OXFORD – Last Thursday, the Oxford American Legion Post 376 hosted state dignitaries on a tour of Chenango County’s 11 Legion posts. They also visited the Raymond Corporation, the Greene War Memorial and the Oxford Veterans’ Home before convening for a testimonial dinner.
“It’s important for people to know we aren’t just a bunch of old vets swaping war stories,” said Oxford Post Commander Frederick Baker during dinner. “We honor the vets, make sure returning soldiers have jobs and homes, but we are also very involved in community support and sponsorship projects to help better the lives of the people we serve.”
As an example, Baker described the Legion’s sponsorship of the leadership camp, Boys State. New York State Boys State is held annually at SUNY Morrisville in the last week of June with approximately 2,800 attending youths from all over the state. The camp is usually comprised of a well-rounded group of individuals. “We want more than just the Einsteins,” said Baker. The leadership camp serves as a stepping stone for all sorts of young adults, and is just one of many examples of how the Legion is involved in serving the community.
The three visiting state Legion dignitaries addressed the Oxford post following the testimonial dinner.
Sons of the American Legion Detachment of New York State Commander John J. Knapp was the first to speak: “One of my goals is to see the growth of the organization; without a strong organization we cannot give as much back to the community,” he said. Knapp’s goal as detachment commander has been to raise money for the Child Welfare Foundation. Since its genesis in 1954, the foundation has raised $11 million for different nonprofit projects designed to benefit American children, an example being the 2010, $25,000 sponsorship of a Child Abuse Prevention program. “If we can raise just $7,000 this year for the Child Welfare Foundation, well my wife has promised to do something I can’t even talk about,” he said.
“I am going shave my head into a mohawk and dye it blue and gold,” said Mrs. Knapp to avoid confusion.
Following Knapp’s speech American Legion Auxiliary Department of New York President Sally Johnston, spoke. “Of the Greene veteran park, I wish we could all have one like that, it was just right,” she said. “To my fellow auxiliary members, we joined to help veterans and local groups to help build better and safer communities. Which is why my project as department president is the Warriors Family Assistance Program for veterans’ immediate needs.”
American Legion Department of New York Commander Timothy S. Van Patten was the last of the speakers and began his speech by thanking the Oxford Post for the day’s tour. “The veteran’s home is amazing and of the tour of Raymond, well let’s just say it was very lifting.”
Van Patten promoted the Legion College as a great opportunity for members to learn a lot and have fun, but stressed the importance of increasing membership and improving public relations to correct the misleading image of veterans as people who just sit around the bar sharing war stories.
“Yes we do it, after we finish visiting our friends in the hospital, or after completing a community project, or returning from a funeral service for a veteran, or even after finishing a tour of duty defending the freedom and right for people to make comments like ‘why do you spend time at the bar telling war stories,’” said Van Patten. “But we are much more than that.”
Van Patten stated his goal as department commander is to raise funds for the Legion’s National Emergency Fund, which provides grant money to veterans impacted by natural disasters, such as Hurricane Sandy.