Al McKown of American Legion Post No. 24 in Columbus sits at the facility’s bar.
Nine years ago, American Legion Post No. 24 was $45,000 in debt, and its locked doors at 2515 25th St. sadly seemed to indicate the end of its service.
But Vietnam veterans Al McKown and Dempsey Ferguson could hardly accept that. The duo who had fought so well for their country decided to fight for their legion hall. They soon had many other volunteers join them.
“There were an awful lot of people willing to donate through these years,” McKown said.
Before the post could reopen in December 2013, volunteer leaders had to cover $3,000 in unpaid taxes and catch up on utility bill payments.
That happened with the help of a $30,000 loan from an unidentified private donor, most of which was repaid at $1,000 per month.
In time, McKown, Dempsey and other volunteers began organizing fundraising fish frys, which slowly brought back veterans who had fallen off the membership rolls some time back. Slightly more than a year later, legion officers began organizing fundraisers for local nonprofits ranging from Our Hospice of South Central Indiana to Turning Point Domestic Violence Services.
Now, nearly a decade later, the organization that couldn’t even keep its own doors open has helped myriad organizations and agencies that in turn help others. In fact, McKown estimates that the post has donated at least $325,000 to charitable causes, mostly from its fundraising dinners, since it got back on its financial feet.
It also has sponsored softball teams, supported the local DARE program and much more.
Plus, its kitchen began serving the public daily again. Workers overhauled the kitchen and restrooms and installed LED lighting throughout to save substantially on utility bills.
Ferguson looks back at those financial rallying days and acknowledges some degree of amazement, though he and McKown acknowledge an army of volunteers made everything possible.
“It’s definitely surprising,” said Ferguson of the dramatic turnaround. “Because I truly did not fully know back then how long we could manage to keep the doors open.”
McKown, a former successful business owner before he retired, and now the post’s first vice commander, feels the same.
“I never would have thought we could do this,” McKown said, “mainly because we started $45,000 in the hole. We were basically broke.”
That’s significant because one of the legion’s most visible community roles is in providing funeral honor guards.
The post that couldn’t even muster anywhere near 200 members nine years ago now boasts 425. Of course, times are hardly easy given the current economic climate amid a lingering COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve been affected just like everyone in the food and restaurant business,” McKown said. “But (Commander) Dana Bridgewater and the board have done just a great job of keeping everything going.”
Ask McKown why it was important for him and others to resurrect the post, and he will respond with the most rudimentary logic possible.
“We’re supposed to help the community,” he said. “That’s certainly part of our mission.”
For the past nine years, now he and others can proudly proclaim two very important military-oriented words: mission accomplished.
