V.F.W., American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary. All three groups have as their main objective to help veterans and military families. Clarion is fortunate to have all three organizations with an active membership doing just that, which include George Foster V.F.W. Post #2612, the American Legion and its Auxiliary Post #246.
Dennis Mraz, V.F.W. George Foster Post #2612 Commander
Dennis Mraz enlisted in the U.S. Army in the early 1970s. “This was during the Viet Nam war,” he said. “My draft number was eight, so I knew that I would be drafted.” His service was from 1970 – 1973, being trained as a Chinook helicopter maintenance worker, serving one year in Viet Nam from August 1971-August 1972. During his final year in the service, he served at Fort Carson, working as a legal clerk, coming out of the Army with the rank of Specialist 5th Class. A highlight for Mraz was going into Saigon twice, once on Christmas Day 1971.
Because of the unpopularity of the Viet Nam war in the U.S. and the stigma attached to those who had served there, Mraz spent the next 17 years as a ‘closet Viet Nam’ vet, wanting to put the experience behind him. “Herb Billman coerced me to join the V.F.W.” he said, “which I did. I went to the meetings for the next two years before I became the group’s commander.”
All three local organizations normally hold monthly meetings. When COVID hit this year, their schedules and service work in our local communities changed. “We normally meet the fourth Monday of each month,” Mraz said. “We have missed our annual fish fry and chili feed fundraisers.”
One of the group’s most memorable support efforts was several years ago when a young soldier from Humboldt returned from serving in the Middle East to find his house had burned. “Our group had a red kettle fundraiser and was able to give the young man, his wife and child $2,000 toward rebuilding their home,” Mraz reported.
The group is organizing its annual Veterans Day celebration on Wednesday, November 11 at 10 a.m., though it will be altered this year due to the virus. (See the story on page # for more information on the program.)
The Clarion group currently has 35 members, with several younger vets recently back from their service, joining them. Mraz encourages anyone wanting more information on the group to contact him at 515-851-8956.
Raejean Chapman, Commander American Legion Post #246
Chapman served her military career in the Iowa National Guard from 1995 – 2003, as a member of the 34th Army Band based in Fairfield, Iowa. She retired as sergeant, E5. “My unit was deployed to the Colorado Springs Army base,” she said, “But I didn’t go because I was studying in Spain that summer.” She joined the American Legion 23 years ago, first in Ames and now in Clarion.
She was hesitant to take an active role in either post because of what Chapman termed ‘pretty limited service’. Two events altered her thinking. “One day at church, Herb Billman wanted to recognize me for my service,” she said. “Here was a guy who had been wounded in World War II wanting to recognize me for my service? And I was asked to speak at a Rowan Memorial Day event, so I did some research on anyone taking their oath for military service. It was then I realized each person when he/she raises his/her hand, we agree to serve our country no matter what we might be asked to do, in defense of our country. Everyone is valuable because we believe in our freedoms.”
Then, some of the leadership in the local legion post ahead of Chapman changed. Bob Stephenson passed away and Greg Anderson moved. It left some question marks for the group. Chapman began her leadership about two years ago. “I have a lot of members who are encouraging and supporting me,” she said.
The Clarion post, like the others, has had a limited number of meetings this year. Normal activities include providing color guard at veterans’ funeral burials, hosting Memorial Day programs; and sending a junior boy to Boys State. “A couple of things we have done differently this year because of COVID was our Memorial Day service,” Chapman said. “We worked with the Dows Legion and made 4 or 5 short videos which we posted for viewing on Facebook on the Wright Freedom Rock page. We have just implemented a ‘buddy’ system where we are keeping in contact with veteran members, as we aren’t getting together like we did previously.”
Currently the local group has 53 members, but more members are always encouraged and welcome to join. “Recently President Trump signed the American Legion Act changing our charter. Now, any person who has served in the military from December 7, 1941 to those currently serving are eligible to join. For more information on the Clarion post, contact Chapman at 515-689-8134.
Jo Ann Kramer, President American Legion Auxiliary Post #246
Jo Ann Kramer has been a lifelong member of the American Legion Auxiliary. “They tell me that I was carried into the Belmond auxiliary when I was two days old. My aunt saw to it that I became a junior member,” she said. Her father served in World War II.
Kramer says she has been the president of the Clarion group for more years than she can count. For a number of years, the local group was on ‘life support.’ “We were told a handful of years ago to become more active and attract more members or disband,” she said. “I began to call people who could be members to see what they thought. Become active? Disband?” Since that time the auxiliary group has added about 4 or 5 new members annually, until their current membership stands at 43.
Like the other two groups, the Clarion group has as its main objective to help veteran and military families any way they can. Community service is another objective of the members. “In a normal year, we make poppies available to the public for a donation, usually in May near Memorial Day,” Kramer said. “We support the Marshalltown Veterans home and have begun to send a junior girl to Girls State annually. We meet about every month. One of our summer meetings has been to travel somewhere in Iowa to learn more about a veteran facility or service.”
Who is welcome to join the legion auxiliary? “Anyone can join who has a family member in the American Legion, if that family member is currently alive. If that family member is deceased and has served some place or time in the military, the potential member is invited to join,” said Kramer. For more information, contact her at 515-532-2053.
