Members of American Legion Post 738 march in Fairview Park's Memorial Day parade in May. (West Life photo by Kevin Kelley)

Veterans' post struggles with finances
By Kevin Kelley
Fairview Park
Published Jan. 9, 2008

Increasing taxes and utility costs are combining with declining membership to put American Legion Post 738 in a financial pinch.

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In recent weeks, those associated with the Post have written letters to West Life appealing for temporary financial assistance.

Ron Hulec, a former post commander and member of its executive board, last week appealed for donations of even five to 10 dollars to help the organization help its cash flow problems through the winter.

“We are trying to do everything possible so as not to lower our flag and play Taps,” Hulec wrote.

The post raises the American flag at Fairview High School home football games and provides color guards at local civil events.

“Our basic mission as a post has been to serve the city,” Hulec said.

The Post’s hall, located at 19311 Lorain Road, receives a property tax bill of about $4,200 every six months, Hulec told West Life. Utility bills run around $700 a month, he added.

As costs have increased, membership has declined.

Hulec said that when he joined about 14 years ago, the post had about 240 members. Today it has around 140.

“A lot of the Second World War guys have died,” Hulec said.

And younger veterans are not joining in the same numbers as previous generations.

It’s not because there was a draft in effect in the 1940s and 50s and there’s no draft today, he said. In earlier decades, there was not as much for young men to do for entertainment as there is today, he said.

“There was no television,” he said. “They joined because they were like a band of brothers. They gravitated together.”

Veteran posts in smaller rural communities are faring better, Hulec said.

“That’s where the civic events take place,” he said.

Hulec, who served as post commander in the 1990s, said the center is considering the sale of its property. In such a case, it would seek to share facilities with another area post, possibly American Legion Clifton Post 421, headquartered at 22001 Brookpark Road.

However, Hulec said he does not want the post to dissolve or merge with another post.

“We want to do everything we possible can to maintain our identity,” he told West Life.

The post has no timetable for making any decision on selling the property, Hulec said. Post leaders are hoping its popular annual “Pro Of the Year” fund-raiser in April that honors a member of the Cleveland Browns will help the organization regain its financial footing.

Recent fund-raisers have not pulled in as much money as they have in years past, Hulec said. For example, a “Night At the Races’ event this past fall conflicted with a Cleveland Indians playoff game, which kept many people at home in front of their televisions, he noted.

The post has its own foundation that qualifies as a charitable organization to receive tax-deductible donations, Hulec said. And the post has applied for a Cleveland Foundation grant so it can continue awarding three $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors every May.

The post also plans to increase publicity about its events, said Hulec, who served in the Army in the 1950s.

Donations may be sent to: American Legion Post 738 Foundation, 19311 Lorain Road, Fairview Park, OH 44126.

POST EVENT: American Legion Post 738 will host a Commander’s Night Friday evening at 6 p.m. at its hall at 19311 Lorain Road. The cost is $7.50, $7 for seniors. Dinner will be roast pork and sauerkraut. Call (440) 356-2110 by Thursday to make a reservation.