Post 11 breaks ground for Walk of Honor
By Steve Herring
Published in News on September 12, 2016 10:11 AM
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News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Navy veteran Doc Phelps, left, plays taps as Marine veteran Vic Miller salutes during American Legion Post 11's Saturday afternoon groundbreaking for its Walk of Honor.
DUDLEY -- Ground was broken Saturday afternoon for the Walk of Honor at American Legion Post 11 as part of the celebration of its founding in September of 1919.
Flags representing the different branches of the armed forces ringed the area around the post's flagpole and several U.S. flags, a POW/MIA and a North Carolina flag lined the driveway to the post home on U.S. 117 South next to Wayne Memorial Park.
The ceremony included a moment of silence, the sounding of a bell by Marine Corps veteran Vic Miller and the playing of taps by Navy veteran Doc Phelps.
The post plans to create a brick walkway to the flagpole to honor and remember those who have served, as well those who have supported them.
The project, that could take as long as a year to complete, will also serve as a fundraiser for the post in his efforts to support veterans.
A standard 4-inch by 8-inch brick with three lasered lines costs $50. A fourth line costs an additional $10.
An 8-inch by 8-inch brick is $100.
Anyone interested in purchasing a brick can stop by the post home or call 919-734-0407.
A 75th anniversary party cookout was held later Saturday evening. Other events included cornhole and horseshoes and live entertainment.
The post has been continuous with its charter for 97 years and has had 73 different commanders.
"The American Legion was founded in March of 1919," post Commander Todd Doss said. "The members of the American Expeditionary Force convened in Paris at that time, and its patriotic veterans focusing on the service of veterans, service members and communities.
"It evolved from groups of war-weary veterans of World War I into the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Membership swiftly grew to over one million, and local posts sprung up across the country. Today, membership stands at 2.4 million and over 14,000 posts worldwide."
Post 11 was chartered Sept. 4, 1919, the same year that the American Legion was founded, Doss said.
"Over the years, we have done a lot of good for the community and surrounding areas," he said. "We have gone down to Camp Lejeune and fed the Wounded Warriors. The Legion Riders have done a lot of rides to raise money for different veterans' groups, to support the children of the veterans' homes.
"We have the Ladies Auxiliary. We also have the Sons of the Legion. We have lots of fundraisers. We do our best to keep our post growing. We have close to 300 members."
Post 11 First Vice Commander Ron Medus said the post number gives an idea of when it was formed and where it stands and how long it has existed.
"Since that time no one can give you a accurate estimate of how many veterans that we have served over the years," he said. "We have spent countless hours during many Memorial Days putting flags on graves of those who served this country honorably. We have been out raising money for those who faced illnesses from their service defending the country that they loved.
"We supported those who came home with wounds of war whether visible or invisible. Charities have benefited from the support of the American Legion, and we have collected and sent a lot of items overseas to ensure that people serving overseas have a better way of life while they are serving. We supported those who stayed behind."
The post also supported programs for youths and those who support the American Legion such as the baseball program, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, he said.
It also provided scholarships for nursing students.
"As we go forward, we must also look back at those who have served with honor and distinction, and we must support those who are currently serving to defend our way of life," he said.
Vic Miller, VFW Post 2615 commander, said seeing events like the groundbreaking and spending Saturday afternoon with such "fine American and patriots" that he could not think of a better way to spend the afternoon.
"Everybody likes coming out to these things, but I am really looking forward to seeing the end result," Miller said. "The VFW, we have bought a brick. The work after this is something that we really look forward to.
"Happy anniversary to the American Legion. To know that Post 11 has been here for 97 years is pretty amazing. You don't see that every day. But as commander of the VFW, you know a lot of us -- the VFW, the American Legion, the Wayne County Veterans and Patriots Coalition -- we work a lot together on these things."
Miller said he also wanted to speak briefly about 9/11.
Miller said he had spoken on Friday at Camp Lejeune.
"One of the things I talked about was 9/11 and where we were," he said. "I think every generation remembers where we were when something tragic happened like 9/11 -- 15 years ago in New York. When we hear the bells today, if you can reflect on a couple of things. One, I think when you hear the bells, when you think about when those planes crashed, it is going to bring it back to the time -- you are going to remember exactly where you were, what you were doing, and what you felt when you heard about the attacks on American soil."
Other generations recall the same for the Pearl Harbor attack or when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, he said.
"It was brazen of al-Qaeda and those who hate the American way of life," Miller said. "It was brazen to bring the fight to our country because if they didn't learn from history ... anybody who comes and messed with us in our backyard -- we take care of business, just like we did in Japan when we dropped the two (atomic) bombs.
"We took care of business just like we are today."
The "bad guys" don't realize the technology the U.S. has, he said.
"If they want to die for their country, I can tell you right now we will definitely give them that honor," he said. "One of my favorite presidents once said, 'If you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat.'"