CENTRE — The local post of the American Legion is down to a handful of members. But the organization's head and a few dedicated volunteers are working to change that.

Post 62 Commander David Hartline is a Vietnam veteran who has written several books about his wartime service and speaks to veterans groups around the country. Lately, he's been talking with Centre city officials about getting some help to breathe life back into the organization, which is down to 39 members.

Hartline said early talks with Mayor Tony Wilkie about relinquishing the lease on the Legion's dilapidated facility at the city park have been productive.

“They are going to tear the building down and build a water fountain for children to play in,” Hartline said. “That will be great since the location is right there beside the park.”

Hartline said Wilkie has agreed to allow Post 62 to meet in a pair of rooms at the old National Guard armory as they get the process of recruiting new members underway.

“We'll have meeting rooms there for men and women – and we want to recruit both – until we can get our own facility up and running,” he said.

Hartline said the long-term plan is to open a lounge in Centre where members can gather. He said alcohol could be sold there as a means of generating funds for operating costs.

“We are actively looking for a location right now,” Hartline said. “Opening a lounge will give us a means to support ourselves. We'll also conduct fundraisers and things like that to raise money.”

Hartline said he believes a stand-alone American Legion facility will be a big draw for new members.

“If we can have a clubroom with a pool table, snack room or even an exercise room, then we will have something for members to do and they'll want to join,” he said. “We want wives and girlfriends and whatever to get involved, too.”

Before that plan can come to fruition, Hartline said, it will be up to him and membership chairman Lester Nix to beat the streets and find as many veterans as they can find to join.

“Donald Tucker, our post adjutant, did a survey about four years ago and determined there are around 2,200 veterans in Cherokee County,” Hartline said. “That's going all the way back to World War II.”

Hartline said membership in the American Legion is open to anyone who served in the military during a conflict.

“You did not have to go to war, but you have to have been in the service while the fighting was going on,” he said.

Hartline said a viable American Legion post is important for the community because of all the services an active, fully-funded organization can provide.

“At one time we supported a ball team and sent students to Boys State,” Hartline said. “We'd like to be able to do that again. We also conduct blood drives and sponsor over 30 other programs.”

Tucker said the American Legion can also be a valuable tool to veterans as they navigate the government red tape that can come with requests for medical benefits, finding old wartime friends, or attending college after serving.

“If you go to the VA hospital or to file a claim, if you have the American Legion behind you, it helps tremendously in getting a claim processed earlier,” Tucker said.

Hartline said convincing only a small percentage of the county's veterans to join up and become active will lead to a self-sustaining American Legion post in Cherokee County for the first time in decades.

“We need to get to another level,” he said. “Our magic number is about 200. That is our goal for now.”

Until Post 62 can support itself, Hartline said he will gladly accept donations.

“If there were any business people right now that want a tax write-off, or politicians who can find us some funding, that would certainly help,” he said.

Any veterans who live in Cherokee County who are interested in joining the American Legion can call Hartline at 706-506-2505.

To visit the American Legion website, click here.