Castle Country Radio has selected American Legion Post #3 as Feb. Charity of the Month. For the duration of the month, the radio station showcases a local non-profit organization to bring awareness to listeners. Castle Country Radio was able to sit down with Commander, David Jelin to discuss all things American Legion.
The American Legion celebrated its 100th year a few years ago and it’s been chartered since 1923. “We did our 100-year celebration a couple of years ago and the membership actually voted to recognize our community both from World War I, since it’s a post-great war function, a fraternity. So the first name will be for the first person killed in combat during the great war. A second person will be one honored from the second war, it will be a hyphenated name. Recognizing the Veterans, the service members who served during World War I and World War II,” stated Commander Jelin. The research for the names is currently being conducted so hopefully in the next little bit the names will be presented.
“In the meantime, the post as it was then and now serves Veterans. The four main pillars being, taking care of our Veterans, securing America’s national defense, Americanism in itself, and youth and youth education in the support of youth through Americanism, such projects like Boys Scouts and scholarships,” said Commander Jelin. Currently, the local organization sponsors two scout troops, one boys and one girls, and they also have a cub scout pack that’s mixed. What the American Legion receives in donations not only assists the Veterans but also the youth groups they support.
One of the main services that the American Legion offers is assistance to all Veterans. “My goal is to make sure that any Veteran that asks for help is pointed in the right direction with information and points of contact. So a lot of it ends up on Service Connected Disability if they have that. If not, then other avenues of access for either VA care or state care as appropriate and other assistance as needed. The whole thing is working like a dispatch center is knowing where to point them in the right direction, without burning them out and not exactly holding their hand to it, but get them to the right door, right phone number to get the help that they need,” said Commander Jelin. One of services that is in the works is a clinic. They are putting the finishing touches on the building and it will soon be open to serve the men and women of service.
Its easy to learn more about the local American Legion as Commander Jelin explains, “You can call us at (435)630-8474. Go to our website, https://www.americanlegionpost3.org or come to the Post Building where the first and third Thursday of the month have an open-door meeting for any Veteran. There are ways to find us, any search engine you can type in American Legion Price or zip code and if its in there, you’ll find us.”