Veterans group offers important services

The American Legion is certainly not the only veterans' organization around, but we wonder how many people realize everything the organization does for veterans and the communities in which they live.

McCook Post 203 Commander Dan Stramel said the local post was once the largest in the state, with 500 or more members, but has since dwindled to 103.

To help reverse the trend, the post plans a membership drive at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the new Armed Forces Reserve Center, 38709 East Highway 6-34, just east of McCook.

Veterans of any branch of the armed forces are encouraged to attend.

There's no shortage of veterans -- thanks to Gulf Wars I & II and Afghanistan, but younger veterans seem less inclined to join, said Stramel, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Still, there are five active posts in Red Willow County -- Indianola, Danbury, Lebanon and Bartley as well as McCook.

The American Legion and other veterans organizations are involved in maintaining and enhancing benefits for young men and women who, after they respond to their country's call to service, return too often to find a government reluctant to keep its promises.

Besides lobbying Congress, however, the American Legion is most often remembered for its baseball programs -- 70 percent of the players in Major League Baseball got their start in American Legion programs. Hundreds of leaders got their first taste of public service through American Legion Boys State and Girls State, and many college careers were advanced through American Legion scholarships. And, those are just a few of the benefits that are supported by an annual $30 membership fee.

If you're not already a member of an active veterans organization, check out Monday's meeting.