Reminder of the past: This bell was used for each American Legion Thorsby Post 206 meeting in the early days and continues to ring in and ring out every meeting today.

By Tracia Bussey

On May 5, 2012, The American Legion Thorsby Post 206 returned to action after many years, even decades, since its last active service. Post Commander Mike Welborn said he believes the current 24 members are a great beginning to building a strong presence in Thorsby.

The American Legion was first organized in 1919 with Theodore Roosevelt Jr. as one of its founders. This organization has served military veterans, their spouses and their children faithfully since that time. Among the many ways an American Legion Post can help veterans are through assisting with job location or placement, job training and rehab, assisting veterans to correct their service records, acquiring lost medals or honors, and giving guidance on applying for upgrades on veterans’ discharge status, which could lead to an increase of benefits, educational benefits, healthcare and housing. The Legion offers a support network for veterans and their families. They can offer advice to survivors of deceased veterans and help with funerals.

The American Legion is extremely active with children and youth events, such as The American Legion baseball teams, Boys State/Boys Nation Event, Junior Shooting Sports, Boy Scouts of America sponsorships and oratorical competitions, just to name a few. The American Legion Riders, a veterans’ motorcycle group, organizes benefit rides to assist children, widows and orphans of veterans.

Anyone who has served one day or more of active duty, including basic training, qualifies for membership in the American Legion, as long as they were not dishonorably discharged. This includes anyone currently serving in the military, whether active, reserve or National Guard.

The American Legion Thorsby Post 206 will hold membership recruitment at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18 at the Jemison Fire Department. Their regular meetings are the second and fourth Mondays of each month, at 7 p.m. at the Thorsby Annex Building. Welborn said he is currently looking for any information or items that are connected to the history of Thorsby Post 206. He can be reached at 205-755-6509.

–Tracia Bussey is a community columnist for The Clanton Advertiser. She can be reached at traciadbussey@gmail.com.