Elderly veteran dedicated to American Legion.
B JourneyRAWLEY — The American Legion here is a second home for U.S. Army veteran Marion Journey, who has been an active member of Post 60 for 47 years.
is reliable as clockwork, remarked Robert Morales, first vice commander for American Legion District 30. About 20 World War II veterans remain locally. Despite health concerns, Journey was spry enough to arrive at Post 60 on Wednesday celebrating his 86th birthday.
“His volunteerism is well known throughout the Valley,” said Morales. “Marion is also a member of the 40 & 8. The name comes from the box cars used in World War I to transport troops or horses and they held 40 men or eight horses. They provide care for children of servicemen and scholarships.”
“My kids grew up in this post, with lots of other kids and I’m the oldest one who makes meetings here,” said Journey.
Born and raised in Brawley, Journey describes his parents as “fruit tramps,” the itinerant agricultural workers from the Dust Bowl era who harvested orchards. He only left to go into the military. He spent 20 years working for Imperial County in the Buildings and Grounds Department. He also ran an air conditioning business with his son.
“I was the District 30 commander one year, 1984, and then Post 60 commander for a couple of years after that,” said Journey. “Now I just like to come down here and enjoy a glass of wine at night. I’ve remodeled this place a couple of times - did all the air conditioning work.”
He is a Korean War era vet who served as a corporal at a base in Stuttgart, Germany from 1952 to 1954. He drove a truck to deliver rations in the field. “Germany was really something, it was really nice,” recalled Journey.
Arriving with military precision at 6 p.m., Journey was crowded by well-wishers, many of them women “who love to hug me,” he declared. Mary Hyde, one of the greeters, has a long affiliation with the American Legion as two former husbands were veterans.
“Marion helped me do my poppy drive (made and sold by the Legion to help disabled vets) and he’s by far the biggest ticket
salesman of anybody,” said Hyde. “You can count on him for anything. Yet, a lot of people don’t know what the Legion does. But we believe in helping the families of the veterans who did so much for us.”
Also joining the celebration was Robert Journey, Marion’s son, who still works in the air condition contracting business, accompanied by the mother of their children, Veronica Valencia.
“This is a very happy occasion for the whole family,” said Valencia.
“Marion has been a good father and a good person to everybody in the community,” added Robert.
Although his eyesight will not allow him to read anymore, Journey does watch TV news and disclosed the recent controversy over North Korea is disturbing. “I think Korea is going to make the biggest mistake they ever made,” said Journey. “I don’t like the deal going on between Korea and the U.S. and it would be one of the worst things if it ever became a shooting war.”
In a performance space at the back of the Legion, the Hidalgo Folklorico dancers performed for guests. In May, the folklorico presented Journey with a medal of appreciation noted Max Reyes, director. “Marion is very proud of his service and so we appreciate that,” said Reyes. “For us he is a very kind man.”