Mayor Meets Vets on Legion Post Future

COURT HOUSE — American Legion Thurston Elmer Wood Post #198 has been serving veterans, their families and the Middle Township community for nearly one hundred years. Founded in 1919, its current location, at the intersection of Hand Avenue and Dias Creek Road, was built in 1947. Today the Post has a shrinking membership and a growing pile of bills, as its members struggle to maintain the Post and property.
At a meeting held on Tues. evening, March 31, Middle Township Mayor Tim Donohue brought together Legion members, Township Grants Coordinator Anne Garrison and Cape May County Open Space Board Chairman Peter Lomax, to discuss the ongoing mission to assist the Post in improving the property and preserving the history of Middle Township’s veterans going back to the Revolutionary War.
“We are looking for a plan (and the funding to implement it) that will relieve the financial burdens on the Post and free its members to perpetuate the mission of the American Legion; to support active military personnel, as well as veterans and their families in the community,” Mayor Donohue said. “We want to rally veterans and civic organizations throughout the County to support an application to the County Open Space Board that will transform this property into a Memorial Park and Veterans’ Museum. We want these Legion members to play an integral role in developing this vision and enable them to leave behind a legacy that will make them and future generations proud.”
Peter Lomax reviewed the parameters of the Open Space program and the steps in the application process. In broad terms, the plan would include purchase of the property by the County, replacing the existing building and improvements to the grounds to create a more park-like setting, featuring monuments to our fallen service members. The improvements would incorporate the monument to Marine Corporal George Dramis into the park configuration.
Donohue stressed the importance of the Legion Post members maintaining their presence on the property and the long tradition of holding Middle Township’s Memorial Day ceremonies on the site.
“We see this proposed building housing a small museum and learning center for local students,” Donohue said. “We want to incorporate some flexibility so the space can be used by the Legion members and as a welcome center for vets to access services available them.”
Legion member Ed Dillio stressed the importance to the Post members to include an educational component to the plan. Students could visit the site, learn about the various monuments and the long history of military service and sacrifice by County residents.
Donohue said the parties would meet again in early May. He hoped, with the County’s help, to have a draft of the proposed design to present to Post members and other groups interested in partnering on the project. Formal application to the County Open Space Board would be made on August 15, 2015.
Middle Township is in the process of setting up a municipal Veterans Advisory Board. The ordinance to establish the Board will be introduced at the Township’s April 6th Committee meeting.
“We have had a great response to our call to serve on this new Board. This will be a perfect inaugural project for our Veterans Advisory group,” Donohue said. “We owe it to our vets to ensure that their service is never forgotten. We also must support those serving now in harm’s way around the world and educate our children on the price paid by so many to protect their birthright of freedom and liberty. Our hope is that this ambitious project can accomplish all those goals.”