New Legion Post on the Rise

Saturday, Feb. 12, 2017 marked the official beginning of the “rise” of the new Walhalla American Legion Post Home at 319 Kenneth Street in Walhalla. Jerry Dyar, Public Information Officer for the local veterans organization said, “This is, indeed, a red letter day for the Walhalla American Legion. It all began with our friends at Golden Corner Church donating 2.5 acres of land to us a couple of years back. Then our “ground breaking ceremony” in August, and now construction is underway”. Jack Arve is the construction chairman for our project. Jack is a renowned builder across the county and also a great member of our American Legion Post. Mike Baumgarner (also Post 124 member) and a “top notch” grading contractor got the site ready with his grading expertise, and, according to all of the brick masons on hand Saturday, “Bummer” dug and had poured, some of the finest footings they had even seen. Dyar added, “We are blessed to have so many true members and friends of our Post. The city of Walhalla, Oconee County Government, the Oconee County Regional Sewer Authority, South Carolina Department of Transportation, Duke Energy, and many others, not to mention the hundred or so supporters who have donated and continue to assist us financially with getting our “eye-catching” new post in progress. We are, for the most part, building the facility with our own members and the volunteer help of some wonderful professionals in their respective fields.” Shown in the photo from left to right, kneeling are the block laying team of Tim Underwood, Daniel “Skull” Murphy (who brought all of his brick mason friends together for this project), Richard Coward, John Tilson, and Jesse James. Back row, standing from left to right)are Legionnaires Mike “Bummer” Baumgarner, who graded the site to perfection, Aaron Rochester, George Dunagan, Bob Pifer, and Dave Dollner. Not present for the photo were Legionnaires Jack Arve, Rick Gibson, Dave Mahn, Jerry Dyar and Dave Bertges. Post Commander Harold Welborn commented, “With the good Lord’s continued blessing and a little more in the way of funding, we hope to have our new facility in use, not only by Post 124 but by numerous other ex-service organizations, local civic and fraternal groups and the public at large by sometime this Summer.” Welborn, again, thanked all of those who so freely gave of their time and effort on the “foundation project”.