VFW, American Legion to share building
Super Bowl party planned at VFW
Marion VFW Post #6958 has agreed to share its facilities with American Legion Post 22 for monthly meetings, fund-raisers, and homecomings and send-offs of local troops.
Events are being planned to raise funds to support local soldiers and their families.
American Legion Riders is sponsoring a Super Bowl party beginning at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 3, at Marion VFW, 420 W. Santa Fe, Marion.
An eight-foot television screen will be available to watch the football game. There will be a potato bar and other foods and snacks available at a cost for those watching the game. The VFW bar also will be open.
At 7 p.m. Feb. 5, the American Legion will sponsor a membership drive to sign up new members for the Sons of the American Legion and Ladies Auxiliary.
Contact Todd Carpenter at (620) 382-2761 for more information about the Sons of the American Legion and Karen Chaput at (620) 382-2754 for information about the auxiliary.
The American Legion and VFW will send care packages to 1st Lt. Luke Kimbrel and other Marion County military personnel. If anyone knows of a person currently deployed overseas and have a current address for the person, contact Gary and Karen Chaput at (620) 382-2754. Volunteers also are welcome to assist with the care packages.
Differences in organizations
Marion American Legion Riders are becoming more visible in the Marion community and for special events such as parades and military functions.
The Legion Riders organization is a part of the American Legion organization.
Here is a listing of the four chartered agencies:
— Legionnaire member must be veterans who served in the U.S. military during specific dates. As a legion member, they continue their service by serving their communities. Veterans' involvement in the community creates and supports the feeling of camaraderie which makes the American Legion the nation's largest organization of wartime veterans. The organization supports children and families in need, awards college scholarships, and provides emergency aid to veterans.
— Legion Ladies Auxiliary membership is for mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters, or grandmothers of members of the American Legion or deceased veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during specified dates. The mission of the organization is to support the American Legion and its programs for veterans, young people, and community, advance the understanding of patriotism and responsibility, promote individual integrity and family values, and ensure that members continue to promote all that is good in the nation.
— Sons of the American Legion membership is open to male descendants, adopted sons, and stepsons of American Legion members and such male descendants of veterans who died in service during WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Lebanon, Panama, or the Persian Gulf, or current war designated in the National Constitution of the American Legion. The organization works together with the legion to promote children and youth programs, and supports the needs of veterans in veterans hospitals.
— American Legion Riders are members of one of the American Legion organizations who are motorcycle enthusiasts. The group participates in parades, Killed In Action (KIA) missions, homecomings, and sendoffs of military members. American Legion Riders are members of the legion, the legion auxiliary, and the Sons of the American Legion.
The Patriot Guard is not an American Legion program but American Legion Riders support the mission of the Patriot Guard. The mission of the Patriot Guard is to stand guard at funerals of soldiers killed in action. Many motorcycle organizations and non-rider individuals support the mission with one common goal — to respect those who risked their lives in securing the nation's freedoms and liberties.
