Sons of the American Legion: Another way to serve

While many may know about the Groton American Legion (the Legion) Carrington-Fuller Post 800 and all it contributes to our community (tinyurl.com/2asday62), as well as its Legion Auxiliary, not everyone may be aware of another affiliated program — the Sons of the American Legion (SAL) Squadron 800.

The Legion is open to anyone who has served in any branch of the military for at least one day of honorable service from Dec. 7, 1941, to the present, and the Legion Auxiliary is open to any spouse, grandmother, mother, sister or direct or adopted female descendant of a member of the American Legion. In contrast, in order to be a part of the SAL, one must be a man or boy whose parent or grandparent served in the U.S. military and was eligible for American Legion membership.

Gary McCracken Jr. is the Groton SAL’s commander and is in his second year of holding the office. He is very proud to be part of the SAL.

McCracken is also proud to own and operate Main Street Auto Repair with his father, Gary McCracken Sr., but it is not through his father that Gary is eligible to be a SAL, but through his grandfather, Don Elster. Elster served in the United States Army in WWII until he was bitten by a dog in Germany, developed a terrible infection that was untreatable in Germany and was sent home with an honorable discharge to preserve his life.

Gary and his dad have been in business in Cortland since 2005, and it was in 2006 that Gary was introduced by a friend to the love of his life, Kat Walters, who worked at a radio station in Cortland.

“Kat was originally from Long Island,” Gary said. “She got her degree in communications from Potsdam and worked for NPR, but she moved here to take that job to expand her experience in radio.”

Gary and Kat went from being friends in 2006 to dating in 2007 to marriage by 2009 but had in the interim moved to Groton in 2008.

Gary explained that Kat’s radio station in Cortland had been purchased and she was relocated to Ithaca, where she has worked ever since. She is currently program director and radio host at Cayuga Radio Group’s I100 and 96.7 The Vine.

“With me working in Cortland and Kat in Ithaca, we thought Groton was a great middle ground, so we moved here,” Gary said. “Plus, my cousin, Mike Elster, lived here. He was a member of the SAL, and my uncle, Gary McCall, was a member of the Legion.”

As it turned out, 2009 was a big year for Gary and Kat. Gary became a member of the SAL, Kat became a member of the Legion Auxiliary, and they got married. They had their wedding reception at Post 800.

Kat’s dad, Tom Walters, served in the Air Force for four years and the Coast Guard for over 25 years, and Kat’s brother, Mike Walters, served four years in the Air Force — thus making her quite eligible to be an auxiliary member.

Gary said that he had been the first vice commander of the SAL for most of his membership until his cousin, Mike, stepped down as commander in 2020, and Gary took office.

“We do a lot of community service and charitable contributions,” Gary said. “The SAL’s primary function is to assist the Legion post, and we have also helped with Christmas toy drives, the Red Cross, and other local community programs through the years and have put on Mother’s Day and Easter breakfasts for the community. We also run Boys’ State — a participatory program in which high school students become part of the operation of local, county and state government.”

Gary is joined by First Vice Commander Eric Smith, Second Vice Commander Mike Elster, Third Vice Commander Bill Austen, Adjutant Terry Thompson, Chaplain Tom O’Brien and Sergeant-at-Arms Gordon Shults, who make up the leadership team of the Groton SAL.

“Legion Commander Frank Heine is our post advisor,” Gary said. “He is the liaison for us to the post. Frank leads and guides us and gives us ideas for ways we can help the Legion.”

Gary and Kat’s son, Tristan, who is in seventh grade at Groton Jr./Sr. High School, also gets involved when his parents are doing things at the Legion.

“Tristan really likes clam nights!” Gary said with a smile. “One of the great things about the SAL is that you can be a member at any age — even an infant — as long as you are a direct son or grandson of a Legion member. Kat and I are very proud that Tristan will soon become a member under his grandfather — Kat’s dad. Kat and I both grew up going to Legions where we lived. We went to dinners and breakfasts and other events, and we want Tristan to experience that same sense of family that we did.”

Gary said his hope for the future of the Groton SAL is a greater emphasis on the local community and promotion of a sense of family values.

“Family-oriented things and values are missing from society today,” Gary said. “And I want to be able to help promote that for others. One possibility is to have members be a part of something to help local veterans like mowing their lawns or shoveling snow — really anything they might need that we could do.”

Gary encourages anyone who is eligible to join the SAL to stop in at the Groton American Legion to pick up an application.

“You can do as much or as little as your schedule allows,” Gary said. “But it’s a great way to be involved, and it’s like a second family. Our meetings are at 5:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month and last about an hour. Men can feel free to stop in and see what it’s like.”

Veterans and those eligible for the Legion Auxiliary are also invited any time to pick up an application to become a part of these great organizations in our community.

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com or text or call Linda at (607) 227-4922.

In brief:

Groton Craft Show

The Groton High School French Club will host its 11th annual craft show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 12. Admission is free, and this show has become one of the school’s biggest and most well-attended events of the year!

There will be over 100 vendors with an extensive variety of crafts and items for sale, including homemade crafts and woodwork, handbags, jewelry, quilting, embroidery, goat’s milk soaps, baked goods, original artwork, clothing and more.

Vendors will be located in both gymnasiums, the cafeteria and the school library, with parking available in front of the school as well as on the high school gymnasium side.

The French Club also runs a silent auction, bake sale, two concession stands and a “check your coat and bags” station. For a donation of your choice, you can “park” your coats and/or purchases in a secure area while you continue shopping and claim them when you are ready to leave.

Musical tribute to veterans

The Cortland Old Timers Band, which has several Groton residents as members, will play its end-of-season concert, “A Salute to our Veterans,” at 2 p.m. Nov. 13 at Grace Christian Fellowship Church, 1250 Fisher Ave., Cortland.

There is no admission charge for this popular event, but attendees may bring a nonperishable food item or monetary donation if they wish.

This concert honors all veterans who have served in any branch of the United States military and is a very moving and impactful tribute. If you are a veteran or know someone who is, this is an opportunity not to be missed.

Groton Story Walk updated

The Groton Story Walk, located on the trail behind Groton Memorial Park, has been updated once again with “Maple” by Lori Nichols. This is an adorable story about a free-spirited young girl’s friendship with a very special tree. Go check it out with the children and enjoy the still-lovely weather before the snow flies!