Since its founding, American Legion Post 108 of Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel has been a vital part of the community — for veterans, of course, and also for the families of veterans, students and community members of all stripes who have benefited from services the Post provides. This is why Avalon Park Wesley Chapel would like to applaud the excellent work American Legion Post 108 is doing in support of our community.
Post 108 was founded in 1937 and covers northern Hillsborough County, an area of 270 square miles. It has 250 members — known as Legionnaires — all of whom are veterans coming from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
We spoke with Commander Randy Holeyfield who explained that Post 108 is the local outpost for the national American Legion. Formed in 1919, the American Legion is our country’s premiere veterans organization. It routinely advocate for veterans and their families, and lobbying efforts have been instrumental in the establishment of key resources and benefits for them, including the G.I. Bill and the Veterans Administration.
The local post supports a number of the Legion’s national programs, including JROTC in schools and the Stanley Johnson Nursing/Health Science Scholarship and the Boys State Scholarship.
Post 108 also is engaged in a number of local service projects. This year, the post has been working to revitalize Lutz Cemetery, which had become run down.
“It’s just something we wanted to do. When we told the cemetery association — literally, the treasurer almost cried,” Holeyfield shared. “They didn’t have the money to do anything, and for us to come in there to do this project — they’ve been praying for someone to help them.”
The Post has a number of events on the horizon open to the public. On Sept. 2, starting at 10 a.m., it will host a Post 108 Picnic at East Lake Park. Its second annual Golf Tournament, to be held at Plantation Palms Golf Club, will be Oct. 27 starting at 8 a.m. Closing out the year will be a Christmas Party on Dec. 9 at 6 p.m., at Lake Pagett Estates Clubhouse, where all veterans from the community are invited. And early next year, there will be another picnic celebrating the American Legion birthday — mark your calendars for March 16, 2024 at 11 a.m., at East Lake Park.
Holeyfield tells us that being a “homeless post” is hard — they have no permanent building to call home and host events. But Post 108 hasn’t let that get in the way of its commitment to supporting veterans and service to the community.
To learn more about American Legion Post 108, visit AmericanLegionPost108.org.
Published June 14, 2023
