American Legion To Hold Membership Drive Feb. 19 to Continue Good Work

By Judi Resch

Voyle B. Martin American Legion Post #93 is a non-profit organization that supports America’s veterans and also contributes greatly to our local community. The post holds fundraisers all year around to support their veteran programs, and have a service officer to work on behalf our local veterans. They also work to contribute to the local students’ scholarship funds. The post also is there for local residents in need.

We are considered a private club by the Washington State Liquor Control Board so we are only allowed two days per year to conduct a membership drive, where we may invite the public into our post home to learn more about the services we provide to veterans and the local community. This year our first membership drive will be held on Saturday, February 19th, from 3 to 10 p.m. at the post home, located at 793 Crescent Beach Dr., Eastsound WA 98245.

There are three units at our local post; the post (veterans of many wars), the auxiliary (mothers, grandmothers, wives, sisters, and daughters of veterans, and the SAL (Sons of American Legion-sons, grandsons, great-grandsons of veterans). We would like to invite all of our Orcas residents to visit our facility, talk to representatives from each unit, and learn about our programs and projects that benefit everyone.

The SAL unit, in addition to their veteran’s projects, has made it their mission to provide shoes to many of the children of Orcas, and it is an ongoing program. Local agencies provide SAL with a list of shoe sizes and gender. The SAL unit purchases 60-80 pairs of shoes on each trip to the mainland. To date, they have provided over 320 pairs of shoes to Orcas Island children.

The auxiliary has many veterans programs throughout the year, and zero in on the holiday season for many veteran facilities locally, as well as throughout the state. The auxiliary works very hard all year to raise funds to continue their scholarship awards. Many times, throughout the year, families in need are assisted by the auxiliary.

We need new members to assist with the above referenced programs and to perpetuate the good work of these units for all veterans from past and present wars, as well as their families.

We would like to encourage all of our Orcas residents to visit the post on Saturday, February 19th, and join in the effort to take care of our veterans and our local community. If you have any questions you may call 376-4987. We look forward to seeing you!