THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019 // 9
Legion was housed. After World War I, it
was in the former space of Columbia Hall/
Finn Hall, a Socialist club.
Legion today
Today, the Legion has 10 active mem-
bers and 93 total members. The member-
ship spans from World War II veterans like
James “Buck” Donnelly, 98, who fought in
the Philippines in World War II to those that
served in the Iraq War.
At the end of World War II, the Legion
had nearly 200 members.
Pacific County also has a much higher
percentage of veterans than many other
counties in Washington State.
Wallace noted that wars used to last
three-four years.
He said veterans from the ongoing wars
in Afghanistan and Iraq don’t join as much.
“So we have to try to get 1 out of 10 is
success for us,” Wallace said.
The museum shares its space with the
Legion.
In a previous life, one of the Legion’s
halls belonged to the IWW commu-
nist group and was the worker’s temple.
“Lenon’s name used to be up there on that
wall,” Donnelly said.
Care for Vets
The Legion has a service officer who
helps veterans get care.
“Part of our job here is to remind (vet-
erans) we’re here to help if you need help,”
said Legion commander Ron Robbins, 70.
The Legion will help veterans with their
paperwork for the Veterans Affairs, assist
them in paying their power, water or light
bill and their rent.
“We become advocates for them,” Wal-
lace said.
Administrators at the VA will pay atten-
tion to a veteran’s paperwork who was
helped by a service member from the Legion
because they know they are trained to help.
Wallace will pickup veteran’s who can’t
drive and take them to the VA clinic in
Longview.
He and others will also take veterans to
the Disabled American Veterans van at the
Burger King in Astoria that drives them to
the VA.
For Wallace, the Legion “means we’re
carrying on what our ancestors did to keep
us free, and it’s our best way of giving back.
I came through pretty much unscathed, but I
know a lot didn’t, especially from Vietnam,”
Wallace said.
He said soldiers from Vietnam weren’t
welcomed home much. But he thinks peo-
ple are more sensitive to what veterans go
through now.
The Legion also does a variety of civic
activities. They go to Blake Lake on Memo-
rial Day and read the names of fallen sol-
Colin Murphey/The Astorian
A new exhibit at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco highlights the history of the American Legion.
An American Legion Ilwaco Post 48 jacket.
Jonathan Williams
A World War I painting.
diers, starting with Grable. They also retire
old flags on Flag Day, participate in parades
and provide scholarships, gun safety classes
and present community awards.
Robbins said he sees the Legion as a
place where “veterans can come to ask ques-
tions and get assistance. I want them to
know we’re here, we don’t necessarily need
them to join, but we want them to know
that we’re here and that we’re here to assist
them,” he said.
If you know a veteran who is struggling
or needs help, Wallace can be reached at
360-642-4188. CW