ADDISON - The American Legion motto is “Veterans Strengthening America’, and the veterans who attend Post 106 of the American Legion in Addison are living up to that mantra in their community through their hard work. They are also wanting other veterans to join them.
Post Commander Eddie Sivils reports that the legion has been working hard over the last few years to promote patriotism and support local veterans. This past summer, the post sponsored Addison High School student Trey Barker to represent the post at Boys State, a program for rising senior boys that gives them a unique hands-on lesson in civics, teaching the preservation of democracy. Attendees get to visit Montgomery and meet the governor, go to the State Capitol and conduct mock political campaigns. This year’s Boys State was held at Troy University.
The post also sponsors an oratorical contest for all high school students in grades 9-12, another event used to help promote patriotism while also helping fulfill some of the four pillars of the American Legion: Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, national Security, Americanism and Children and Youth.
Post members will be very busy in the next few weeks, as they prepare to place American flags on the graves of every veteran buried in the Addison area. It is a remarkable undertaking, with post members placing flags on graves from Arley Congregational Christian Church Cemetery (Smith School House) all the way north on County Road 41 to the Lawrence County line. Along Highway 278, the post will put flags on graves from Fairview Cemetery in Addison to Liberty Cemetery near the Winston/Cullman county line.
What makes all this hard work all the more remarkable is that Post 106 only has approximately 20 members, with 10-11 of those members being active. The post meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the post home, which is the old Addison Rescue Squad building on County Road 41 North.
Sivils noted that Post 106 is openly seeking new members to join.
“You had to have served one day of active service to be a member,” Sivils said, adding that the American Legion is open to all branches of the military.
Active duty members of the military are also eligible to join the American Legion.
Dues are $39 per year to be a part of Post 106. To join or learn more, stop by for one of the Legion’s monthly meetings.
The Post will host a Swamp John’s fundraiser dinner in the upcoming weeks, with more details to be announced in an upcoming edition.
See complete story in the Northwest Alabamian.
Subscribe now!