Double Springs’ American Legion seeking help

DOUBLE SPRINGS - American Legion Post 184 in Double Springs is undergoing major changes, not only in leadership but in ways to rebuild the legion through various programs and fundraisers to help meet current needs such as a lack of heating at the post building.
Matthew Stanfield, who was junior vice commander of American Legion Post 33 in Haleyville, was elected new Post 184 commander in 2025, transferring membership to 184, he said.
Now that Stanfield has come on board, he is working with fellow 184 officers as well as American Legion District 14 to make some changes to move the post forward, he said.
“Everything the Legion does serves a very valuable purpose,” Stanfield pointed out. “Our main goal is to help our fellow veterans, but also to be good stewards of the community and give back to the community when we can.”
However, Post 184 has been struggling not only with a lower membership roll, but also the need for additional funding, especially since the heating unit at the post, located on Highway 278, has not been working, meaning the building doesn’t need to be used in colder weather until the heat is restored, members said.
Fundraisers are therefore needed, to help the post raise funds for needed repairs and improvements, members added.
The Post is looking at having auctions, yard sales, a raffle and other events and functions to raise more funds, according to AL Post 184 members.
“Ultimately, I saw the Post needs someone to bring everyone together as a whole, as a family,” Stanfield stated. 
This  unity includes not only AL Post 184 but also the Post’s auxiliary, he said. “Anything to bring everybody together and work together to achieve the goals that are needed for the American Legion, the community and veterans in the community,” Stanfield said.
“There are books in this office that show this post used to be 100 members strong for years,” he added. Currently, membership is around 20, he noted.
“Mostly, the older veterans who were long-term members have started dying out,” Stanfield explained. 
“There hasn’t been a real push for advancements of any program in the Legion to make it more inviting for the younger generation, the Global War on Terror, Gulf War (veterans),” he added. 
To help boost this effort, the American Legion is introducing community gaming nights, where Legion members and veterans congregate and play family-friendly games online, with the assistance of the installation of fiber internet at the Post, Stanfield explained.
“You have to find something to get everybody back in the post and get it back going,” Stanfield emphasized.
Post 184 reached out for help at the district level from District Judge Advocate Tim Howard, who helped them develop the American Legion gaming night for Double Springs.
Howard, who is now chairman of American Legion Gaming for Alabama, added, “We have 141 posts in Alabama. We have 14 districts, so I started going to the posts that are interested in starting something to help revamp the American Legion because it’s not just in Alabama.
“The older veterans, Korean, World War II, they’re starting to pass on, as we all will,” Howard pointed out. “Now you’re looking at Panama, the Gulf War, and all wars after, veterans, how do we attract them?” Howard continued.
“American Legion gaming is geared toward the entire family and the community,” Howard stated.
Children and/or adults log online and play against others from different areas, according to Howard.
“It’s more than that,” he stressed. “It’s an outreach program to help PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder),TBI (traumatic brain injury) veterans.”
The video access will also be set up for  veterans who need to reach out or talk with someone to be able to go to the post, log on and talk with someone, Howard explained.
“The real outreach is helping veterans with their PTSD by bringing the community together because it is also a family program, kids, people who are not even a veteran,” Howard stated. 
“It’s more of a camaraderie thing,” he added. “It involves more into the mental health realm, especially with the veterans because sometimes it’s hard to be by yourself.
“...The other day I played chess (online) with somebody,” he continued. “I played checkers.
“We’re not trying to promote shooter  games and all that,” Howard stressed. “It doesn’t have to be those types of games. Every type of board game is also an electronic game.”
Since the Legion post has voted to approve the gaming program and a chairman for the program selected, national rules must  be followed, in order to set up the program, Howard further explained.
The post is also looking to start Garrison-Bonds Sons of the American Legion Post 184, comprised of sons of any veterans from 1917 to current, Stanfield added.
“If we have 10 to sign up, we’ll have enough to start the Sons squadron,” Stanfield noted.
To become a member of the Sons squadron, contact Stanfield at (205) 415-7666.  Registration can be completed or needed information gathered over the phone, Stanfield said.
“When we get the 10 people, we will call them all together, have a meeting with them, to verify their eligibilities,” he added.
“It was a patriotic program that was created to teach young men about patriotism,” Howard stated. “They have all the same positions we have in the American Legion, to run their program, but the Post is over that program.”
Jerry Hicks, a Post 184 member the past 17 years, noted that Vietnam veterans, such as himself,  are becoming fewer.
“We haven’t had enough activities for people to come out,” Hicks remarked.

Auxiliary faced 
danger of ending

Diane Watson, president of the Post 184 auxiliary, noted she is a member of the auxiliary because her mother was formerly a member and her dad was a former 184 Legion commander.
“The auxiliary actually almost died out quickly,” Watson admitted. “It was due to age. Even though I was a member, I was guilty of not attending the meetings. I paid my dues and was a member.
“The ones that were attending were from a totally different generation.  There is one still living who’s unable to attend,” Watson added. 
The auxiliary, Watson continued, is working hard to enlist new members. 
“The active members are just seven,” said Watson. “It’s very difficult to have fundraisers, activities, things like that with a few members,” Watson emphasized.
“We are looking for new members to help us out so we can help the veterans in our community and do more for them, have more events,” Watson further pointed out.
“I know a lot of veterans that are anywhere from their 30s up who don’t participate and are not a member of the Legion,” Watson stressed.  
“I ask them constantly to please  join and become a member.  Let’s get this back to what it needs to be,” Watson stated.
To become a member of AL Post 184, meetings are the third Monday of each month at 6 p.m. and applications will be completed based on eligibility, Stanfield said.
Those interested in being a member of the auxiliary, can contact Watson at (205) 272-2338, so they can go over eligibility requirements, she noted.
Anyone needing to rent the Post 184 building for public events can also contact Stanfield.  Rental cost is $125 with an additional $25 for a deposit, which will be returned if the building is cleaned and left in good order, Stanfield stated.

Note:  Any veteran who may be experiencing a mental health crisis can dial 988 and select “1” to talk to someone anytime, day or night.  Veterans can also text 838255 for help or call 9-1-1, go to their nearest emergency room or go directly to their nearest VA medical center, regardless of their discharge status or if they are enrolled in VA health care.)