By Jolene Farley
Local American Legion and Auxiliary chapters hope to inspire more members to join their ranks. In light of the recent tragedies in New York City and Washington, their purpose has taken on added meaning.
According to Diane Strassburg, First Vice-President of Second District Auxiliary and the membership chair for 79 units, the purpose of the Legion and Auxiliary is "to carry on the dignity and respect for past veterans, current veterans, future veterans ... to provide a place where there is camaraderie," she said.
"You work together for the veterans and active military, the children and the communities."
Strassburg, Magnolia, is hoping to rekindle membership in many of the units under her direction.
Americans became more comfortable after World War II, Strassburg said. "They forgot to teach their kids to stand up when the colors went by, take their hats off. They just thought it would carry on without teaching," she said. "We need to teach our youth, because they are our future."
Posts and units were not inspired to go out and recruit new members. "It (the Legion and Auxiliary) is meant to restore pride and dignity and respect for freedom," said Strassburg. "We are who we are today because of the veterans."
Local posts and units are the heart and soul of the Legion and Auxiliary, according to Strassburg. "At the local level all the work gets done, wonderful things in the community."
The American Legion, chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, wartime veterans' organization, is a community service organization with more than 3 million members.
The American Legion Auxiliary was organized in 1919 to assist the American Legion.
"The Auxiliary enhances the Legion," said Strassburg. "Without the Legion there is no Auxiliary and without the Auxiliary there is no Legion."
Today the Auxiliary has almost a million members and administers hundreds of volunteer programs and raises money to support its own programs as well as the programs of other charities.
Locally, the Legion and Auxiliary donate to many worthy causes and scholarships. They also sponsor Girls' State and Boys' State candidates.
Robert Sandbulte, Commander of Hills American Legion Post 399, has struggled to increase membership numbers. More and more families have no contact with anyone in the military, according to Sandbulte. Some families had a grandfather or some other relative who served but no recent relatives in the military.
"They lose the importance of a strong military by not being connected to it in any way," said Sandbulte. "The fact that we have a Legion means that from generation to generation people have been willing to pay the price for freedom."
Except for dues, the Auxiliary in the Hills area has not been active for 10 years or so, according to Lois Nelson, treasurer of the Hills Auxiliary. But she added, "The Auxiliary meant a lot over the years."
Strassburg attended this year's Memorial Day service in Hills. "It was wonderful," she said. The pride the community showed in their charter was obvious, according to Strassburg.
Hills is a "great town, great area," and Strassburg hopes many will want to become members of the "solid second" as southwestern district is fondly called.
Strassburg is encouraging anyone from the area interested in joining either the Legion or Auxiliary to attend a membership drive on Friday, Sept. 28, at the Hills Legion Hall.
She said rallies can be fun. "It is a get-together where people can visit or talk. It is serious but you still have a good time," Strassburg said.
There is a misconception about the American Legion and Auxiliary, according to Strassburg. "They think it is all starchy old stuff, but it's not."
She said the principles the organization stands for never go out of style. "Freedom does not come cheap," she said. "Freedom is not free. It can be taken away in a second."