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For more information on joining the Standish American Legion Post, contact Ralph Brooks at 642-2173.

For more information on the American Legion organization, log on to its Web site, www.legion.org.

Until it was de-activated in the early 1980s, American Legion Post 128 in Standish was thriving.

“It folded at that time due to lack of interest and low membership,” said Robert Morrill, state membership director of the American Legion.

But a recent campaign launched by Cape Road resident Ralph Brooks to re-activate the post brought in nearly 50 members, and now the organization is seeking its own building in town.

“I have always wanted to start it up again,” said Brooks. “It gives us veterans a chance to get together and a chance to help other veterans who have to go through bureaucratic red tape that they shouldn’t have to go through.”

After contacting and receiving advice from Morrill, Brooks got a list of veterans in Standish, Steep Falls, Limington and Buxton, and began going door to door in an attempt to find veterans willing to join the legion.

“So far, there are 48,” said Morrill. “I believe that is just scratching the surface.”

The American Legion is a community service organization founded in March 1919 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in August of the same year. It currently has 3 million members worldwide in nearly 15,000 posts. The posts are organized into 55 departments, one for each of the 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines.

Some believe the American Legion became less popular during and just after the Vietnam War.

“For a long time, American Legion members looked down on Vietnam vets,” said Morrill. “That isn’t the case anymore. Today, 47 percent of members are Vietnam vets. The legion has bent over backwards to make up for that mistake.”

The legion is known for giving generously to nonprofit veteran organizations and individual veterans all over the world.

“The American Legion entered Louisiana 24 hours after the all- clear from Hurricane Katrina,” said Morrill. “They donated $2.2 million to vets in New Orleans affected by the flood.”

The Maine posts sponsor many nonprofit groups, including the Special Olympics, Camp Tall Pines in Poland and the Children’s Miracle Network.

“Once a post is established, they raise funds, pick charities or local families in need and do activities for them,” said Morrill.

In true Legionnaire form, Brooks recently built a wheelchair ramp for a local vet who had been injured while doing home repairs.

“I donated the materials and built the ramp,” said Brooks. “I wanted to help out a fellow vet.”

The Standish post is temporarily meeting every second and fourth Thursday at the Steep Falls Fire Barn on Boundary Road.

“We are currently in negotiations with someone to use their building,” said Morrill. “We hope to be in that building before the first of the year.”

Morrill has been a member for 10 years, and recommends joining to all veterans.

“I do it for the love of the legion,” said Morrill. “I see what it does, who it helps, and it’s wonderful feeling to be part of it. I really love it.”