Building birthday: Orrville's American Legion Post #282 celebrating 50th

ORRVILLE − Danny Brown has lifelong memories and ties to the American Legion Post 282, so many it's like a "second home."

His father was a bartender, and his mother was president of the auxiliary in the '60s when they took him there almost every day.

“I’ve been coming here since I was in a diaper,” said Brown, 68.

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He remembers the dancing and building parade floats and decorations from chicken wire and Kleenex. “It was a very family-oriented and fun place to be,” he said.

The organization creates friendships and bonds inside and outside the building. Brown volunteers in different activities: he cooks steak on Steak Fry nights and helps with the Halloween parties and the July 4 parade.

Orrville American Legion Post #282 building turns 50

The Frank E. Cook American Legion Post #282 is celebrating the 50-year anniversary of its building that opened in October 1972.

“We want to be part of Orrville, as Orrville is a part of us,” Brown said.

The former building was in the parking lot area of the new building at 237 E. Market Street. It had a basement and two floors. “It got too old, and they decided to build a new one,” Brown said.

The new building featured a larger area with a bar and a huge hall the members use for their meetings and events. It also can be rented.

When Charles Brandon joined the legion in 1973 after his military service, he was a member of the Marshallville American Legion Post #718 before getting married and moving to Orrville.

There was a time when the legion had a bit of a downfall. There weren’t many activities. It was running out of money and it almost closed, Brandon said. “Now we are trying to pick up and get things back,” he said.

The Orrville American Legion hosts activities throughout the year

The legion supports veterans and veterans’ families through different services like filing claims, helping with their disabilities, and scholarships programs for their children and grandchildren.

“We do several fundraisers and parties to support people who had been to war and got hurt,” said Janice McGuire of the ladies’ auxiliary.

One of their yearly fundraisers is Hot Dog Day sponsored by ACE Hardware. “We also send cookies and cards for veterans in Orrville and Wooster area,” McGuire said.

Many of the proceeds from fundraising and other activities is put back into the community.

Robin Gray, second vice commander of the legion, said the organization gives to "Shop with the Cop, Orrville Booster Club, and the Orrville Area Boys and Girls Club.” The legion gave five scholarships for high school students this year for $500. “It depends on how much we make, usually we give $750 to $1,000, but we lower the amount to give them out to five,” she said.

In celebration of the 50-year anniversary, the legion will organize a free celebration event from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1.

The event is open to the public with snacks, activities, and prizes for children. There will be baskets for sale dedicated to the remodeling project of the legion. Members will talk about the membership’s programs and scholarships. In addition, there will memorabilia where guests can see a timeline of the legion through old pictures, awards and flags.

“We want to get the community to see what we do and get the American Legion to where it was before,” Gray said.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Orrville American Legion Post #282 to celebrate 50 years in building