As a part of the series reviewing the Rush County Community Foundation’s “designated endowment” funds, we’ll be taking a weekly look at the Rush County nonprofit organizations that have funds that support their mission and work held at RCCF.  This week’s installment focuses on the Rushville American Legion, Post #150.

The American Legion, the nation’s largest and most powerful organization of U.S. wartime veterans and their families, has served our nation for nearly 100 years.  Locally, the chapter has been a resource for Rush County veterans for decades.  The American Legion Rushville, Post #150 is located at the intersection of Morgan and First streets.  The American Legion is far more than a building and place for servicemembers and their families to meet:  it’s an organization that serves our entire community in a variety of outstanding ways.

The American Legion has 240 members in Rush County.  The Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion groups have 90 members respectively.  In order to become a member of the American Legion, an individual must have served in U.S. military during an active war period.  An Auxiliary member should be a female relative of a Veteran, while descendants of a male veteran comprise the Sons of the American Legion.  Though nearly 500 members is a wonderful representation of Rush County veterans and veterans’ families, it’s estimated that nearly 2,000 veterans reside in Rush County; it’s evident that the American Legion Post #150 has opportunity to be of service to many, many more veterans and families in our community!

The American Legion operates based on four pillars of service:  Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, and Children & Youth.  These pillars guide the programs in which the American Legion members, Auxiliary members, and Sons of the American Legion members lead for our community.  Veterans of all ages are recognized by the Rushville American Legion:  the Sons distribute care packages to veterans residing in our local nursing homes, the Auxiliary sponsors a veteran at the Indiana Veterans Home, providing care packages, money for needs, and gifts for holidays and birthdays, and Legion members act as a local support network for both Veterans and families of service men and women currently deployed.  Veterans are remembered by the American Legion Post #150 by crosses and flags placed at the Rush County courthouse lawn and in cemeteries at Memorial Day.  As the incoming generation of veterans and families arise, the Legion is looking for ways to attract new and younger members:  family game nights, movie nights, a walking club, and 5k runs/walks are among the activities Legion members can look forward to adding in the approaching years.

The American Legion, Post #150’s impact carries beyond the Veterans and families of veterans into our entire community through their service and the programs in which they have developed.  Scholarships, sports team sponsorships, charity benefits, sponsorships of Boys and Girls Hoosier State candidates, and fundraisers benefit many individuals, families, and organizations within Rush County.  The Legion’s facilities serve as a location for bereavement dinners, benefits, and fundraisers for community members as well.

The Rush County Community Foundation is honored to assist the Rushville American Legion, Post #150 with their efforts to serve our community.  A fund established in 1994 by Gilbert Joyce, the Gilbert E. and Phyllis C. Joyce Fund, disburses annually to benefit the charitable needs of the Rushville American Legion, Post #150.  The American Legion traditionally uses the funds they receive to provide scholarships for local students pursuing a postsecondary education.

If you’d like to make a difference in the lives of our local Veteran families and community, we encourage you to consider a donation to the Gilbert E. and Phyllis C. Joyce Fund.  To learn more about the Joyce Fund, visit our website www.rushcountyfoundation.org, our office at 117 N. Main St., or give us a call at (765) 938-1177.