By LAAH TUCKER
Special to Hays Post
NATOMA — In Natoma, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 109 organized Memorial Day flags for seven cemeteries and Memorial Day services for three rural and one town cemetery in Osborne and Russell counties.
Following the services, members prepared and served a community-wide “beef and noodle” dinner in the newly restored American Legion Post 109 Hall.
The rich history of the American Legion Auxiliary is a portrait of dedicated women volunteering during war and peace for more than 100 years. From 1919 until today, the Auxiliary is dedicated to the founding purposes: rehabilitation of veterans; children and youth activities; serving the local community; disaster relief; and peace and security.
The American Legion Hall’s five-year restoration project included one additional year after a disastrous flood in 2021.
The finished project illuminates the tenacity and perseverance of veterans, families of veterans, and volunteers in giving new life to the aging building.
The restoration was possible through generous grants from American Legions, American Legion Auxiliaries, Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Osborne County Community Foundation, Midwest Energy, Western Cooperative Electric, Sarver Family Charitable, McFadden Family Charitable, Lions Clubs, and private donors.
The Hall was a former WWII Army Air Corp barrack for B-29 pilots moved to the current site following WWII.
The Natoma community continues to celebrate the beautifully renewed iconic building used for decades in celebrations, memorials, graduations, and community events in the small rural community on the High Plains.