Legion To Raffle Stain Glass, Looking For New Members

Ulysses American Legion members will be out at this year's fair offering chances for a beautiful stain glass piece created by Gail Lamberson, Ulysses.  Lamberson donated the piece to the group.

"We will be raffling it off to raise funds for the Legion," said Veteran and Legion member Ken Warner. "We use those funds for some of our activities in support of veterans."

According to Warner, Legion members will be manning a booth at the upcoming Grant County Fair. The stained glass piece will be on display. Those interested in purchasing a ticket on the piece can do so at the fair or secure a ticket from Warner or any Legion member.

"We will set up at the fair Wednesday, July 11," Warner said. "We will be there Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and will have the drawing around 9:30 Friday evening."

Warner said those purchasing tickets do not have to be present to win. Tickets are available for two for $5 or five for $10.

At their booth, Legion members hope to have an opportunity to visit with veterans.

"We will have a display there of some of the things we do and try to visit with veterans to encourage them to get involved with the Legion," Warner said.

Some of the projects the Legion has include scholarships for local students, providing color guards for parades and military rites, the Veteran's Day meal in November, and supporting veterans in general.

"We also provide wreaths and white crosses at the cemetery and  for there from the funds we raise," Warner said. "We do that for all veterans, not just legion members. The Auxiliary and Legion decorate graves for the Memorial Day program and we assist veterans who might need assistance such as those traveling through town who might need help with gas or something."

Another one of their projects has been the veteran signs welcoming people to Ulysses.

"We designed and put them up," he said. "And we redid them three to four years ago, because they started to fade."

Warner who is a veteran himself, has been a member of the local Legion for the past 10-12 years.

"Being a part of the Legion is a good way to give back to the community as well as serve our fellow veterans who need assistance," Warner said. "We would love to get some younger veterans involved in the Legion, because our organization, like many others, are aging. We need younger members so we can continue those services in the future."

Warner said they would like to encourage veterans from the post Vietnam era in particular.

"Once a veteran, always a veteran," Warner said. "They are the kind of people who like to help and serve. I like to serve people and give to the community. The country needs help community wise - the local thing is very important. The Legion provides an opportunity to honor veterans and it helps people realize their sacrifice.  We emphasize the symbols of our country, such as the flag."

For Warner, the Legion gives him the chance to continue to serve his country on that local level.

"I served and I give back to the community," he said. "It's important to me to still be a part of that need for the country. Most veterans are willing to step up and serve so we continue to serve our community and the country through that process."

Membership dues are $35 per year.

"The Legion here pays the first year of their dues for new members," Warner said. "Those are national dues - we don’t charge any local dues. We cover that first year for them through our fundraising. We go ahead and also pay the dues for some who have aged to keep them active on the rolls."

The National organization for the Legion is beneficial to veterans as well, according to Warner, through different services as well as supporting and working to pass veteran benefits.

To be a member of the Legion you have to be a veteran.

"Any veteran who has served," Warner said. "Earlier on they had certain times you had to have served, but they realized no matter where you served - it was important. So, several years ago they changed that membership to all veterans. It had to be actively changed by Congress, so Congress changed the law."

Warner said the Legion offers veterans another opportunity.

"We can come together to relate to things that have happened, get ideas on how we can serve the community," he said. "It provides veterans with support and gives us the opportunity for  camaraderie. Being a veteran who served we all have something in common."

The local Legion meets at 7 p.m., the first Tuesday of every month from August through May. They don't meet in the summer months unless they have "something coming up."

One thing they practice is folding the American flag for military rites.

"It takes practice," he said. "There are tricks to make it tight and when you get done all that should be showing is the stars. The key is getting it started right."

American Legion Auxiliary is made up of family members - men or women - who had a family member who served.

"They are welcome to join the auxiliary," Warner said. "The Auxiliary is very important - they support us in our activities."

For more information on the Legion or to purchase chances on the stain glass piece, contact Ken Warner at 620-424-7521, any Legion member, or come to their booth at the fair.