Editorial: Legion sale is good for all involved

Talk about it

There will no doubt be many Farmington residents sad to see the American Legion name come off of the building the veterans’ organization has occupied for more than two decades on Highway 3. There may be a few who are happy to see the change, too.

However you feel, though, it is undoubtedly good news that the deal that has been reached to sell the building will allow the club continued use for meetings and fundraisers such as pull tabs and omelet breakfasts. The Farmington American Legion might not own its own building come late May, but at least it will still have a home.

That is important. The local American Legion post has been an integral part of life in Farmington for as long as the post has been around. Its members have been important figures in the community. With projects like Boys State and Girls State and with the scholarships it gives to high school students, the club has provided opportunities and benefits for generations of Farmington residents.

Losing control of its building will not mean the end of the post. The sale should actually help the Legion, because it will allow them to pay off a loan that dates back to a 2008 fire that shut the building down for an extended period. Without that debt hanging over its head the club should be freed to focus on other things.

There are plenty of challenges facing American Legion clubs nationwide as one generation of veterans ages and younger generations show less interest in the organization. It should be comforting at least to remove one challenge from the list.

It should be good for the Farmington American Legion, and that should be good for Farmington.

Tags: opinion, editorials, farmington