Veterans Day provides a moment to thank military members for their loyal service in the past and present. A $306,000 grant announced Monday will help Madison American Legion Post 157 offer new opportunities for veterans and the Madison community well into the future.
The new grant from the Walton and Ada Thompson Charitable Foundation will provide restroom renovations, an updated kitchen, new floors and parking lot improvements to the post’s home on Thrift Road in Madison, Mike Fisher of Post 157 told The Daily Progress. The grant was announced during Post 157’s Veterans Day ceremony, which drew veterans from multiple military branches, relatives and neighbors to the space.
“We’re very excited about the good it’s going to do,” Steve Grayson, an officer with the foundation, told The Daily Progress shortly before the ceremony. “We’ve made contributions of nearly $2 million, and that’s just in Madison County.”
The foundation, created in accordance with Walton Thompson’s wishes after his death at age 99 in 2021, already has granted $100,000 to Rapidan Baptist Church, $80,000 to Mount Zion Baptist Church and $1.4 million to Madison County Parks & Recreation for a splash park and playground, Grayson said.
Walton Thompson served in the Merchant Marines for 37 years, and Ada Thompson worked briefly for the CIA. The couple moved to Madison County from Northern Virginia in the 1970s.
Mark Farmer, commander of Post 157, told Monday’s audience that the improvements to the space will begin in January and take six months to a year to complete. Regularly scheduled activities will continue as planned, with adjustments to be made as needed, he said.
After the audience recited the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence acknowledged prisoners of war and service members missing in action, with a symbolic empty chair for POW and MIA members given a place of honor. A crisp three-volley salute by Post 157’s ceremonial rifle squad rang in the sky outdoors, followed by a solo trumpeter’s clear, haunting rendition of “Taps.”
This year’s ceremony recognized women’s contributions to military service, and Farmer urged audience members to show support and encouragement to the next generation of women in the armed forces. The guest speaker was Cheryl Lee Rathjen, a retired U.S. Navy petty officer 2nd class, who spoke of moments of hope she has witnessed since joining the Navy at age 24.
“I signed up looking for something in life that was bigger than me,” Rathjen said. “Mostly, I miss the camaraderie and teamwork of my shipmates.”
Rathjen spoke of the importance of preventing suicides among military members and of helping military families deal with the stresses of deployments and losses.
Rathjen’s advice to audience members? Don’t resist the impulse to thank a veteran.
“Take the time to go over there and say, ‘Thank you for your service,’” she said.
Elizabeth Anne Storey, music director of Madison Presbyterian Church, led the Madison Community Choir in an armed forces medley that gave members of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard opportunities to stand while their branches’ songs were performed. The medley also included the song for the new U.S. Space Force.
The choir included members of the Madison Choral Society and Bel Canto Vocal Ensemble, plus guest singers. The audience joined the choir in singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and the first verse of “America the Beautiful.”
Wayne Durrer, the post’s chaplain, provided the invocation and benediction.
Source: www.dailyprogress.com