By Danny Teigman
The spirit of volunteerism and community service is alive and well in East Rockaway, thanks to a revitalized American Legion Auxiliary Post and the work of its acting president, Debbie Stark.
Two years ago, the post, a colonial-style structure in the heart of the downtown business district at 71 Main St., nearly closed. After 40 years of service, its membership had fallen to just five active and 25 total members. Since then, however, those numbers have jumped, and there are now 25 active members and a total membership of 50.
For Stark, re-energizing and helping run the auxiliary's day-to-day operations has almost become a second job. During its rebirth, Stark sent out a mailing to 150 legionnaires in the surrounding villages, including Oceanside, Lynbrook and East Rockaway, asking for their support. As an all-female off-shoot of the American Legion, the flier Stark drafted contained an appeal for involvement from friends and relatives of legion members. After the initial buzz began, auxiliary members distributed more information while standing outside of stores like Pathmark.
Enrollment steadily improved and community involvement has increased. Last year it received a national American Legion Auxiliary award for Best Children and Youth Program in the Eastern Division after it helped out a struggling East Rockaway family by donating gift certificates for groceries. For Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, members put together food baskets. The New York State auxiliary branch offered a similiar award.
In keeping with its primary goal of supporting American veterans, the legion has launched a "Videos for Veterans" program. Members are collecting video cassettes around town, which will be donated to veterans' hospitals. Veterans Administration facilities in Northport and Kingsbridge, in the Bronx, have received donations. Oceanside Home Appliance is donating VCRs, and P.C. Richard is selling them to the hospitals at discounted prices.
"We think they do a lot of great work," said Cecilia Hatt, an East Rockaway resident whose husband, Jerry, a Korean War veteran, received a donated electric-lift chair through the legion's efforts. "The chair has definitely been a blessing to him."
Stark, 51, moved to Oceanside in 2003 from rural Souderton, Pa. Like East Rockaway, Souderton is one square mile in size and has train tracks running through it, but the similarities largely end there. When asked what makes Long Island so different, Stark said, "A lot more traffic, a lot more trains. In Souderton you might see two freight trains a week, if that."
Roughly nine month after Stark and her husband, Steve, 57, relocated near where he grew up, she got involved with the American Legion. Although she had never been an office holder at her previous post, she felt compelled to give back to her new community. Her responsibilities rapidly increased.
"It was a challenge, but it was very rewarding," Stark said of the experience. "I was the new kid on the block and really didn't know many people. But I've come to gain a lot of wonderful friendships, and that's priceless."
Before membership could be improved, her first goal was to contact Yvonne Ward, a self-described "past everything" for the legion. Ward instructed Stark on the procedure for running meetings and offered guidelines for setting up the post's membership drive.
Ward, a past district president who once oversaw Nassau, Suffolk and Queens counties, said that many posts on Long Island are struggling with low membership. "The decline is probably due to the age of the members," she said. "And now they're declining in health, and, unfortunately, some of the children are not picking up the banner and running with it."
But Ward is gratified by the growth in East Rockaway. "I compliment them on what they have accomplished and I also compliment Debra Stark [for encouraging] them," she said. "I am hoping she will be able to encourage the membership throughout the county."
Stark said that the East Rockaway post membership now includes people in their 20s, and she estimated that the average age is now a youthful 35. Stark comes from a military family, so she identifies with helping veterans. Her father, William Stout, is 81 and a World War II veteran. He served in the Navy and was stationed in Manila in the Philippines. Her husband served in Vietnam.
Stark stressed that the post never could have made such a successful comeback if it hadn't been for all those who volunteered their time. "I was just in the right place at the right time," she said.
Comments about this story? Dteigman@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 246
