We had the BEST TIME EVER!
(click each photo to enlarge)
On that sunny, perfect late-April day, a canopy staffed with Post 30 Auxiliary and Wardlaw student volunteers were out front to welcome guests arriving for Family Day. Children received a Post 30 emblem souvenir carry bag and cup, together with a coloring book and crayons, And everyone received a raffle ticket for prizes awarded every half-hour. Music streamed in the background, creating excitement that fueled children and adults as they played cornhole or maybe tried their hands at lawn bowling with the helpful assistance of pin-setter student volunteers from Wardlaw Academy. Lining the semi-circle driveway was the centerpiece attraction: an incredible display of World War II military vehicles.
M-151 Jeep
Dodge M37 Army Truck
M-35A2 Deuce and a Half
Whether it was adults getting a close-up look at the vehicles’ interiors, some with visible bullet holes, or the children scrambling into the driver’s seats, these time capsules were a big draw and included jeeps, weapons carriers, and an Army cargo truck complete with a rocket launcher. Another well-visited canopy where people lingered and plenty of friendly conversation took place was devoted to an impressive offering of free Bibles and devotional materials.
Post 30 Chaplain Major William Beaver greeted guest at his tent.
Passing through the gauntlet of fun, families strolled in and out through the open doors of our colorfully-decorated quarters and were greeted by flags representing each of the services arrayed behind the Post 30 commander’s desk, similar to how members might find them during an official monthly meeting. To the side, the sun fell across the table set in solemn remembrance of the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action. Under streamers and colored lanterns, families sat down to lunch, compliments of Ole Edgefield Butcher Shop, or browsed through the interesting displays.
Decorated Building Entrance
Post 30 Commander's Desk
POW/MIA Remembrance Table
Visitors enjoying lunch compliments of Ole Edgefield Butcher Shop
Among these was a fascinating antique military radio collection. The quaint devices supplied adults with endless entertainment in the form of the puzzled faces of young people trying to imagine using these now-cumbersome and indestructible devices for communication. Another table offered beautiful samples of Quilts of Valor, hand-made tributes that may be created upon request and awarded to elderly veterans.
Young people marveling at the vintage communication devices.
Brigadier General (BG) Fab Burt, US Army, Retired, shared his magnificent vintage military radio collection.
Quilts of Valor, SC State Coordinator Kim Price interacting with guests.
The Post 30 and Auxiliary membership table sustained a lively group of visitors and signed up new members or answered questions about the many ways the American Legion is ready to help our community. This was complemented by a well-curated selection of photographs displayed along a series of tables, images that conveyed visitors back through the many public events hosted by Post 30 in 2021-2023.
Visiting veterans inquiring about Post 30 membership.
Guests viewing Post 30 displays of public events.
Post 30 member purchasing a rifle raffle ticket from the membership table.
Every half-hour the DJ announced 4-5 winners of beautifully-packaged prizes that included items like gift certificates from Edgefield’s own TLC, Mario’s, Ole Edgefield Butcher Shop, McDonalds, and Bojangles or maybe little smile-makers like soap bubble wands and bags of roasted salted cashews.
Randle Berlin was assisted by his son, Kasual, as the event’s music DJ and emcee. Berlin is the owner of Southern Knights Entertainment and is available for events.
Caleb Jernigan won a $25 gift card to Mario's on Main Street in Edgefield.
Ashley Martin won two soap bubble wands.
Carolyn Piekielniak won a $20 gift card to TLC Confections and Gifts in Edgefield Town Square.
Ruth Dawson won a bag of roasted salted cashews.
Elaine Parker won a $25 gift card to Ole Edgefield Butcher Shop.
By the time the music resumed, the Edgefield Fire Department truck was groaning with a new load of shrieking children and excited adults, anticipating the ride complete with blaring siren as it created its own parade past the Edgefield Town Square before returning to Post 30.
Edgefield Fire Department truck taking visitors on a ride.
Even the big kids enjoyed riding in the firetruck.
One of Edgefield Fire Department's finest, Keith Coleman, volunteered his free time to make dreams come true for kids (and adults).
It was a wonderful opportunity to strengthen and build old and new friendships between military veterans and their families and for residents to visit Post 30’s facilities and learn how we may be of service to our community. We hope that veterans and their families will continue to think of us as a place for assistance and camaraderie. Thank you again from Post 30 and Post 30 Auxiliary to all of the veterans, businesses, citizens, neighbors, friends and family who have supported us now and in the past and our new friends who attended and made Family Day a joyful gathering.
Post 30 Vice Commander Winston Boddie welcoming a visitor from North Augusta, SC Post 71.
BG Fab Burt, US Army, Retired greeting American Legion SC District 17 Commander Jerome Childs.
North Augusta, SC Post 71 Commander Dusty Dawson and his family stopped by for a visit.
Post 30 Commander Tommy Tripp and Trustee Luther Beason discuss the shuttle service.
Post 30 Auxiliary member Fay Vaughan and Elaine Parker gave a warm welcome to guests and made certain everyone put their raffle ticket in the jar.
Pastor of Edgefield United Methodist Church, Mike Evans and his wife Heather at the welcome tent.
Volunteer Charlotte Bailey from Wardlaw Academy made sure every child received a warm welcome Post 30 logo goodie bag.
The welcome tent volunteers saw a steady stream of arriving guests throughout the afternoon.
We were happy to see families dropping in for a little bit of fun and food.
Ole Edgefield Butcher Shop fed our guests throughout the entire event (hot dogs, buns, chips, soft drinks and water, plus napkins and paper plates!).
Post 30’s Paul May and Justin Bailey, leader of the Wardlaw Academy volunteers cooked up heaping trays of hot dogs throughout the afternoon.
Layne Kelley, Charlotte Bailey, and Colt Bailey, Wardlaw Academy volunteers took a quick lunch break to fuel up for the action.
Kids having fun with each other playing corn hole and lawn bowling.
