A decline in membership has led the Arnold and New Kensington American Legion posts to merge.
Arnold’s Post 684, and New Kensington’s Post 347, are combining to create the Ar-Ken American Legion, said Commander Gill Thomas.
“Most Legion members, nowadays, are Vietnam era,” said Thomas, who was Arnold’s post commander for two years. “Ninety percent of them are in their 70s.
“The younger guys aren’t joining yet, and we’re working on that.”
Decreasing enrollment in veterans organizations, such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and AmVets, is a national trend.
The share of American adults who are veterans fell from about 18% in 1980 to 6% in 2022, according to U.S. Census data. The Veterans Administration expects that number to fall by more than 33%, from 18.3 million in 2023 to 12.1 million in 2048.
In Pennsylvania, the VFW had about 70,000 members last year, down from a high of 170,000; and the Legion reported about 113,000 members last year, down from 281,000, according to the organizations.
Thomas, 69, said the merger was necessary to keep the groups active.
“We’re keeping the Legion going, trying to get new members and try to make it a bigger service organization,” he said.
Thomas estimates the Ar-Ken American Legion will have about 35 members on the roster. Only two people showed up at the last meeting, he said.
As part of the merger, Arnold is transferring everything to New Kensington, Thomas said. They will use 347 as the post number.
Neither Legion had its own building. The organization meets at 2 p.m. the second Saturday of each month at the Arnold Public Safety Building, 601 Drey St.
Recruitment efforts, for now, are by word of mouth, Thomas said.
Legion members place flags and markers in area cemeteries, help with Toys for Tots donations, partake in holiday observance ceremonies and assist veterans with things they need, Thomas said.
“Service to veterans is what the American Legion is all about,” Thomas said. “It’s to make sure they’re taken care of.”
