American Legion recognized

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
George Monroe Post No. 3, the local American Legion post, was recognized on July 9 during its regular meeting with awards from Sen. John Barrasso, American Legion Cmdr. Brett P. Reistad, and the Wyoming American Legion Department. 
According to District 5 Cmdr. Deb French and Post No. 3 Cmdr. Don Dafoe, the recognition was the result of hard work by the post to recruit members and for surpassing the set goals. 
“Every year we have a department meeting where we get together and look at the post as a whole,” French said. “We look at all posts and set membership goals based on what has been done in the past and what we think they can do.” 
Post No. 3 “hit every mark every month” and received numerous awards for achieving those goals, French said. 
In total, the post received five awards, which included a letter from Reistad, the 110th Congressional Award, and a mallet based on the recruiting percentage and two other recruitment awards.. 
French said membership in the post has more than doubled since she moved to Newcastle three years ago and that the purpose of the Legion is to bring veterans together and get them involved in the community. 
The difference between the VFW and the American Legion, according to Dafoe and French, is where members may have served. They explained that VFW members must have had boots on the ground during conflict, while Legion members only needed to be involved in the service during a time of conflict. 
“Both entities work towards the same goal of helping veterans, but at the Legion we go about it a little different and with more numbers,” French said. 
Being recognized for the number of individuals involved in the organization is a big deal for Newcastle, as far as French is concerned, because the post has not had this “kind of notoriety” in sometime. 
“Last year we brought home some awards and were gaining speed, and now we have that snowball rolling,” French said. “I am hoping as the district commander to work closely with Don and our adjutant, Corey Pillen, who are in it for the win as well, to keep that snowball rolling.” 
She predicted that next year will be even bigger for Post No. 3. 
“We used to be a smaller post that was only involved with Boys and Girls State and a few other things. We have been able to handle those things different and expand. We have even given out our first scholarship for science,” Dafoe said.
According to Dafoe, the American Legion is also dedicated to the Good Citizens Award program at Newcastle Elementary School, with the hopes of expanding that program in the future. The group also plays Santa Claus for local schoolchildren and is working to bridge the gap between veterans and youth. 
“That is one of the four pillars of the American Legion,” French said, noting that support for only veterans and their families and the children of fallen veterans has been extended to helping all children in the community. 
“We want to be active and proactive with kids. We have presented drug programs, and we have the Boys and Girls State programs teaching kids about the government.,” French said. “We want to teach our children to take pride in their country, and the only way to do that is to teach them the history of our country.” 
Seeing the community and children succeed is a big “feather in the cap” of the American Legion, French said, especially when members know they have been involved with helping the community move forward. 
Through its community outreach, French said, the post has also been able to connect veterans to the community and get the community involved in helping the local veterans. 
“It is a win-win situation, and everyone feels good,” French said. 
“The bigger we get, the more we can reach out and help veterans and other veteran’s organizations,” Dafoe added. “The more membership you have, the more you can do and the more people there will be to do different projects and get stuff done.” 
Plans to grow the local organization are dynamic and the newest goal, according to Dafoe, is to get an American Legion Sons unit started in Newcastle, allowing anyone who has a direct family member who served the chance to officially get involved. 
“This program will bring in more community members and help to bring in younger generations to the organization,” Dafoe said.