Mike Wolanin | The Republic Members of American Legion Post No. 24 bow their heads in prayer during a members meeting at American Legion Post No. 24 in Columbus, Ind., Monday, June 5, 2023. The post was at risk of closing as members struggled to find and elect a new post commander. The closure was averted after Curtis Pulliam was elected as the new post commander.
American Legion Post No. 24 in Columbus on Monday found new leadership that outgoing Commander Al Mckown said the 425-member organization needed to continue. A longtime member spoke out Monday with concerns that the post might close.
But Korean War and Vietnam War veteran Curtis Pulliam of St. Louis Crossing was elected as new commander and said he hoped to keep the military group stable and strong at its location at 2515 25th St. in Columbus. He said he’s willing to serve for more than a one-year term “if there’s any way at all that I can continue to help out.”
Mckown, a Vietnam veteran, said finding leaders for the post has been a big challenge for several years. The 76-year-old former Columbus resident now living in Bloomington has been the post’s most visible supporter since he and Dempsey Ferguson, also a Vietnam veteran, worked to reopen the post in 2013 and revive it financially after it closed because of $42,500 of debt and $3,000 in unpaid taxes.
Since that time, those two and a team of volunteers have helped not only make the post financially stable, but they also have helped it raise and donate some $400,000 to local and national nonprofits ranging from Our Hospice of South Central Indiana to the Honor Flight Network.
Many of the legion’s donations after fish frys and similar fundraisers have been in the $5,000 to $10,000 range.
That in itself — plus a healthy $16,000 in its own coffers — has given the post a key role in the community beyond even the understandable camaraderie and fellowship among veterans.
Mckown acknowledged that, in recent months as he planned to step down as commander, he was concerned that there was no one who expressed an interest to lead the post. A post must have such an officer to remain a part of the legion. Hence, concerns about closing surfaced.
“It’s been a long journey and a tough journey,” Mckown said at the post’s monthly meeting before relinquishing a role he has held off and on since 2013. “And it’s been a tough journey. I’m still willing to stay on as financial officer because I’ll always be a faithful veteran.”
Pulliam said he planned no noticeable changes.
“I would just like to see it continue pretty much as it has been and stay strong,” Pulliam said after the meeting.
Mckown noted that the 22 people who attended Monday’s gathering was the largest such figure in months. In fact, he mentioned before the meeting that some past gatherings had only five or six people in attendance. He said finances, though, have not been a concern since the post reopened a decade ago.
Part of the reason for that lack of worry is that he left a then-Cummins-Engine Co. post years ago to launch his own Machinery Mounting Systems business with a $6,000 loan. He said that, in 20 years, the business generated $7 million in sales.
“But we’ve been scared of closing almost every year since 2013 because people weren’t stepping up to be commander — or if they did, it would be at the very last minute,” Mckown said.
Jerad D. Myers, 48, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Guard and the full-time U.S. Army, was among the youngest post members in attendance Monday. He visits the post weekly generally, often on Fridays. He was asked why there aren’t more younger veterans joining the legion or volunteering to lead.
“That’s not an easy thing (to figure),” Myers said. “Most younger guys are just still just trying to figure out everyday life.”
When nudged, he acknowledged that younger veterans are busy with jobs that often stretch more than 40 hours weekly and are raising kids and managing a household.
However, he added that he understands that the post must have “that anchor group” for the behind-the-scenes work, day-to-day operation and more. That is especially significant with the local post since it serves food and drinks to veterans and also to the general public daily like a restaurant.
The next event
The American Legion Post No. 24 will honor the Columbus Huey Group and the Bartholomew County Honor Guard unit at an event at 6 p.m. Friday at the post at 2515 25th St. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $20, and include a buffet dinner.
The gathering will include never-before-seen footage of heroics of Huey helicopter pilots in Vietnam. Legion members have been promoting the honor guard’s work for months in an effort to recruit new members of the funeral detail that honors about 100 veterans per year.
“These are the kind of things we really need to be doing,” said Al Mckown, former post commander, adding that he holds both groups in the highest regard.
Awards will be presented to members of both groups.
Information: (812) 376-7036.
