Members Valiantly Trying To Give Mattituck American Legion 'One Last Chance'

MATTITUCK, NY — Just three years shy of its 100th anniversary, the Raymond J. Cleaves American Legion Post 861 in Mattituck could soon be closing its doors forever.

The problem, said Legion member Art Tillman, who is also chair of the Southold Town Democratic Committee, is one that's cast its shadow on many similar organizations — a membership that's fading due to the passage of years, and few new recruits.

But those who love the Legion, located on Wickham Avenue, are trying desperately to give the post one last chance.

"Raymond J. Cleaves was a casualty of World War I," Tillman said. "Mattituck area veterans of that war, whose 100th Anniversary we now honor, formed an American Legion Post in 1920, one year after the American Legion was established — and honored Raymond J. Cleaves, a casualty of the war, in naming the new post after him."

Sadly, he said, "Three years short of our 100th anniversary there is likelihood the Raymond J. Cleaves Post of the American Legion will shortly have to close. At the last three Post meetings we did not have a quorum to conduct regular business."

But, Tillman said, those in attendance decided to give the Raymond J. Cleaves Post "one last chance" to continue on as it has for the past 97 years.

To that end, he said, the Raymond J. Cleaves Post invites all veterans and the children of veterans, who are now eligible for membership, to attend a free dinner meeting to be held at Touch of Venice at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 27.

"If the response is low our Post will close," Tillman said.

At the dinner, topics of discussion will include the activities of the American Legion and the veterans' causes the organization fights for, Tillman said.

"It was the Legion who fought the government to include Agent Orange as a disability from war. It is the Legion that advocates for VA hospitals and patients. It is the Legion who remembers all those who have given lives for their country. It is the Legion that does so much more for the community. Please join us in keeping our historic post alive and honoring those who have given so much so we can live free."

He added, "The Raymond J. Cleaves Post wants you!"

Members and prospective members are asked to RSVP if they plan to attend the dinner meeting by emailing Caylea30@aol.com or calling 631-298-9587.

"This may be our last call," Tillman said.