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By
MARVIN BAKER, Staff Writer
mbaker@minotdailynews.com
New
North Dakota American Legion Commander Harvey
Peterson has begun traveling the state visiting
local posts and encouraging growth in membership
across the state.
Thursday, Peterson and state Vice Commander
Larry Vetter were in Minot to take a look at the
building on North Hill that is expected to be
opened as an American Legion post by Veterans
Day.
A member of American Legion Post 5 in Beach,
Peterson is a Vietnam-era Army veteran. He has
been involved in the American Legion for many
years and has held numerous local and regional
positions.
Peterson, who doubles as the Golden Valley
veteran service officer, along with Vetter, were
on their way to the Sixth District fall meeting
in Velva Thursday night. The duo is traveling
the western part of the state this week,
stopping at local posts and attending district
meetings. Next week they will go to the district
meetings in the eastern part of the state.
“The first thing is a post home,” Peterson said
of the nearly gutted building that housed Doug’s
North Hill Bottle Shop at 1949 N. Broadway. “You
have to have a home, a place to rally and call
home. There’s no doubt that a Legion post with a
home is more successful.”
He added that each American Legion post in North
Dakota is unique in some way and described Park
River as one of the leaders in the state. He
said some are known for card playing, some are
known for dancing, some are known for the
socializing and others simply hold their
meetings in a building that is often a memorial
for those who lost their lives in the conflicts
of the United States.
“It’s a reflection of the community,” Peterson
said as he looked around the new Minot center.
“It’s an excellent start for these guys. They’re
going to have sweat equity in it, which will
give them post comraderie.”
As state commander, Peterson is going to focus
on four items in the next year that parallel
national standards. He said the No. 1 priority
is to take care of fellow veterans. No. 2 is to
advocate a strong national defense, then promote
Americanism and patriotism and finally, continue
assisting youth programs.
“The Legion is much more than booze, baseball
and bingo,” Peterson said. “Each community in
the state that has a Legion is huge in
supporting youth.”
He named some of the things the American Legion
sponsors: prom, scouting, junior shooting
school, Boys and Girls State, and he also
mentioned Minot’s strong American Legion
baseball program.
He added the American Legion is leading the
fight against the American Civil Liberties Union
regarding barring Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
being barred from military posts.
According to Vetter, facilities and funding for
the VA are just one of the things the American
Legion is a part of.
“We’re an organization of veterans taking care
of veterans,” Vetter said. “The Legion is
involved in a lot of things.”
As an example, Vetter said he and Peterson
attended the district fall meeting in Garrison
Wednesday night. He said he passed a hat around
the room seeking donations to help those in
Northwood. He quickly raised $230 for the
effort.
“It won’t bring their houses back, but it will
help get them back on their feet,” Vetter said.
“There’s no doubt, Legionaires are generous.”
He added that many Grand Forks residents who
received donations following the April 1997
flood are now giving back to those in Northwood
who donated to Grand Forks 10 years ago.
Vetter also talked about the Northwood American
Legion Riders, a motorcycle group that raises
scholarship money for children of people who
lost their lives on active duty since 9/11. The
fund is called the Legacy Scholarship Fund.
According to Peterson, the American Legion is
changing and it’s important to focus on the
target audience when soliciting membership.
“We need a strong, vibrant, involved
membership,” Peterson said. “Membership remains
the key to our success but we must do more to be
visible, vibrant and active this year.”
He said the important thing today is focusing on
younger veterans, some of them who may only be
19 or 20 years old. Vetter added it’s now
important to focus on a family atmosphere since
both parents are usually working in a household,
so when time is allowed, the whole family is
most likely involved.
Arnie Havelka, an executive board member in
Minot, was pleased Peterson and Vetter stopped
by, despite paint cans, ladders, pieces of wood
trim and carpet scattered about. Havelka briefed
the state command on the status of the building
and said there have been as many as 10 people
volunteering their time on any given occasion.
“We hope to have it open by Veterans Day,”
Havelka said. “This is going to make us
stronger.”
Havelka said he has known Peterson many years
and that he will be a good leader for the North
Dakota American Legion.
“He likes to get things done,” Havelka said. |
