Photo by Martina Marchese
By Leah Ede
Heading down Main Street in Castleton you might just miss the American Legion Post 50 hiding behind an ancient Army tank.
According to Greg Knapp, the bar manager of Post 50, the tank was donated by the U.S. Army from Bennington Knapp said that it was going to be scrapped and junked.
“They drove it up and we had a slab of concrete poured for it,” Knapp said.
Now it’s a focal point on the road.
Upon opening the doors on a recent weekday around noon, your nose is assaulted with smell of cleaning products.
As your eyes dance around the bar, you’ll notice the bartender wiping down glass cups, a lone guy drinking his afternoon medicine of choice at the bar, tables, flags, and murals lining the walls.
The building’s sports a bar, poolroom, poker room, cafeteria and a hall for parties.
But Knapp is hoping that the community will see that Post 50 isn’t just there for Veterans to hang out in, but for the community.
“It’s not just a bar up the road,” Knapp said. “We try to be community active.”
Knapp said Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts meet at the Legion, the post hosts Bingo for the public each week and they hold a community all you can eat brunch for $8 every third Sunday.
Tom Purdy, retired lieutenant commander of the Navy Seabee’s and commander of Post 50, also explained plans they have for the Legion’s hall being used in case of a natural disaster.
"We’re trying to make this an emergency shelter for the village,” Purdy said.
Ben Boss, the second vice commander of the post and former Navy member, joked about the shelter being at the Legion.
“But the bar will be closed,” Boss said with a smile.
Robert Godlewski, director of Public Safety for Castleton State College, said the Legion came up to him when he was the assistant coach to the college and offered him the position of coach for the summer Legion team.
“Never met a harder working and supporting group then these men,” Godlewski said. “People from the different posts come to the kids’ games to support them and they get excited about it.”
Godlewski said the team is made up of four different posts including Castleton, West Rutland, Fair Haven and Poultney. The players range from the ages of 15 to 19 years old.
According to Knapp there are a total of 72 posts in the state of Vermont and they also have posts in Mexico, the Philippines and even Montreal.
Knapp said that any students from the College or members of the community who have a military background would be welcomed with open arms to come and join.
The American Legion, Knapp said, provides a service to veteran and the community as a whole.
"There have been times that we’ve given a loan or a grant to help out Veterans,” Knapp said. “We’ve even paid the fuel bill to the church that used to be the Legion post because they needed it.”
Purdy said that the bar is the least important thing about the Legion, saying it’s just there to help bring in revenue.
“Some of the members don’t even drink,” Purdy said. “Some Veterans live alone who need some camaraderie.”
They also started a booster club and to become a member you spend $50 and there is a dinner every Friday night where you can win prizes.
Godlewski sees a lot of good in the Legion Post 50.
“Probably, to me,” Godlewski said. “They are the top fraternal organization."
For more information you can contact Greg Knapp at (802) 468-8962.
Heading down Main Street in Castleton you might just miss the American Legion Post 50 hiding behind an ancient Army tank.
According to Greg Knapp, the bar manager of Post 50, the tank was donated by the U.S. Army from Bennington Knapp said that it was going to be scrapped and junked.
“They drove it up and we had a slab of concrete poured for it,” Knapp said.
Now it’s a focal point on the road.
Upon opening the doors on a recent weekday around noon, your nose is assaulted with smell of cleaning products.
As your eyes dance around the bar, you’ll notice the bartender wiping down glass cups, a lone guy drinking his afternoon medicine of choice at the bar, tables, flags, and murals lining the walls.
The building’s sports a bar, poolroom, poker room, cafeteria and a hall for parties.
But Knapp is hoping that the community will see that Post 50 isn’t just there for Veterans to hang out in, but for the community.
“It’s not just a bar up the road,” Knapp said. “We try to be community active.”
Knapp said Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts meet at the Legion, the post hosts Bingo for the public each week and they hold a community all you can eat brunch for $8 every third Sunday.
Tom Purdy, retired lieutenant commander of the Navy Seabee’s and commander of Post 50, also explained plans they have for the Legion’s hall being used in case of a natural disaster.
"We’re trying to make this an emergency shelter for the village,” Purdy said.
Ben Boss, the second vice commander of the post and former Navy member, joked about the shelter being at the Legion.
“But the bar will be closed,” Boss said with a smile.
Robert Godlewski, director of Public Safety for Castleton State College, said the Legion came up to him when he was the assistant coach to the college and offered him the position of coach for the summer Legion team.
“Never met a harder working and supporting group then these men,” Godlewski said. “People from the different posts come to the kids’ games to support them and they get excited about it.”
Godlewski said the team is made up of four different posts including Castleton, West Rutland, Fair Haven and Poultney. The players range from the ages of 15 to 19 years old.
According to Knapp there are a total of 72 posts in the state of Vermont and they also have posts in Mexico, the Philippines and even Montreal.
Knapp said that any students from the College or members of the community who have a military background would be welcomed with open arms to come and join.
The American Legion, Knapp said, provides a service to veteran and the community as a whole.
"There have been times that we’ve given a loan or a grant to help out Veterans,” Knapp said. “We’ve even paid the fuel bill to the church that used to be the Legion post because they needed it.”
Purdy said that the bar is the least important thing about the Legion, saying it’s just there to help bring in revenue.
“Some of the members don’t even drink,” Purdy said. “Some Veterans live alone who need some camaraderie.”
They also started a booster club and to become a member you spend $50 and there is a dinner every Friday night where you can win prizes.
Godlewski sees a lot of good in the Legion Post 50.
“Probably, to me,” Godlewski said. “They are the top fraternal organization."
For more information you can contact Greg Knapp at (802) 468-8962.
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