Staff Writer

 No one wants to join a group without a home.

That, said Brad Watts, is why he and other members of American Legion Post 26 of Biddeford are planning a series of fundraising events to keep the post’s doors open. Watts, an Iraq veteran from Saco, joined the group last years and is the youngest member. Jake Mulligan, a Vietnam veteran from Saco, joined years ago but decided to become more active after hearing the post might close.

Last summer, postcards were sent to all members asking if they want to keep the post open. The leadership of the post is mainly comprised of World War II veterans who no longer have the energy to raise money needed to make repairs to the building, Watts and Mulligan said.

The Tighe-Beaudoin-Farley American Legion post on Elm Street was once used for baked bean suppers that were the “best around,” Watts said, but the building is now only used for meetings.

The post collects $7 from each of its 100 members each year, but it takes about $8,000 annually to run the facility.

“We need to close that gap or we can’t stay open,” Watts said. “The rainy day fund was drained and drained and it’s pretty much gone.”

Members have until early November to raise enough money to keep the building heated through the winter, but need to continue to collect funds for repairs. Watts said the building needs new paint and furnace repairs and kitchen appliances may have to be serviced.

Watts and Mulligan are organizing a chili cook-off Sunday to raise money to keep the post open, the first in what Watts said will be series of family-friendly events.

“We want to do this event and show them this place is worth saving,” he said.

Mulligan said the chili cook-off was his idea. He’s been trying to get another local service organization to host one for years, and finally saw his opportunity to host the event. His wife plans to enter her chili in the contest.

Mulligan said it is important to keep the post open and active to support veterans who turn to the group for camaraderie and for information about accessing benefits.

“These people are people who served their country and they deserve better” than to have the post close, Mulligan said. “We need to get younger people in and get them to step up to leadership positions.”

Watts said he, too, hopes younger veterans will join the post. Many veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan look for places to gather that don’t focus on alcohol and provide inexpensive entertainment for the whole family, he said.

“For guys just back from Iraq, they’ve spent a year away. They don’t want to go somewhere where they continue to be away from their families,” Watts said.

Chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919, the American Legion is the nation’s largest service organization. Those invited to join are veterans from both world wars, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon/Grenada, Panama and from Desert Storm through present conflicts. The auxiliary is for family members of veterans.

Mulligan and Watts said they hope the chili cook-off will not only raise money, but drum up community interest in supporting the post and its veterans.

“I don’t think anyone wants this much history to go by the wayside,” Watts said.

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.

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