The Gordon Bates Post #30 American Legion, formed in 1919, was named after the Shelby community’s first World War I casualty, Gordon Bates of Benona, who was killed on May 29, 1918. Originally organized to support fellow veterans and their families, as well as the local community, the American Legion post in Shelby is still active today.
Prior to walking in Saturday’s Veterans Parade, post members plan to honor veterans living at the Oceana County Medical Care Facility and Cherry Blossom Manor. “We want to take time to recognize those that won’t be able to walk with us. We don’t want them left out,” said Post Service Officer Darrell Hansen.
Everyone is invited to join the group at 10 a.m. at the Oceana County Medical Care Facility and/or at 11 a.m. at Cherry Blossom to honor resident veterans; or at 1:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Hart High School if they wish to join the parade.
It is evident from reading past news articles that the Gordon Bates American Legion has been involved in a number of patriotic, community and fundraising activities since organizing over 100 years ago, from marching in local parades and placing flags in Shelby and Benona cemeteries to helping area youth understand the freedoms they possess and honoring aged veterans.
Local scout troops are usually invited to assist at the post’s annual flag-retirement ceremonies for American flags no longer fit for service. The solemn and symbolic ceremonies are followed by the respectful burning of spent flags. It is an important exercise in helping the next generation understand the proper treatment of the flag. In recent months, the post has also been able to provide homemade afghans and other goodies to veterans living in local care homes.
“American Legions as a whole are dying,” Hansen said. “The membership rolls are filled with older people. If we’re lucky, we’ll get 15-20 people at a meeting, but it’s usually closer to 10-12. We started a Facebook page last year. Some of our older members said we didn’t need it, but today’s young people prefer to be involved online, so I investigated and pieced things together. We’ve got about 30 followers currently. Gaining new members is like pulling teeth. Many people think we’re just into drinking beer and smoking cigarettes.”
Hansen doesn’t see that as the focus anymore, saying today’s American Legion members are involved in a number of other ways. Not only is Hansen a member of the Shelby Legion, but the VFW Post in Montague and the Disabled American Veterans in Muskegon.
He was quick to give a shout-out to Oceana County’s Department of Veterans Affairs saying, “Jodi and Dani go above and beyond when they meet a veteran. They set the standard. They are top notch, the best I’ve ever worked with.”
Hansen should know, as a local veteran, he is called upon often to provide transportation to medical appointments for area vets. “Last week I gave a ride to a 96-year-old, and two weeks ago I took another vet up to Traverse City for an appointment. It’s a privilege and honor to do that,” he said.
Hansen, who grew up in the Orchard View area, has extended family from Shelby and New Era. Hansen said he always knew he was going to join the Army and did so in April of 1975. He spent his first four years serving in the state of Georgia and then in Korea.
“I was in supply and logistics in Korea. The television show M.A.S.H. has always been my favorite. If you’re familiar with that show, I was ‘Radar’ and I was good at it,” Hansen said.
At the end of his first four years, he returned to Shelby for one year but missed the military, so he returned for more advanced training and service, eventually serving in the Persian Gulf War and Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Hansen says being involved with the American Legion and with local veterans perfectly suits him in retirement. “But it’s not about me. Most people call my house a museum, but you will not see my military awards on display. My awards are when I made a difference in a soldier’s life.”
Hansen says the Army has a ‘buddy check’ system that encourages soldiers to check in on one another once a month, and he encourages others to do the same. “There’s a reported 22 veteran suicides a day. If you see a veteran, say ‘Hi.’ You may save someone from suicide. People call veterans heroes, but veterans are actually trained for a war that we hope never happens. The true heroes are the people back home—the families, kids and groups who supported us while we were gone.”
The Gordon Bates Post has its regular meetings on the first Monday evening of each month starting at 6:30 p.m. with a potluck supper, followed by their business meeting at 7 p.m. All interested veterans and their families, as well as other interested community members, are always invited to attend.
People are encouraged to search and follow the Gordon Bates Post on Facebook. For further information or for any veteran needing a listening ear, Hansen welcomes their call at 231-670-3170. “As much as I like to talk, I want to listen.”
