Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 7-8-22

Local
American Legion Post 167 Needs Your Help!
Located in Central Tampa, Post 167 was the first American Legion post for African American veterans. However, the American Le- gion Carmichael-Legree Post 167 has been without a phys- ical post for more than 20 years and they need the com- munity’s help to get back on its feet.
The Post became a part of the American Legion Na- tional Headquarters in Tampa, Florida in 1946 and was named American Legion Post 167 Carmichael-Legree. The post is a living memorial to H. A. Carmichael and E. D. Legree who were Coast Guardsmen serving aboard The U. S. S. Tampa. This navel escort vessel was sunk with all hands aboard in the Bristle Channel, Eng- land, in September 1918.
Current Commander Arnold Watson says, “In 1945-1946 we did not have a charter for Black people for American Legion, so we had to fight. During the time, the American Legion was not in- tegrated.”
Post 167 became the first post for African American Veterans in Florida. The or- ganization allows fellow vet- erans to meet and fellowship, but most importantly, give back to the community.
More than 20 years ago, the city of Tampa pushed Post 167 out while expanding I-4. The group was paid $300,000, however another structure was not built for the post.
Former Commander of Post 167, Eunice Butts, stated in the past that some people said they were spend-
ing the money on the organ- ization, but they were not. The money was lost. Post 167 tried to regain the funds through legal measures, but the funds could not be re- couped.
After decades without a home the group purchased land and a trailer to have a home about 5 years ago. Un- fortunately, the trailer needs about $50,000 for renova- tions including redoing the electricity.
The group, who serves as JROTC for Middleton High School, sent out letters ask- ing for help. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and City Coun- cilman Luis Viera have stepped in to assist but Post
167 still needs the public’s help .
“I’m trying to do every- thing I can to support them,” Viera stated. “To support men and women who put everything on the line to sup- port us and all they’re asking is for a little bit of help to rec- ognize that so they can be to- gether, we have to support them in that.”
Viera put the group in contact with Veterans Help- ing Veterans. He also agreed to bring this issue before the city to see if they can do any- thing to help.
“What I find unique about this post is many of these individuals are Viet- nam Veterans and it’s an
African American majority post, so these are Americans who served their country at a time where their country didn’t stand for them and yet they wore that uniform,” Viera said. “Here they are today celebrating that service and we as good patriotic Americans need to do every- thing to support them in their endeavors.”
The post is now lo- cated on E Martin Luther King Jr. St. at 53rd St.
Donations can be de- livered on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more in- formation on how to help, call the Post at (813) 453-6887.
PAGE 8-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022