By Clyde Noel
 Clyde Noel/Special to the Town Crier |
Town Crier Correspondent
The American Legion casts its influence over numerous local events
n Sunday, Veterans Day, we could do well to reflect on the war that has been set before us and on those who serve or have served in the armed forces of the United States.
American Legion Post 558 community projects
Work with the Los Altos Village Association: American flags for Los Altos merchants, 3-by-5-foot American flags with staff are purchased for city merchants to buy from Girl Scouts.
Work with the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce: Advertisement of the American Legion Post 558 in their yearly magazine. Also, replacement of American and state flags located at the City Square, corner of Main and State streets.
Flag etiquette at schools: Purchase of American flag etiquette pamphlets, “Let’s Be Right On Flag Etiquette” for Los Altos and adjacent community schools.
College scholarships: Each year, national headquarters publishes a book titled, “Need A Lift,” a financial aid handbook for high school students seeking financial assistance for college. Post 558 purchases ($3.00 each) a dozen or more to pass out to local high schools.
Tree lighting ceremonies: Operational cost (gas and maintenance) to have the Santa Clara 40 Et 8 locomotive participate in this city celebration.
Festival of lights parade: Santa Clara 40 Et 8 locomotive participates with the local Girl and Boy scouts riding on the locomotive.
Gate of Heaven Memorial Day: Each year, Post 558 supplies replacement American flags for the grave sites of military personnel buried at the Veterans’ Sector.
Fourth of July picnic: The Legion hosts the annual Shoup Park Fourth of July ceremony.
Veterans Day rally: Pays cost for additional American and service flags, stands, patriotic banners, notices, etc., to support Veterans’ Day festivities held in the city of Los Altos. Los Altos American Legion Post 558 and its many members serve as a reminder of the reason the nation sets aside Veteran’s Day. In addition to the commemoration of all who have fallen defending this nation in the past, the members of Post 558 expressed their deepest sympathy to those affected by the acts of terrorism of Sept. 11.
One of the sentences in the preamble to the constitution of the American Legion states members should have a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation. Post 558 sticks to that doctrine.
Los Altos Post 558 was founded in 1938 and the present post commander is a third generation American Legion member, Kenneth Newman. The original building at 347 First St. is still maintained for meetings and as a low-cost facility where local groups can hold gatherings for community events.
Bill Goss, a Korean War veteran and post finance officer, said many people don’t realize that the American Legion is involved in so many different youth programs.
“Our Los Altos post works with and assists local schools with flag etiquette, we sponsor Girls and Boys State programs, oratorical contests, college scholarships and school awards,” Goss said.
Past Commander Henry Nagao, a Vietnam and Korean war veteran, is an example of the community involvement characteristic of the Legion. A dedicated Legionnaire, he and his wife Chris raised and lowered the eight American flags in the Community Center during the 10-day period of national mourning following Sept. 11.
Nagao also signed the recommendation by The Veterans Memorial Association, which joined the Los Altos Village Association (LAVA), in nominating all members of Los Altos American Legion Post 558 for the city of Los Altos and town of Los Altos Hills 2001 Community Volunteer Award.
Kathleen Byrne, executive director of the Los Altos Village Association, noted that for the past three years, the association, Girl Scout Service Unit 8 and the American Legion have worked in partnership on a “Show Your Colors” flag promotion for the merchants in downtown Los Altos.
The association’s recommendation noted, “This program is the vision of the members of the American Legion who purchased the flags, mounted them on flagpoles and donated the proceeds to the Girl Scouts. In addition, the American Legion provides and displays eight larger American flags in the Community Plaza for various patriotic holidays and during the period after the terrorist attacks.”
The Legion’s Boys State is a one-week program for high school juniors that provides a practical education in the duties, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship. Students learn the concepts and objectives of the state and city government through active simulation. It is held at the University of California at Sacramento. Post 558 also interviews and selects one delegate from Los Altos, Mountain View and St. Francis high schools.
Girls State is a similar one-week program sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary and held in Southern California.
Each year, Post 558 presents a $50 U.S. savings bond to one girl and one boy honor student graduating from the eighth grade.
The Post has several joint projects with the Girl Scout troops of Service Unit 8 (Los Altos and Los Altos Hills). The post purchases 3-by-5-foot American flags and gives them to the scouts to sell to merchants for $10. The scouts clean out the flagpole holes in front of stores, promote the display of the American flag and are allowed to retain the receipts.
The girl scouts also place 18-inch American flags on every military grave at nearby Gate of Heaven cemetery.
Lewis Miller Sr., a World War II veteran and longtime member of Post 558, has been concerned with serving youth in the community.
“I served on the committee for the youth recognition dinner for the Boys State, Girls State and youth and environment groups,” Miller said. “We ask the kids to talk about their experiences in these programs and the answers are emotional and moving.”
Bill Henderson, Navy veteran, said don’t forget the 40 Et 8, also known as FORTY & EIGHT.
Comprising veterans of both World Wars, Korean, Vietnam and Desert Storm conflicts, it draws its name from the narrow gauge railroads in France. Goss, Nagao, and Newman are local members of the 40 Et 8.
Los Altos Post 558 sponsors The Santa Clara 40 Et 8, a replica of the French narrow gauge locomotive, which participates in the Los Altos tree lighting ceremony and the Festival of Lights parade with local scouts riding on the cab.
Membership in the American Legion requires honorable active duty in the service of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard. Constitutional eligibility dates have been established for World Wars I and II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Lebanon & Grenada, Panama and the Persian Gulf wars.
National Guard units called to active duty and Merchant Marines during World War II are also eligible to join.
History of the Post Legion building
The building at 347 First St. was built in two parts, beginning in 1937.
The front part has a small kitchen and restrooms.
The downstairs, the Club Room, was added later with a wet bar and a full kitchen.
The city of Los Altos used the building to hold meetings prior to building the current city hall. The city charter was signed in the Legion building.
When Whitecliff market (now Draeger’s) burned down in 1966, the Legion moved to another location so Whitecliff could move temporarily into the Legion Hall.
The Legion Hall was the site for many dances and dinners held as fund-raisers for the original Covington pool, since removed. The hall continues to accommodate a variety of events.
Through its building, members’ community involvement, support and spirit, the local American Legion continues to make an impact.
As one member put it, “We’re not a bunch of old guys sitting around sharing war stories.”
