The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
American Legion continues to work to bridge the generational gap
CHITTENANGO, N.Y. >> In an ever-changing world, the American Legion continues to work to bridge the generational gap and stay true to its four pillars.
Department heads of the American Legion have been touring across the state since early September and made a stop in Chittenango at the American Legion Post 1287. Legion Commander Michael McDermott, American Legion Auxiliary President Linda Tome and Sons of the American Legion Commander Dennis George arrived with amotorcycle escort from the American Legion Riders of Canastota and Munnsville.
McDermott said the tour allows himto see how other American Legions are doing and hear what their members have to say.
“My job is to come out and listen to people, and some of these people have great ideas,” McDermott said. Each visit gives McDermott, George, and Tome a chance to see what is working for each post and how they are living up to the four pillars.
The American Legion was formed based on four pillars: supporting veterans, advocating for a strong national defense, promoting American ideals, and supporting the youth of the country.
That last part especially
“My job is to come out and listen to people, and some of these people have great ideas.”
— Legion Commander Michael McDermott
is important to McDermott, who wants to see the Legion become a part of the family again.
“It’s one of my projects to get the youth back into the Legion. When I was younger, you’d go to the Legion post with your family. It was a family location,” he said. “They’d have clam bakes, Christmas parties, Halloween parties for the children and more. And it kinda got away from that.”
A problem, McDermott said, is that many people don’t know what the American Legion offers.
“The Legion does so much, from Boys State and Girls State, American Legion Baseball, the Junior Shooting Sports, scholarships and more,” McDermott said.
McDermott said at the Baseball Hall of Fame, 70 people started playing American Legion Baseball. When it comes to Boys and Girls State, the weeklong venture into politics and civics stay with attendees for their life.
“I remember, it was Boys State years back,” McDermott said. "I had a mother call me after it was over and I had a mother can me and say her son didn't come home."
McDermott said to hear something like that made him feel like his defibril-lator was going to go off — but luckily, it was just a mother wanting to pun his chain.
"She tells me the person there makes his bed and says please and thank you and she has no idea who they are," McDermott said with a laugh. He added sto-ries like that are common and it's normal to hear at-tendees wish Boys State or Girls State was longer.
"These two programs are huge and open the eyes of many young children," Tome said. "Personally, I know there was one girl who was selected for Girls State who had no idea how the government worked. It opened her eyes and now she's in the Marine Corps after she graduated and making a career out of it." Even just some time in Junior Shooting can teach gun safety and responsibil-ity. "We're trying to do a lot for our youth," McDermott said. "We want to make the Legion not only a part of the community again, but the family."
Things like the LEGION act do open doors, McDer-mott said. The LEGION (Let Everyone Get Involved In Opportunities for National Service) Act effectively de-dares the United States has been in a state of War since Dec. 7, 1941. American Le-gion officials pursued this as a way to honor thousands of veterans who were killed or wounded on duty during periods not previously con-sidered a time of war, open-ing the door for around 6 million veterans to access American Legion programs and benefits.
On top of this, Tome says the Auxiliary has made strides in including more people with the recent change to the bylaws.
"Recently at our August national convention, the Legion changed our con-stitutions and bylaws from `wife' to 'spouse' as far as el-igibility," Tome said. Now, the Legion Auxil-iary can be joined by any-one married to someone who has served their coun-try.
"Add this to the Legion Act; this opens up the el-igibility even more," Tome said. "The Auxiliary is here to support our veterans, military and their families.”
Steps like this will only help and improve membership in the American Legion as a whole, Tome said.
George said to help bridge the generation, he’s been encouraging other members of the Sons of the American Legion to get their children involved.
“I’ve been encouraging members to get their sons involved with the Legion,” George said. “For example, one of my assistant sergeant at arms is 15 years old. My aide for the fifth district is 13. I believe that if we bring them to a meeting and they show interest, then give them a job. Give them responsibility. And let me tell you; they take personal pride in it.”
George added his assistant sergeant at arms, attended every meeting while school was out and looking to become a squadron commander.
“The Sons of the American Legion is not an old man’s club,” George said. “One of my adjutants who was there for eight years, his son is 12 and he comes to all our functions. He has a cover, and he can tell most people how to fold a f lag better than some adults. He’s diligent and very interested. And these are the people we have to get a hold of.”
When it comes to some of the work the Sons do, George said the Sons works nationally with the American Legion to raise money for the Child Welfare Foundation. Donating over $16 million in grants to different children projects and groups, the Sons of the American Legion are responsible for around $8 million.
“This is what we’re about,” George said. “We’re not just a club. We’re here for the youth, the veterans and the families. We’re here to do whatever we can for them.”
McDermott stressed the importance of looking to the future and modernizing for the next generation.
“We have to change with the times,” McDermott said. “It’s not the old days with smoke-filled rooms and beer drinking. Those days are gone. And that’s life.”
To learn more about the scholarships the American Legion offers, visit https:// sonsdny.org/page/content/ programs/scholarship-programs
To learn more about the American Legion or how to join, visit https://nylegion. net/