LIVERMORE FALLS — American Legion George Bunten Post 10 at 17 Reynolds Ave. has experienced some challenges but is seeing forward movement and hope for continuance.
“Our Legionnaires, auxiliary members, and community members have supported us through the last year’s struggle,” Commander Jocelyn Mosher-Collins told the Livermore Falls Advertiser earlier this month. “I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone. ”
During the COVID-19 pandemic the post lost members for many reasons, she noted. Membership dropped from 140 at the start of the pandemic to 60, Mosher-Collins noted. The building was closed to save money for the winter months and it was difficult to have three members attend a meeting, she said.
That was hard to recover from, but more was to come.
On May 22, 2022, Livermore Falls and Jay had a damaging hailstorm that pitted the building’s metal roof and left cracks and other damage to the vinyl siding. That June the post couldn’t afford its monthly insurance premium and the Department of Maine American Legion Adjutant, Paul L’Heureux took control.
“Honestly, this was exactly what needed to happen,” Mosher-Collins said. “We scheduled meetings and discussed options and goals. Our Post qualified for a $1,000 grant from the National American Legion to assist us following COVID-19. The funds could be used to pay current utilities and insurance premiums.”
Members were contacted and asked if they were prepared to close the post or bring it back to the great reputation it once had, Mosher-Collins noted. To regain control of the post, members needed to reorganize, show determination and ability to run it again, she said. “Bringing back current members, signing up new members, as well as asking the auxiliary to support us showed the Department of Maine we were capable of rebuilding and surviving,” she stated.
“In August and September of 2022 we had clean up days, outside and inside our post,” Mosher-Collins said. “They were well attended and successful. We filed an insurance claim for the hail damage and we received compensation for the roof as well as the vinyl siding. By December we had control again. We were struggling but we had a plan and goals.”
The roof was repaired and reshingled in December, Mosher-Collins noted. “Through months of hard work requesting members to become more involved and asking for more veterans to join, our attendance began to improve, she said. “We have offered our hall for many rentals, held monthly breakfasts, a paint night, a comedy show with Teacher’s Lounge Mafia, and most recently hosted a free dessert with entertainment by the Merry Plinksters.”
With repairs still being completed, the post has a verbal commitment from a local company to donate ceiling tiles that have not been received yet, Mosher-Collins noted. Interior walls need scrubbing and painting, the entryway needs a facelift and the kitchen is projected to have a slight remodel plus new flooring, she noted.
“We are at a comfortable place right now, by no means does that mean we are perfect,” Mosher-Collins said. “It means, when we have meetings our seats are filled, our auxiliary and membership is growing.”
Mosher-Collins is the only veteran who has been both a past president of Unit 10 auxiliary and Post 10 Commander. “Many times you’ll see me working in the kitchen, cleaning the hall, putting up the sign on Main Street, or just smiling wearing my Legion cap with pride,” she noted.
Post 10 does not have a bar, is family friendly, clean, still remodeling and ready to serve the community again, Mosher-Collins said. Veteran membership is now to 82 and growing, she stated.
The auxiliary will hold a craft fair Dec. 9. Monthly breakfasts will resume Jan. 20, 2024, from 7:30-9:30 a.m.
Meetings are the second Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. The December meeting will be at a local restaurant to celebrate the Christmas season.
“American Legion is the largest veterans organization in the country,” Mosher-Collins said. “George Bunten Post 10 celebrated 100 years in 2019, the 10th post to open in the State of Maine. Lt. Col. Franklyn J. Burbank was our first Commander. His legacy lives on with his descendants as they are currently Post 10 Legion members.
“As well as many other commanders and auxiliary presidents who have served our veterans and community, I am committed to complete this mission. We are “Americans serving veterans,” she stated.
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