News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Clay County’s American Legion Post 18 is in need of an office space to grow their branch.
Post Commander Bryan Brady said the group of roughly 30 vets operate out of the Celina Chamber of Commerce at this time. Brady said that in his mind, there is no reason an area like his cannot support a dedicated post for veterans to meet and engage the community.
“Fish fry, activities and breakfasts, veterans breakfasts and different things,” Brady said. “But if you have a building you can do that, if you don’t have a building it’s hard to do.”
Brady said that there was a potential prospect for a meeting site, but the American Legion is moving away from posts containing bars and canteens. Brady said in his first year as commander the post is forming a building fund to try and raise money towards this goal, but a donation could make a huge difference to the nearly 100 year old American Legion post.
“In Celina I know there’s empty buildings that we could use, that are not being used,” Brady said. “If somebody wants to donate the space for the American Legion, we could sure use it. If we have a place to meet, then we will also have a place to store our crosses. Because we have to borrow from the old high school gym just to keep all of the crosses that we put out for Memorial Day.”
This is not Brady’s first turn as a post commander, he served formerly in Stanley, North Carolina. Brady said that prior experience is what makes him eager to see the post grow into something bigger.
“The older people that have been running the American Legion for all these years, are no longer alive,” Brady said. “We have to step up as the younger people and start doing something for the American Legion. Because that is another way to serve the country when you’re out of the military.”
Brady said that during his time as post commander he’s seen how a dedicated office can truly get an organization into a place of prominence in the community. He said things like forming an American Legion baseball team and holding turkey shoots can grow finances.
