On Tuesday afternoon, Post 295 was recognized by Loudoun County for their 75 years of service to Veterans and the community. The Resolution, drafted by Blue Ridge District Supervisor Tony Buffington, was presented by Chair Phyllis Randall, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors.
Middleburg American Legion Post 295 has been in continuous operation for 75 years. In 2021, it was recognized as one of the top Posts out of 212 active Posts in the Commonwealth for the first time since its founding in 1946. Post 295 has also received eight awards for membership and Post Commander John P. Moliere received both the Year End Post Membership Chairman Award as well as the Above and Beyond Award for service.
Post Commander Moliere and Thomas Grant, Jr., a member of Post 295 who also serves as the Loudoun County Veteran Services Coordinator, formed the Vets Helping Vets Program at Post 295 in January 2019. Under Mr. Grant’s leadership, with other Veteran Service Organizations and churches in Loudoun County, Post 295 contributes to providing a variety of services to support Loudoun County Veterans and their families. The Veterans Benefits Services has provided nearly 1,600 cases of assistance over the past three years, including Financial Assistance, Transportation, Healthcare Assistance, Employment Services, Housing Assistance, Volunteer/Donations, Legal Assistance, Furniture/Equipment, and other miscellaneous assistance and support services. Veterans of Post 295 serve as speakers at local schools on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Post 295 is active in supporting the Loudoun County community youth, sponsoring Boy Scout Troop 2950 and sending candidates to the American Legion Boys State Program. Since 2008, 16 young men from Troop 2950 have earned Eagle Scout rank. This partnership has resulted in 5K runs in the spring and fall. On Flag Day, there is a joint effort to properly dispose of unserviceable flags that have been given to the Post specifically for disposal. This year, Post 295 was able to sponsor seven candidates to the Boys State program that was just conducted this past weekend.
Post 295 serves as an all-purpose facility for community use by Loudoun County residents, especially in Western Loudoun, for wedding receptions, birthday and anniversary parties, quinceañeras, funeral repasts, and general purpose and town meetings. Post 295 Patriots Hall has most recently served as a Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Field Office, an effort initially coordinated by the office of the Blue Ridge District of Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, to bring DMV services to Loudoun County. Patriots Hall will continue to be of use as the Middleburg precinct polling location during the next several elections while the Middleburg Town Hall is under construction.