By Stephen Floyd
The American Legion Hall in Mount Angel has some new upgrades thanks to sponsorship from a local business, and Legion leaders say it has already made a difference.
Silverton-based John’s Waterproofing reached out to Legion Post 89 in September with a desire to support a veterans’ group for their regular community sponsorship program.
Post 89 Adjutant Jim Kosel, an Air Force veteran, said he met with John’s Waterproofing employees for a tour of the Legion Hall to identify possible facility improvements. Kosel’s wife, Martha Kosel, an Army veteran and fellow Post 89 member, said the work was much-needed.
“They did so much for us,” she said. “This building was old.”
The Legion Hall was first constructed in 1936 as part of FDR’s New Deal infrastructure programs. Many of the fixtures found during the tour with John’s Waterproofing were original to the building, including the restroom toilets.
These were replaced with brand new toilets, though plumbers had to contend with cement seals binding them to the floor, said Jim Kosel. They also installed a larger sink in the kitchen and new cabinets and counter space in the reception room downstairs, as well as new LED lights in the two meeting rooms upstairs.
John’s Waterproofing also ordered a chair caddy to help transport seating to the events the Legion is involved in, from Memorial Day services to Fourth of July fireworks. The business already helps the Legion post hundreds of flags on gravesites for Memorial Day.
These improvements will help more than Legion members, said Jim Kosel, as other groups also use the building. The Knights of Columbus use one of the meeting rooms for their monthly gatherings, while firefighters from the use the reception area to decompress after regular trainings.
The Legion Hall can also host private events such as celebrations of life or veterans reunions.
Martha Kosel said supporting veterans and their families in these ways is part of the mission of Post 89, in keeping with the U.S. military’s motto of “No man left behind.”
