State officials present for ceremony
Sunman Legion Post breaks ground
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

Members of American Legion Post 337, Sunman, celebrated the beginning of their new post home during groundbreaking ceremonies on Friday, July 2, at 12:00 p.m. on site behind the present home.

After many months of feasibility studies, fundraising events, and the receipt of the grants, the new Legion Post 337 will be constructed by Morton Buildings of Rushville with Steve Boehmer as sales representative and Jim Dunbar of Batesville as architect.

The 15,000 square-foot structure will be directly behind the present post and hopefully will be completed by Thanksgiving if the weather cooperates and all goes as planned.

Present for the groundbreaking were State Commander Roger Baker of Anderson; 9th District Commander John R. (Randy) Beeler of Mitchell, Sunman Legion Member Al Kerner, 9th District Commander-Elect, and members, officers, and auxiliary members of Post 337.

In addition, John Campbell and Mike Wolf, members of the Sunman town board, Clerk-Treasurer Kris Schneider, and Ed Sullivan, executive director of the Rising Sun Regional Foundation were in attendance.

Officers of Sunman Post 337 include Post Commander Milton Howard; First Vice President Mike Blevins; Second Vice President Larry Dell; Adjutant Al Kerner; Financial Officer Steve Todd; Chaplain Bob Gindling; Service Officer Ed Gindlind; Sgt.-at-Arms Jodie Webster.

The members of the house committee are Eugene Fryer, Bob Gindling, and Roger Lang; the feasibility study chairperson is Ray Noble; and the building committee chairperson is Roger Lang. George Ertzinger is historian and George Ammerman, past commander.

Concerning the significance of the
groundbreaking, State Commander Baker said, "It's just great to see a small community like this take on the challenge of building a new post. It shows the community supports them, and they support the community."

Lang thanked the finance officers of FCN Bank of Batesville, the Rising Sun Regional Foundation, Sam's Club, the Ripley County Community Foundation, Inc., and the Indiana
Lottery for grants and financial assistance.

Members of the Sunman Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion also received recognition for their assistance with fund raising.

The new building will be T-shaped with meeting rooms, a bar and club room at the top, and a hall for receptions, dances, and community events in the vertical part of the "T."

At the conclusion of the speeches and groundbreaking ceremony, members and guests joined for lunch and a social time at the present Legion home.

MARY MARGARET MOORHEAD PHOTO

Participating in the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new home for Sunman American Legion Post 337 are, left to right: Mrs. Jean Roepke, auxiliary president; Jim Dunbar, architect; Ed Sullivan, executive director of the Rising Sun Regional Foundation; past Commander George Ammerman; Commander Milton Howard; State Commander Roger Baker; 9th District Commander Randy Beeler; Project Manager Steve Boehmer; 9th District Commander-Elect Al Kerner; Sunman Town Board Member John Campbell; Brian Noble and Bill Craig, FCN Bank of Batesville.