A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR tHE MEMBERS OF AMERICAN LEGION POST #43 IN FORT MILL AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM UPON THEIR ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that American Legion Post #43 in Fort Mill is celebrating a century of service to veterans and to members of the community in the greater Fort Mill area; and

Whereas, shortly after the Armistice which ended World War I, several former service members met to establish a temporary organization for an American Legion Post in Fort Mill, a patriotic service organization that is given to works of charity to benefit the needy; and

Whereas, the first commander of the Fort Mill American Legion Post #43 was F. Murry Mack, and the first adjutant was Arthur C. Lytle. Two years later the post was officially renamed the Eli Bailes American Legion Post #43 to honor the memory of a Fort Mill native who had lost his life in the Great War; and

Whereas, the post greatly increased in size after World War II, and by 1946, membership had reached two hundred thirty-three. The Fort Mill post has consistently been in the top-ten American Legion posts in the State of South Carolina in size. When the American Legion Auxiliary formed in Fort Mill, it expanded the programs that assist those in need; and

Whereas, by the end of 1960, American Legion Post #43 completed building a structure on Banks Street for meetings, and it was dedicated early in 1961 after it was fully furnished. The Town of Fort Mill and York County donated funds for the construction of a War Memorial on the site, and the location also filled a long-standing need for a recreational center for Fort Mill citizens of all ages; and 

Whereas, one of the post's standing projects has been the Empty Stocking Fund at Christmastime, for which Legionnaires collect and repair toys and collect food and funds while donating much of their own time to help the needy. Other projects include financing two Fort Mill High School juniors each year to attend Palmetto Boys State; operating the concession stand at football games, the proceeds from which are used entirely in the post's youth program; sponsoring the oratorical contest in Fort Mill; assisting in bloodmobile visits; and sponsoring a Legion Junior Baseball team in the summer; and

Whereas, several post commanders from Fort Mill have moved into positions of leadership in the South Carolina department and at the national level; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives values the significant contributions of the Eli Bailes American Legion Post #43 in Fort Mill, and the members look forward to following the outstanding accomplishments of these Legionnaires in the years to come.  Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the members of the American Legion Post #43 in Fort Mill and congratulate them upon their one hundredth anniversary.

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