately forty Pittsburg County cemeteries.

The American Legion Post is a non-profit organization. “It heavily relies on dues from memberships, proceeds from its Saturday night Bingo games (which are open to the public) and other activities to fund its community involvement,” Gray explained. “American Legion is the nation’s foremost veterans organization, and was the writer of the G.I. Bill of Rights,” Gray continued. “The American Legion is a beneficial, worthwhile, organization. I am privileged to have my job here and be able to honor and be of service to veterans and their families. I believe that it is definitely making a difference in the city of McAlester and also Pittsburg County; always has, always will.”

For more information on the American Legion Post contact Judy Gray at Harrison-Powers American Legion Post No. 79, 400 S. 2nd St, McAlester, or call 423-6308.

Contact Kriss Beckham at kbeckham@mcalesternews.com.

 

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