Legion

for they are many

I do not recall the first time I heard the word. My best guess is that it would be in a Sunday School class when I was a young boy. The story is in Luke and Mark. It is about a man possessed by demons. Jesus commanded the demons to come out of him and he allowed the impure spirits to enter a herd of swine numbering about two thousand. The pigs then ran down a steep bank into a lake and were drowned.

The next memory I have of hearing legion was in Jerseyville, Illinois, while still a young child. The town had, and perhaps still has, an American Legion baseball field. I recall leaning against a utility pole outside the right outfield fence and my shirt sticking to the tar-like substance used to treat the wood. A game was in progress and I passed the time watching the players.

Many years went by and I heard of course about the French Foreign Legion. I had an employee who my company hired to work in Beirut Lebanon. While escorting him around the State Department offices he had to visit for in-processing, he shared he had spent time in the French Foreign Legion. That is when I learned one disqualifier for the French Foreign Legion was to be a native of France. It truly was for the foreign.

Fast forward to this year and I attended a street event in downtown Rolla, Missouri. One booth was hosted by the local chapter of the American Legion, Post 270.

Many times, since my retirement from the USAF, I entertained the thought of joining a veteran’s organization. The ones I am most familiar with are the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion. I had queried the VFW on a couple of occasions where they had booths at festivals or gun shows. Each time I was told the same thing, I might not qualify. I never pursued membership. I had an Air Medal from flying combat missions over Iraq while stationed in Turkey. We received combat pay and income tax exemptions for living in a combat zone. It never occurred to me I might not qualify for VFW membership. In fairness, I never applied so was not denied membership in any way.

Those occupying the booth in Rolla that day were a congenial lot. I remember only one name, Chris. Everyone was welcoming and encouraging membership. They told me their monthly meeting times and invited me to visit. I was sold on the vibes I experienced chatting with them and joined on the spot. Plus, they have cool hats! I ordered mine.

It has only been a few months and I think I have attended three meetings so far and one members’ dinner at Public House Brewery in St. James, Missouri. My schedule, as open as it might be, has not allowed me to attend any service events up to this point, but I am looking forward to contributing in some way.

The word legion could be taken several ways. There is the biblical reference, “‘My name is Legion,’ he replied, for we are many.’” In 1976 an outbreak at a convention in Philadelphia was discovered and dubbed Legionnaires’ Disease. An unwelcomed appellation to say the least. I find it macabrely humorous that I joined an organization with its own disease.

The membership I have come to recognize in my brief time in their company does not lend itself to humor. The appropriate sentiment is respect.

My age is 74 and I feel as though I am one of the younger members with respect to age. Some served in country during Vietnam. I entered the USAF in the Vietnam War’s last years. It was less than two years after I enlisted that Operation Homecoming repatriated 591 prisoners of war from North Vietnamese prison camps.

Several members of Post 270 are visibly younger. One is coach of our chapter’s baseball team. He is many years my junior and clearly active in the athletic world.

I heard on the news today of a stolen valor conviction of a woman from West Virginia. She had claimed to be a lone survivor of a battle in Afghanistan. The men and women of the American Legion have witnessed valor and committed acts worth of the moniker. Their valor is real.

They have stood watch on the bridges of combat ships. They bounced across unfriendly terrain in extreme conditions inside tanks, Humvees and armored personnel carriers.

Some of the most fortunate strapped themselves into jet cockpits and delivered energy to deserving and unsuspecting enemy.

Others served without glory performing the tasks necessary for all military action. Logisticians ensured our troops were supplied with food, medical supplies, and munitions. Engineers constructed staging areas, airfields and base camps. Medical professionals treated the wounded. Administrative personnel kept important records and confirmed communications were distributed appropriately. Meteorologists attempted to keep our combat personnel unsurprised by the impacts of weather phenomena. Military police secured perimeter fences. Cooks guaranteed our troops were well fed as mess halls supplied food to fuel hungry GIs. Submariners deprived themselves of sunlight and fresh air for weeks and months to silently guard the globe as they patrolled deep in readiness.

Their service to their country and community continues long beyond their years of service. They promote patriotism, civic education and national security awareness. Local posts conduct flag ceremonies, honor guards, and public events to honor service members and veterans.

The list goes on, …because they are legion, for they are many.