JACKSONVILLE —



An area American Legion post has been transferred to Jacksonville, and its inaugural meeting is slated for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Gardendale Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, 1521 E. Rusk.

Thirteen charter members from Post 152 hail from Bullard, Frankston, Chandler and Jacksonville, said past division commander Linda Reed.

“It's not unusual for a post to have members from outside the city because of how it's geographically located,” she said.

The Oct. 4 meeting will “basically explain what the Legion is and how a meeting is formally run,” Reed said.

“Families are welcome to attend, because we have different organizations for them to join, like the Auxiliary, which is for wives, and the Sons of the American Legion, which is open to the sons of members,” she said.  

Members also will vote on the cost of annual membership fees, elect officers and establish a set time for monthly meetings.

The American Legion is based on four pillars: veteran and families, children and youth, community and national security.

The Veteran and Families programs help people navigate different benefits offered to veterans and their dependents, like the GI Bill (education), housing, medical, disability compensation and rating, job preference, Heroes to Hometown, Wounded Warrior and Ride to Recovery Programs that assist soldiers as they meet the challenge of living with injuries.

Children and youth programs feature more than 250 programs, many of which offer college scholarship opportunities to students, along with the Boys and Girls State program and the American Legion Baseball program.

Community programs include the Blue Star and the Gold Star Banner programs, among others.

“All these programs help to pull together Americans for the purpose of unity, caring and commitment,” Reed said. “We pride ourselves on being an family-oriented organization.”

Men and women who have served in the military during a period of war or conflict are eligible to join the Legion, as are those individuals who have gone a day or more with an honorable discharge.

For more information about American Legion Post 152 in Jacksonville, contact Linda M. Reed, past division commander at 903-806-2900, or email ladilegionnaire@yahoo.com.