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The 1970's
through Today
In
1974 the land lease with McDonald’s Corporation was
renegotiated for another 20 years with four additional five-year
option periods beyond that (until 2014). This also brought in
what was then a Godsend of $1,200 more income per month.
The
Post Newsletter, "Legion News," was started in 1968
under Commander Sam Crawford. For most of the next 30 years, it
was published by Legionnaire Lehman Young, a former Commander
and owner of The Virginia Press.
From
1967 to the present time, as the Post’s fortunes waned and
then grew solvent again, many modifications were made to our
Post Home. Some of the major modifications included: a paved
parking lot, an enlarged Club Room, a bar and kitchen added to
the upper level, improved food service facilities in the lower
level, a renovation of the Club Room, addition of awnings and
outdoor cooking facilities on the upper deck, and this past year
an expansion of the lower dining area and a new North Entrance
with canopy.
Changing
times saw the Majorettes leaving for Fairfax High School. The
youth baseball team being absorbed into Fairfax Little Leagues,
Inc. As the membership grew older, golf, darts, and pool
replaced more strenuous activities. The Sons of the American
Legion (SAL) grew larger and more active. But the Post’s many
civic, charitable, and veterans’ programs increased
significantly. A partial list of last year’s donations
include: active support of Veterans’ Hospitals and local
nursing homes, Girls and Boys State Programs, Thanksgiving and
Christmas food baskets, college scholarships, oratorical
contest, our Boy Scout Troop 1887, Girl Scout Troop 1523,
Fairfax City and County Police Associations, Fairfax City
Volunteer Fire Department, student activities and education
programs at six major local high schools, alcohol-free
graduation parties at six local high schools, Junior Law Cadet
Program, Fairfax Little League, Fairfax Police Youth Club,
Special Olympics, National Child Safety Program, Make-A-Wish
Foundation, Crime Solvers, Paws for a Cause, Heroes Inc, Patrick
Henry Plantation, and Fairfax Museum. A total of $35,864 was
donated in Fiscal year 1999!
The
Post 177 financial picture is bright indeed. Our Post has just
completed three years of significant enlargements and
modernization. We have a new tenant (Boyd School) in the former
radio studio building, a new leaseholder for the radio towers
and transmitter space, and continue to lease the land to
McDonald’s Corporation. Our annual rental income and interest
contributes about $90,000 annually to the American Legion Post
177 Trust Fund. Our Post Club Room operation and upstairs hall
rentals nets several thousand dollars each month to the Post’s
bottom line. Post 177 has no major debt and has several hundred
thousand dollars invested in various secure savings plans at
local banks.
With
the trials and tribulations of the past 54 years fading into the
past, the future of Post 177 and the building it occupies looks
confidant. With over a thousand Legionnaires, Sons of the
Legion, and Auxiliary all dedicated to civic responsibility,
support of our youth, support and honor to our veterans --- and
mindful of our responsibility to support and help each other ---
we are well prepared for the 21st Century.
The
history of Post 177 continues to be written and that history
will continue as long as we have members who are half as
dedicated as those who have gone before us. The founders have
all departed, our heroes, builders, and re-builders from World
War II and the Korean War are entering their golden years, and
we hope the younger ones coming behind will also leave a
heritage for the next generation.
Standing
in the Great Hall named for its benefactor, one can almost hear
the echoes of his footsteps, as he makes his rounds to admire
the accomplishments that he, the founders, the builders, and the
re-builders have made to Post 177 and the community of Fairfax.
But as Amos Chilcott reposes within sight of a great memorial in
the Fairfax City cemetery, his grave unadorned save for his
name, let us remember him and his legacy with the words of
William Shakespeare:
And thou in this shalt find thy monument,
When tyrants’ crests and tombs of brass are
spent.
For God and Country,
R. E. Mercier, Historian, Post 177
1997
Updated 12/6/99
By Arnold "Larry" Larsen, Lehman
Young, Jerome "Jerry" Gabriel, William
"Bill" Cullen, et al
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