By LAAH TUCKER
Special to the Hays Post
NATOMA — Dedication, determination and faithful perseverance in restoring the Natoma American Legion Hall are hallmarks of the American spirit.
Leading the restoration work in the Kansas Heartland were the American Legion Post 109, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 109, and Sons of the American Legion.
A dedicated team of volunteers donated hundreds of hours to the four-year project. It was not an easy task to restore the aging building, previously a WWII Army Air Corps barrack moved from Walker Air Base following the war in 1947. The exterior and interior needed major repairs.
With community support and through generous grants, the hall restoration became a beautiful reality with major help from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Osborne County Community Foundation, Sarver Family Trust, McFadden Family Trust, Midwest Energy, Western Electric Cooperative, Osborne American Legion Post 49, and District 17 Lions Clubs.
Benevolent volunteer organizations and individuals also provided their time, talents and financial support in the restoration effort.
The dedicated team of volunteers persevered through the heat of summer, the cold of winter, a devastating May flash flood, and December raging fires.
With final additions complete, the American Legion Post Hall was showcased during the Kansas 6th District American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary’s Fall Conference.
National, state, and district 6 officers joined members for a full day of training.
Auxiliary Unit 109 hosted a full-course dinner prepared and served from the beautifully restored kitchen to guests seated at banquet tables in the main hall.
The small, rural community of Natoma continues to give accolades with gratitude for the volunteer effort in restoring the iconic building.
With a “we-can-do-it” spirit, members will continue the legacy in the American Legion Hall with a myriad of annual projects beginning in January 2023 with a Kansas Day History event for Natoma USD 399 elementary students.
For God and Country, the organization founded in 1919 following WWI, continues with the aims and purposes of serving veterans, their families, children, youth and the community.