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American Legion and VFW leaders seek state grants to repair aging posts, citing safety and community roles
Summary
Leaders from American Legion posts and VFW halls told the subcommittee their facilities need major repairs — parking lots, roofs, boilers and HVAC — and asked the committee to consider a grant or low‑cost funding program to preserve posts that serve veterans and community groups.
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military and Veterans Affairs heard testimony from multiple American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) leaders asking the state to consider grants or other financial tools to repair aging posts that provide veteran services and community programs.
Tim Poxton, legislative chair for the American Legion Department of Michigan, said the organization operates posts across the state and that many need maintenance and repairs. “The American Legion is the largest veteran organization in the state of Michigan, in The United States, and in the world,” Poxton told the committee. He described a local example in which window replacement would cost about $8,500 and said posts also support youth sports, parades and other community activities.
John Miernick, representing the Utica American Legion post, and David Ellis, commander‑elect of the Bruce Post VFW in St. Clair Shores, said their posts host scout troops, county VA sign‑ups, memorial events, volunteer‑run food programs and other community services and that infrastructure failures threaten that role. Miernick said his post relies on donations, fish fries and occasional loans; he described a parking‑lot condition that has produced at least one slip‑and‑fall claim and said a previous Small Business Administration loan of $30,000 helped keep his post open.
Ellis said St. Clair Shores’ VFW is the largest post in Michigan with roughly 800 members and that resurfacing its cratered parking lot was estimated in the $200,000 range; he described repeated utility and maintenance problems caused by the age of the building. Other witnesses, including Todd Wodzinski of the Clawson/Clausen American Legion and retired post leaders, described similar needs: roofs, boilers, parking lots and accessibility upgrades.
Why it matters: Witnesses emphasized posts’ role as local hubs that host veteran‑service activities, county and city events, charity drives and training for first responders. They said posts provide fellowship for veterans and free or low‑cost community meeting space that would be difficult to replace if facilities close.
Funding and scale: Poxton said state funding historically supports the American Legion’s service officer program (about $4.2 million cited for the program), but posts receive little direct government funding for building maintenance. Witnesses requested consideration of a grant program, matching funds, low‑interest loans or other targeted supports to preserve posts’ infrastructure and community services.
No votes or formal appropriations were taken during the hearing; witnesses were thanking the committee for considering the concept and describing needs and cost estimates.
Ending: Committee members voiced appreciation and encouraged continued discussion; no bill or formal motion resulting from the testimony was recorded during the session.
