Veterans are ‘Glad to serve, but glad to be home’

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 | midnight

There will not be a breakfast social at Legion Hall today, Oct. 16. The hall is closed and rented to Grace Community Church as organizers prepare for the annual Country Store opening to the public at 9 a.m. Friday.

The hall is where hardware items of all kinds, some of them no longer in production, are displayed for sale. This is overflow from the church yard and buildings, where a department store-type of inventory will be displayed and purchased not only by Boulder Cityites, but a huge number of tourists, many of whom have ties to our town.

Tuesday evening, Oct. 7, Post 31 of the American Legion held its monthly meeting at Legion Hall. It was one of the smaller attendances of the year, probably because of the presidential debate held that night.

An unusual aspect of the meeting was the serving of hot dogs and hamburgers an hour before the meeting. The dogs and burgers were left over from the Sept. 11 dinner held the week before to honor our fire and policemen and as a remembrance of those who gave their lives during the terrorist attacks on that day.

It left an overabundance of the food in the post refrigerators, and Commander Doug McHam thought it better to offer the leftovers to the membership than to throw the food away.

Apparently some members of the post and auxiliary appeared early to grab a bite or two, then left to watch the debate. This demonstrates that veterans do not forget the foraging instincts they developed during service.

The first order of business for the meeting was the award to Air Force Sgt. Aaron Dykstra the yellow ribbon sign proudly hung on Veterans Memorial Drive during his service in Iraq. Dykstra served 9 1⁄2 years in the Air Force and did two tours of duty in Iraq.

Dykstra's response to the award was short, but very expressive. "Glad to serve, but glad to be home."

He was applauded by those who knew full well what he meant.

McHam reported that the post is now at 86 percent of its membership goal. He called on members to make it 110 percent by Dec. 1. That will require 14 more members, about one for everyone present at the meeting.

Clayton Glenn, one of the longest-serving American Legion members in the state with over 60 years' membership, who volunteers and serves at the veterans cemetery, said that the cemetery has received $2.3 million to construct a new, state-of-the-art maintenance building on the grounds near the airport. Glenn said it was badly needed, because the old shed was in poor repair.

Glenn also reported that there are now more than 23,000 veterans and spouses interred at the Boulder City state facility.

Nancy Nollette, post service officer, said her research shows there are six individuals buried at the veterans cemetery without gravestone markers. She is looking into getting markers, but said it will probably cost $110 each for bronze-type plates. McHam said it may be that the post will have to consider putting up the money.

Howard Scott reported another successful golf tourney in September, with 40 participants adding to the charity coffers of the post along with the sponsorships of local merchants. He also reported Archie Gill will be next year's golf tourney chairman.

McHam reminded members that Post 31 will once again prepare and serve the food on this Oct. 18 during the finale of the Veterans Home Olympics.

McHam will don his chef's hat for the occasion and several members volunteered to assist with food service. McHam ordered them to report no later than 10 a.m.