American Legion Post 73 - NEWS!!

December 13, 2023

Service Officer Mark Kennedy routinely does a spot on the local radio show at WNBS called Mornings in Murray. You can listen to recordings of this show online. Here is a link to a recent show Mark did rebresenting the American Legion Post 73. (Note: Marks segment starts at 36:50)

https://www.froggy103.com/episode/mornings-in-murray-12-13-23/

November 8, 2023

Service Officers Mark Kennedy and Lois Wells routinely do a spot on the local radio show at WNBS called Mornings in Murray. You can listen to recordings of this show online. Here is a link to a recent show Mark and Lois did rebresenting the American Legion Post 73. (Note: Mark & Lois segment starts at 37:35)

https://www.froggy103.com/episode/mornings-in-murray-11-8-23

September 13, 2023

May 25, 2023

Congratualtions to Bill Barley

Bill recieved a Certificate of Appreciation for his work and support of the American Legion Post 73 programs for Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, and Children & Youth, as well as other community support programs.

Bill also servers as our webmaster, updating and maintaining our pot webpage with activities, news and calendar events.

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Congratulations to our 2023 - 2024 officers. Officers were sworn in by Kentucky Department representative Mark Kennedy. We look forward to your leadership!

October 30, 2022

NOVEMBER MEETING

The Novemenber 2022 meting will be held on Thursday November 10, 2022 this year due to Thanksgiving and conflict with the rodeo. Please note this on your calendar and plan to join us on November 10th.

September 24, 2022

Patriotic bracelets!! Looking for that unique gift for someone? Perhaps for yourself? The post has patriotic bracelets for sale. Please contact the post if interested. All proceeds go to support the Amreican Legion activities.

September 24, 2022

The post maintains a memorial bricks section on the west side of the post building. Bricks are available for post members for $30 or to the public for $50. If you would like to purchase a brick for yourself or soemone you know, please contact the post at 270-761-8728.

Each brick can have three (3) line of thirteen (13) characters each. Punctuation counts as as characters.

Brick order form.

August 26, 2022

Donate to the post and get a free birdcage!!

Post 73 is accepting donations to allow us to do the many things we do for our community, youth and veteran programs. Please contact the post at 270-761-8728 or come by at 310 Bee Creek Drive on Tuesdays or Wednesdays between 13:00-16:00 (1:00pm - 4:00pm).

July 1, 2022

Congratulations to our newly elected officers and committee
members. You commitment and dedication to veteran programs is
greatly appreciated by the membership and the community!

Please see the new Officers HERE

Please see the current committees HERE

March 9, 2022

BLUEGRASS HONOR FLIGHT REGISTRATIONS OFFERED

Murray, KY – American Legion Post 73 is offering Veterans the opportunity to file applications for the Honor Flight Bluegrass program. This is a program where Veterans are flown to Washington, D.C. and get to see many of the monuments in our Nation’s Capital.

Service Officers Mark Kennedy and Lois Wells will be available on the second Thursday of each month from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM and every Tuesday and Wednesday during the same hours to enroll Veterans in the program.

Honor Flight Bluegrass is currently scheduling for flights in April and June. The applications are all electronic/computerized now and Kennedy and Wells will ensure that applications are filed by computer. This is a first come, first served program and no appointment is required.

March 8, 2022

Congratualtions to Jackson Boone, who is the High School Oratorical Champion for the Department of Kentucky!!

That means that the First District – primarily Post 73 – has helped sponsor the State Champion 3 out of 4 years now and we had a second place finish in the 4^th year. The credit for these achievements go to the guys and gals that volunteer to help judge, monitor, escort and serve food at the contests. Thanks to each of you for the hard work you put in!

November 15, 202

November 1, 2021

VETERANS DAY ACIVITIES

The American Legion Post 73 will host a variety of activites in recognision of Veterans Day. Doors open to the public at 10:30. Please come join us in recognizing Veterans on November 11, 2021

Tentative scheduled activities include:

1030: Doors open to public.

