CONTRIBUTED PHOTO – The Charles Horton American Legion Post 739, formed in 2022 at the Iowa Veterans Home and currently led by Commander Fred Oster, right, has nearly doubled its membership over the last two years.

Since it launched nearly two years ago, Charles Horton American Legion Post 739, which was formed by residents and employees of the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, has not only held steady but almost doubled its membership as other chapters across the state struggle to survive.

Commander Fred Oster, a Marine Corps veteran who has lived in Iowa since 1989 and is a former IVH kitchen worker, said the post has grown from 60 members at its outset to 110 today and is actively looking for more people to join. And while it was formed by IVH residents and employees, any veteran is welcome.

“Our biggest need right now would be volunteers when we do events with the veterans. A lot of them are confined to a wheelchair or a walker or have other issues, medical issues, and we basically need volunteers and more membership. And we want to continue to grow,” he said.

The post meets the first Tuesday of every month on the IVH campus. While many veterans organizations across the country are struggling with declining numbers and questions about their long-term viability, Oster is happy to be bucking the trend.

“We have had members from other American Legions come to our post, and after their first meeting with the veterans (at IVH), they’re hooked. They sign up, and they become members of our post,” he said. “There is not a residency requirement. You can live anywhere in the county or outside of the county. If you feel disenfranchised by your local American Legion and you want more involvement, join ours.”

On Oct. 19, a delegation of seven veterans from the Charles Horton post traveled to Waverly for the fall conference, and they’ll also have a table at the upcoming IVH craft bazaar.

“It’s all about involvement in the community. We raise money for different scholarship events and things of that nature to give back to the community. And we just want to make the last days of these veterans (special) and give them a sense of purpose and service after their military careers,” Oster said. “It’s about patriotism and furthering patriotism and keeping American values and ideals alive and the spirit of the American flag and brotherhood.”

To learn more, check out the American Legion Charles Horton Post 739 group on Facebook.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.