Galloway Legion Helps Future Veterans with Donation to Stockton

Galloway American Legion Post 430’s original building has become too big for the organization, so its members decided to do what large families do when the children move away and the parents are left in a home too big for two: downsize.

And now, the building that once housed the legion will become the Galloway Township Senior Center early next year after the legion sold the building to the township for $100,000.

At the Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 7, the 70th anniversary of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, the legion donated the money it made from selling the building to Stockton to fund scholarships for local veterans.

“It’s need-based and it’s for full-time students with a 3.0 G.P.A. or better,” said Russell Konrady, a Vietnam veteran and Stockton employee who was one of three members of the legion to present a check to Stockton President Herman J. Saatkamp. “You have to have been a Galloway resident at your time of service. There are a lot of people out of work right now who want to go back to school to help them get back to work. This opens the door to older veterans.”

If there are no applicants from Galloway, the scholarships are then opened to Atlantic County residents, the school stated. If there are none from the county, the scholarships become open to all student veterans from throughout the state.

“We are extremely grateful to Legion Post 430 for their generosity,” Saatkamp said. “Stockton’s history includes decades of opportunities for returning veterans. This gift will certainly build upon that legacy.”

Ike Rucker and Wally Kaenzig were the other two members from the legion present at the check presentation ceremony on Wednesday.

“Kaenzig and I talked about Dec. 7, 1941, on our way over here,” Rucker said. “I recall it and he did, too. I was 12 years old. I recall it quite well. In the post-war years, I’ve been very active in Galloway. I’m proud and honored to make this donation to Stockton.”

“I have to thank you for what you’ve done in Galloway,” Kaenzig told the Board of Trustees.

At this point, the legion is holding its meetings at Germania Firehouse, but when the Senior Center is ready, it will be able to hold its meetings in that building once again.

“It was built by our members in the 1950s,” Konrady said. “It became too much for us to manage, so we had to downsize.”

Now, they’ll get to go back at a smaller cost, and they’ve done their duty to help the veterans of the future.