1050: Activites begin with bugler "Assembly/Adjutant's Call."

- Invocation, National Anthemand Honor Guard Salute, Pledge of Allegience

- Commander's opening remarks, introduction of guests.

- Cake-cutting ceremony and ice cream.

- Remarks from post officers, Legionaires and special presentations.

- Benediciton

1330: Ceremonies are ended.

Guests are encouraged to also attend the Calloway County Court House for the hanging of quilt to honor Veterans as well as the Woodmen of the World Veterans Day parade.

October 28, 2021

BURIAL VAULT AUCTION BID UPDATE:

The bids for the burial vaults are now closed and the winning bid announced at the meeting tonight.

Congratulations to Ron Pelletier!

Thank you to all who participated and supported this effort.

September 28, 2021

BURIAL VAULT AUCTION

American Legion Post 73 has been donated the deed to two (2) adjacent vaults at Murray Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Murray. They are in the chapel mausoleum and are numbers 117 and 116. As you go into the chapel, go to the left side and towards the front of the chapel. The vaults are on the lower level and they both have plaques that say “Hargrove.” These vaults are valued at $7,400,00 EACH.

Post 73 is going to auction the vaults – both of them together – to the highest bidder between now and the night of our meeting for the month of October – the 28^th – at 19:00.

Bid Period: September 28, 2021 at 13:00 pm – October 28, 2021 at 19:00.

Reserve Price: A minimum bid of $5,000.00 for both vaults together is required to be declared the successful bidder.

Bid Procedures: MEMBERS in good standing (current due paid) can bid by email to Mark Kennedy at usmc1965@bellsouth.net. MEMBERS in good standing can also come to American Legion Post 73 between the hours of 13:00 – 16:00 on any Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon to post their bid personally with either Mark Kennedy or Lois Wells. MEMBERS of Post 73 in good standing can also post their bids personally between the hours of 13:00 – 16:00 on Thursday, October 26, 2021.

Mark Kennedy and Lois Wells will maintain a tracking log that shows the name, date, time and bid amount of each bidder – both emailed and in person. This listing will be treated as “CONFIDENTIAL” and only Mark Kennedy and Lois Wells will know the bids. Mark and Lois shall not be allowed to bid unless the Reserve Bid of $5,000.00 dollars is not met during the bidding period and then the offer will be advertised and posted community-wide and they shall be allowed to bid.

The high bid amount (without a name listed) will be posted each Wednesday on the office door at Post 73 by 15:30 and will also be posted here.

In the event that there are two or more bidders that are tied for the highest bidder on October 28^th, the successful bidder will be the earliest bid posted on the official bid tracking sheet. If there still is a tie, the successful bidder will be determined by a blind draw of numbered balls with the highest number drawn by those tied being declared the winner.

Good luck to everyone. This is a great deal for whomever is the successful bidder!

July 26, 2021

AMERICAN LEGION CELEBRATES 100th ANNIVERSARY

Murray, KY – American Legion Post #73 of Murray plans to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the post on August 14, 2021. Bill Cowan, Commander of the post, states that it was chartered by the Department of Kentucky on August 14, 1921.

“We are planning an open house to commemorate this milestone,” Cowan says. “ We will open our doors from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm on Saturday, August 14^th to the public and all Veterans in an effort to show who we are and what we do in our community,” Cowan said.

Cowan says that Post 73 has operated continuously since 1921 with levels of membership from 660 at the onset of WWII to about 125 members today. “Veterans have consistently recognized that the American Legion is the foremost Veterans Service Organization and there are more than 15,000 local posts throughout America and over three million members who continue to serve America, fellow Veterans, their families and the youth of our community,” Cowan asserted.

According to Lois Wells, Event Coordinator of Post 73, there will be several activities for the public to enjoy. “We will open our doors at 10:00 am and will have guides to show people the post exhibits and explain what we do every two hours util 5:00 pm,” she said. “We will provide free hamburgers/cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chips, tea, lemonade, bottled water and sodas starting at noon and continuing until 5:00,” Wells said.

