The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1947-10-16
Legion Building
Need Stressed AT
Kickoff Dinner

ooo~oo go 0sooo
, "Kennewick needs an American
Legion building to serve the COM
munity as a cultural and recrea-
tional center" stated Ted Cooper,
State Commander of the Legion
at a dinner meeting Tuesday night
which was the kickoff for the To-
cal posts campaign to raise funds
for the structure.
Tracing the progress of the Le-
gion, the speaker pointed out how
a local post serves its community
as well as its members in numer-
Gus ways. 5f n.. ..a.. s.
SIN glad to be in on the start
of this project" said Earle S.
Richmond, General Electric Ser
vice superintendent of Richland.
I'm fact like to be in on the be-
ginning of any project" Richmond
described the expansion program
now under way in Richland. He
urged the immediate construction
of the Legion building here as an
added recreational center to help
meet the needs of the rapidly ex-
panding community.
A third speaker was Col. Harry
Cole, who is an instructor at WASH
ington State College. Col. Cole
stressed the activities of the AM
erican Legion as leading in the:
development of Americanism, and
warned of the dangers Of subver-
sive activities.
Richard Clute, Commander of
the Robert w. Ely post, explain
ed the plans for the building as
well as the financing program.
More than $4,000 has already
been pledged and when the amount
reaches 100000 construction will
be started.
''The Legion is not asking for
donations" he stressed. I've are
offering a sound investment in in
terest-bearing building bonds. The
investment will be amply secured
from revenues derived from a
long-term lease of the ground
floor and basement to retail
store"
1t is the plan of the Legion to
provide space for Boy Scout ac-
Invites in the basement with the
club rooms and auditorium on the
second floor.
Citing examples of community
service rendered in other COM
munities by the American Legion,
Clute predicted that the local post
would have the building paid for
in five years. "Other posts are
helping to build swimming pools,
athletic fields and numerous other
civic projects. With this building
as a center we can do those things
here"
Clarence Farley served as mas
ter of ceremonies at the dinner
held in the Community hall and
served by the Legion Auxiliary.
Grant Speight, Sixth District
Commander of Richland was pres
ent. Mrs. Cooper and Mrs. Cole
also attended.
Mayor j. c. Pratt welcomed the
visitors to the city and outlined
the value of the building to the
community.
Commander Cooper cited the
history of the Legion since its in
ception in 1919. The organization
now boasts a membership of g.
294, 90.
Washington state Legionnaires
have always taken an active part
in Legion affairs" he said. 1.-TWO
national commanders have come
from Washington" Much Of the
program, including the Legion's
potent Americanism policies, were
developed here, he stated. "The
American Legion stands 100 per
cent behind the Universal Military
Training program" he stated. Eve
stand for strong national defense
with an army, navy and air force
second to none" ..
Committees from the Legion
will make a systematic drive
throughout the community pro-
noting the sale of building bonds.