Sparta resident George Vaughn, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, is attempting to organize a local branch of the American Legion. Vaughn said the Legion is interested in opening a post here and he was asked to lead the effort since he is already a member of the group.
Vaughn served from 1960 until 1965, ending with a rank of Airman First (E-4), which is similar to the rank of sergeant in other branches of the service. He served during the time of the conflict in Lebanon, the Cuban missile crisis and the war in Viet Nam.
While some service organizations require that their members serve in areas of conflict, Vaughn said that the legion only requires that a veteran served during times of conflict, regardless of where they were stationed at the time.
"The American Legion is the oldest veteran’s group in the U.S.," Vaughn said. "We support Americanism, the flag and veterans' rights."
The legion performs many of the same functions as other organizations, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, of which Alleghany already has a post — Bruce Wayne Osborne Post No. 7034.
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