AMERICAN LEGION POST 526

THE DIGNAM-WHITMORE POST 526 OF THE AMERICAN LEGION HAS CONTINUED ITS TRADITION OF SERVICE TO VETERANS, THEIR WIDOWS, CHILDREN AND THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL. WE ASSIST VETERANS FROM THE TIME THEY NO LONGER WEAR THE UNIFORMS OF THEIR SERVICE TO THE FINAL DAY THEY ARE LAID TO REST. THE POST PROVIDES A FORUM FOR VETERANS TO LEARN OF THEIR BENEFITS, DISCUSS CURRENT AND FORTHCOMING CHANGES IN VARIOUS BILLS BEING PROPOSED IN STATE AND NATIONAL LEGISLATURES AND HOW IT WILL IMPACT THEM OR THEIR FAMILIES. OUR CONSISTENT USE OF MEETINGS, NEWSLETTERS AND BULLETIN BOARD ITEMS KEEPS OUR VETERANS APPRISED OF ON-GOING ISSUES. WHEN THE FINAL BELL RINGS FOR THESE MEN AND WOMEN, OUR POST EVERLASTING TEAM IS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT A CEREMONY HONORING THEIR SERVICE TO THE NATION AND OUR POST FIRING SQUAD PROVIDES THE FINAL 21 GUN SALUTE AT THE GRAVESIDE CEREMONIES. ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE DONE WITH NO COMPENSATION FROM THE POST. OUR ASSISTANCE DOES NOT CONCLUDE WITH THEIR FINAL GRAVESIDE SERVICES. WE CONTINUE OUR ASSISTANCE TO THE WIDOWS AND CHILDREN OF OUR VETERANS. WE DO THIS BY COUNSELING WITH WIDOWS ON BENEFITS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ACCRUED BECAUSE OF MILITARY SERVICE, GOVERNMENT SERVICE, INJURIES RECEIVED BECAUSE OF MILITARY SERVICE AND/OR A MYRIAD OF OTHER BENEFITS. WE GUIDE THEM ON THE PREPARATION OF APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS AND MAKE APPOINTMENTS WITH THE AGENCIES NEEDED TO PROCESS THEIR CLAIMS. WE ASSIST CHILDREN THROUGH OUR VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED THROUGH OUR LOCAL POST AS WELL AS AT OUR STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS. WE PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH BOOKLETS AND INFORMATION REGARDING OTHER SCHOLARSHIP OFFERINGS AVAILABLE FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES THROUGHOUT THE NATION. WE HAVE SONS OF THE LEGION AND JUNIOR AUXILIARY PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR THE CHILDREN OF VETERANS THAT INCLUDES PROGRAM AVAILABILITY SUCH AS ATTENDANCE AT BUCKEYE BOYS AND BUCKEYE GIRLS STATE PROGRAMS; AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL PROGRAMS AND SEMINARS IN A VARIETY OF SUBJECT AREAS.OUR CONCERNS EXTEND BEYOND OUR OWN MEMBERSHIP. IN THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE DONATED OVER $150,000 TO SUPPORT NATIONAL STATE, AND LOCAL COMMUNITY NEEDS. WE ANNUALLY CONDUCT COMMUNITY-WIDE PROGRAMS ON BOTH MEMORIAL DAY AND VETERANS DAY. THESE CEREMONIES INCLUDE PROGRAMS AT TWO LOCAL CEMETERIES AND ONE PROGRAM AT OUR LOCAL VETERANS MEMORIAL SITE. IN ADDITION TO THE PROGRAMS, WE HOST A COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE FOR OUR CITIZENS TO ENJOY A FREE LUNCH AFTER EACH PROGRAM. ALSO, IN KEEPING WITH SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, WE OFFER OUR FACILITY TO THE DOWNTOWN FAIRBORN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, THE FAIRBORN PARKS AND RECREATION FOUNDATION AND THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA TO PROVIDE A MEETING PLACE FOR THEIR ACTIVITIES. WE ALSO DONATE OUR HALL FOR THE ANNUAL FAIRBORN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TASTE OF FAIRBORN PROGRAM AND THE ANNUAL SILENT AUCTION PROGRAMS. LOCAL LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL, PEE WEE FOOTBALL, HEAD START, FAIRBORN HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION AND CHURCHES KNOW WHO TO TURN TO FOR ASSISTANCE AND SPONSORSHIP - THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 526. THIS ORGANIZATION HAS BECOME AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PILLAR OF STRENGTH AND SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY. OUR REPUTATION AS A SOLID ORGANIZATION BENEFITING EVERYONE IN NEED CONTINUES TO GROW. THE OFFICERS AND LEADERS OF OUR POST DONATE THEIR TIME AND TALENT WITH NO EXPECTATION OF COMPENSATION OR REWARD. WE CONTINUE TO SERVE AS MEMBERS OF THIS ORGANIZATION IN THE SAME MANNER WE HONORABLY SERVED OUR NATION WHEN WE PROUDLY WORE THE UNIFORMS OF OUR RESPECTIVE SERVICES.