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There are promotional steps that can be taken to make the activities of the post better known and more appealing to potential members. Organization over reminiscing will get the job done.
EDGEFIELD, S.C. --- On the third Thursday of each month, Charlie Mathis makes the short drive from his home to the American Legion post a few blocks off the courthouse square.
It's a ritual the 94-year-old World War II veteran has repeated faithfully for more than six decades.
"Who says I can't drive myself at night?" he grinned. "I can if I want to."
Despite the diligence of Mr. Mathis and other members, the aging post isn't what it once was.
"We used to have 130 members," said John Pettigrew, a member for almost a half-century. "Now we only have about 80, and just 26 who are active."
As older members die out, younger veterans aren't joining, at least in rural towns such as Edgefield, post Commander Sam Watson said.
This year, for the first time since the post was chartered in 1919, there won't be enough revenue to fund the four scholarships given annually to deserving students.
If things don't improve, the post might have to close, which would be a tragedy, Mr. Watson said.
"We hope that won't happen," he said. "But there's only so much we can do."
The post's namesake, Hezzie Griffis, was the first local son to die in France in the trenches of World War I. The building, with stone pillars and a wooden plaque with names of all past commanders, was built in 1935.
"It was one of the first things here built by the WPA," Mr. Mathis recalled. "We used to say that stands for, 'We Piddle Around.'"
The fear of closure that looms in Edgefield isn't unique.
"There are a number of posts where that same kind of thing is happening," said Joe March, spokesman at American Legion's national headquarters in Indianapolis.
At its high point, there were more than 15,000 posts, dropping to about 14,400 today, he said. "Part of that drop is due to the changing geography of America, with people migrating from rural areas to urban areas."
The good news, Mr. March said, is that total membership has held steady in recent years at about 2.7 million, with Vietnam veterans having eclipsed World War II vets as the largest percentage.
"Across the country, we are losing about 1,200 per day of our World War II veterans," Mr. March said. "In small towns, it's not easy for them, at their age, to keep up with all the programs there are."
If the Hezzie Griffis post were to close, the building's ownership would revert to the site's original owner: Edgefield County. But its remaining members hope to forestall such an outcome.
"We'd like to get the message out to people that the Legion is a wonderful organization," said Robert Reel, a member since 1948. "We're very fortunate, after going to war, that we returned to our country. A lot of us didn't."
Joe Stertz, who at 60 is among the post's younger members, joined after 9-11 and hopes the chapter will survive.
"I wanted to get involved," he said. "It was a way to promote fellowship and it's been an honor to associate with the guys from one of the other wars."
Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
There are promotional steps that can be taken to make the activities of the post better known and more appealing to potential members. Organization over reminiscing will get the job done.
I beleive that the orginazation should bring it to the town's attention and try to emphasize how much this organization means to you. You've done so much already the least they can do is listen.
Where's jack? He can save it by going once a week and draining the bar dry-
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