New life for
American Legion post
My husband, Budd, and I have been involved with something exciting and we encourage people to join us. Budd is a member of Shelton Tucker Craft American Legion Post 27, which we are bringing back to life after some hard times: poor leadership, members leaving, A/C quitting, bills and taxes not paid. Without people’s hopes, trust and donations of money, labor and time, Post 27 would have closed.
As the post’s new adjutant, Mike Culpepper, put it, “No one person made this happen. It was done by a band of brothers and sisters”
— Legionnaires, a struggling Ladies Auxiliary and determined Sons of the American Legion. “Plus the hundreds of hours in donated time by volunteer workers, volunteer bartenders and countless hours of cleaning. … On the average week over 70 hours of physical labor are donated.” Home Depot provided a $3,000 grant to help with the cost of materials and paint. The Bank of Fayetteville gave us a loan to update the HVAC and fire suppression system in the kitchen. Members have contributed more than $4,000 in addition to paying for five months of back taxes and for basic supplies like paper towels and food.
It has been exciting to watch Post 27 rise from 27 paid members in February to at least 230 today, and to see people coming back for Bean Day. Every Wednesday at lunchtime you can get all the beans, cornbread and dessert you want for $5. Many Saturdays the post hosts pancake breakfasts. These are usually in the same week as the monthly meetings, which are at 7 p.m. every third Thursday of the month. At October’s meeting, on the 15th, the Daughters of the American Revolution will honor Vietnam veterans.
In September, Post 27 hosted the Northwest Arkansas Dart Association’s annual awards tournament. Then during Bikes, Blues & BBQ , the American Legion Run began and ended at Post 27. There were motorcycle-riding veterans there from around Arkansas, adjoining states, Nebraska and even a veteran from Massachusetts. They may have started the race as strangers, but they were hugging each other by the end. They were again a band of brothers.
For Adjutant Culpepper, “This whole journey has been a changing point for me … I have learned so much not only about running a business and taxes, but about people.” He, with help from the rest of us, is rebuilding a home for Fayetteville’s band of brothers, and now sisters, where they can relax, pitch horseshoes, toss darts, play pool or just talk. Parking is always free and families are welcome.
Post 27 is at 1195 S. Curtis between Martin Luther King Boulevard and 15th Street. More information can be found on the post’s website (www.legionpost27.org) and Facebook page. Events are updated weekly. The post’s email address is [email protected] and phone number is (479) 442-5291.
NANCY MILLER SAUNDERS
Durham