Credit: Tony Espinal
Long before I joined the Army, I was aware of the significance the American Legion played in my local community. Growing up, we would attend weekly bingo and social dinners at the Legion’s main hall; my friends, who were more coordinated than I was, would play American Legion baseball; and there was always a Legion member handing out a scholarship to a local student. Of course, this was life in the early 1990s in a town very similar to Pine Plains, located in the middle of Vermont.
While things are much different today than they were 30 years ago, one thing I noticed when I moved to Pine Plains last August was that American Legion Shekomeko Post #426 is located in the center of town. Driving through town that first day, it brought immense pride to me to see the Hometown Banners of local heroes and fellow veterans prominently displayed along Main Street and Church Street. Talking with post commander Marie Stewart, it was easy to see the joy she takes in ensuring these local heroes are recognized for their service.
Shekomeko Post #426 (its name is a nod to the local Shekomeko tribe) dates back to 1929, when its original charter was drafted. Given that the American Legion was created and chartered only 10 years earlier, it was amazing to learn that our local post had such a storied legacy. Stewart, who has been leading the local organization for the last eight years, has been part of the post most of her life. Her father, George Keeler, served as the post commander for 30 years and still serves as the post chaplain, a position Stewart held just prior to being installed as the commander.
Stewart continues to lead the charge, even with additional leadership roles unfilled, including the post adjutant position. She has been busy running the day-to-day operations, accomplishing projects to ensure the longevity of the physical space, and engaging in community support focusing on the post’s priority programs and annual goals. With an active local membership of only 45 members, time and funds are the most precious resources.
There seems to be a reluctance writ large of modern-era veterans to join veteran service organizations like the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. This is troubling, especially given that many of the current members of these organizations are older veterans whose service dates back as far as World War II. They will not have a fellow veteran to pass the torch to. This creates a major concern for post commanders like Stewart. As she says, “It’s our little gem and if we don’t maintain it, it’s not going to be there.”
Even with the limited membership, the Shekomeko Post continues to offer local veterans excellent community support. Partnerships with local businesses and nonprofit organizations have been instrumental in ensuring the challenges faced by local veterans are addressed. Even in the tight-knit community of Pine Plains, we have veterans who face food insecurity, homelessness, substance abuse and other issues. Through a network of strong community partnerships, each veteran experiencing these instances of need can be supported. They just need to reach out or have someone reach out on their behalf.
Stewart expressed her appreciation and gratitude for the high level of community support for local veterans. Just last year, Kaitlyn Niznik, a Pine Plains schools art teacher, and her students created ceramic poppies to support the Memorial Day ceremonies. This resulted in nearly 300 ceramic poppies being installed in front of the Roll of Honor War Memorial. Partnerships like these bring about awareness of the importance of civic duty and become a memorable learning experience for everyone involved, Stewart said. She looks forward to growing these partnership opportunities to bring more awareness to the American Legion’s mission.
If you are a veteran and you would like to join Post #426 or are seeking help, or if you are a community member interested in supporting Post #426, visit their Facebook page or email pplegion426@gmail.com.