In addition to displays and tours, the post will conduct a “Silent Auction” for several items and will have tables with books for donations of $1, $3 or $5 and other items like service plaques, framed prints, quilts and more to serve as a fundraiser for Post 73 scholarship and service projects.

Wells emphasized that the public is invited to come by and enjoy this opportunity to learn about Post 73. “There are very few businesses in Murray, or any community, that have been around for 100 years and Post 73 is proud to have served the needs of Veterans and our community for that long,” she said.

For additional information contact Mark Kennedy at 270-752-3333.

Transportation available for VA appointments!

Our van runs to the Marion VA Medical Center every Tuesday of each month. Riders must call our message board at 270-761-8728 no later than 13:00 the Monday prior to the Tueaday appointment. Riders must provide the following information on the message board:

Name: (first and last)
Date of appointment:
Time of appointment:
Last 4 of SSN:
GOOD phone number to reach you:

You will be contacted after 13:00 on the Monday prior to the appointment to comunicate the pickup time and place.
(Note: we pick up at Post 73, Hardin park & ride and the Mayfield VA clinic)

If you know a vertan who needs this service, please share this information with them. It can save wear and tear on your vehicle, saves the cost of fuel, and perhaps even a free breakfast...

February 18, 2021

The American Legion Department of Kentucky Area “A” division of the 85^th Annual National High School Oratorical Contest was conducted on Sunday, February 14, 2021 at the Lee S. Jones Convention Center in Eddyville, Kentucky.

This year’s Champion for Area “A” is Jackson T. Boone. He is the son of Michael and Jill Boone of Calvert City and he is a Junior at Marshall County High School. Jackson’s winning Prepared Oration was titled “If Only the Founders Could See US Now.” Jackson competed as the winner of the First District competition and has earned $900 for his efforts. In addition, he advances to the Department (State) contest where he will compete for a $2,000 first prize and the opportunity to advance to the National Championship at Indianapolis, Indiana where he will compete for $25,000, 1^st; $22,500, 2^nd; and $20,000,3^rd place prizes.

The second-place winner of the 2021 Area “A” contest is Jonna A. Clayton. She is the daughter of Amanda Barnett of Madisonville and she is a Senior at Hopkins Central High School. Jonna competed as the Second District Champion and her Prepared Oration titled “Dignify the Nation by Gun Education” garnered her a total of $700 on prizes. Amanda plans to attend college next year and is striving to achieve the highest standing she can in her senior class.

February 18, 2021

Murray, KY – Pictured (L – R) are Megan Frederich, Jackson Boone, and Jeff Frederich.

Jeff and Megan Frederich are pictured presenting the 2021 “Carli” Award to Jackson Boone. The award is presented to honor the American Legion First District Oratory Speech Contest winner. Jackson is a Junior at Marshall County High School and the son of Michael and Jill Boone of Calvert City.

The Carli Award is named for Carlissa Frederich, the daughter of Jeff and Megan Frederich, who won the 83^rd Annual National American Legion High School Speech Scholarship Contest. She was the first female from Kentucky, the first from competitor west of Louisville and only the second ever national champion representing the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Febraury 1, 2021

American Legion Post 73 has recognized three individuals affiliated with Quest Fitness of Murray for their support of the American Legion First District National High School Oratory Scholarship Fund.

Bill Cowan, Post 73 Commander stated that the owners and staff of Quest Fitness, through their “Journey to Freedom” initiative during 2020 was instrumental in the scholarships for students who participated in the contest. “We would not have been able to provide the scholarships this year, due to the COVID pandemic, if local people and businesses had not stepped up and helped us raise the funds,” Cowan said.

Post 73 Service Officer Mark Kennedy echoed the sentiments of Commander Cowan. “We are proud to present the Quest Fitness folks with a Certificate of Appreciation for their support of American Legion programs and the youth of our community,” Kennedy said.