Students To Give Veteran Group Landscape Makeover
This article was published in The Edgefield Advertiser on August 27, 2025
American Legion Post 30 is about to get a fresh new look, thanks to a group of future agricultural experts. The Strom Thurmond Career and Technical Center (STCTC) agriculture students, led by instructor Jacob Laughlin, are rolling up their sleeves to give the Post’s front yard a landscaping makeover. As part of their annual community project, Laughlin’s class is preparing a low-maintenance design with plant variety and curb appeal.
Instead of hiring an outside company, Post 30 approached the students stemming from a desire for community partnership and to foster connections among veterans and local youth. There’s no doubt that students passing the completed project will feel pride in their accomplishment for years to come.
STCTC agriculture instructor Jacob Laughlin outlines the project to the students
Phase One of the project got underway when students visited the post on Penn Street Wednesday, August 6, to assess the current landscaping, take measurements, and brainstorm on plant selection.
But the visit wasn’t just about design. The Strom students learned they are key players in a bigger strategy for Post 30’s growth over the next few years. Their efforts will culminate in the new face of the post quarters and be a living billboard announcing Post 30’s revival. The class also discovered the history of the Edgefield structure erected as a part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to ease unemployment during the Great Depression.
Students read about the history of Post 30
Post 30 Commander Winston Boddie shares what The American Legion, and specifically Post 30, means to veterans and the community
Post 30 and the students warmly welcome community pledges to donate mature plants, as contributions from various businesses would collectively enrich the effort. The project also requires a few loads of bed soil, mulch, and an irrigation control system. Cash donations are always welcomed. Contact American Legion Post 30 at alpost30sc@gmail.com. The STCTC Agriculture Department can also be reached at 803-275-1767. Any contribution will help the students bring their vision to life and give Post 30 a fresh new look.
Laughlin demonstrates how the size of the beds are critical during plant selection
Students listen as their instructor explains the importance of plant selection and designing a proper irrigation system
Students are instructed to take height of plants into consideration during their research
Article written by Winston Boddie. Photos by Diane Peterson.