click to enlarge American Legion car show
Mark Hancock FILE
A hot-rod Ford Mustang. Photo by Mark Hancock FILE

American Legion Car & Bike Show 8 a.m.-2 p.m. May 17 American Legion Post 12 6101 NW 50 St., Bethany 787-6010 $10-$15

American Legion Post 12 plans a car and bicycle show to raise awareness of veterans and help build community awareness.

American Legion Post 12 in Bethany will host its inaugural American Legion Car & Bike Show as part of its push to restore the post to its golden age of active membership, said Dixie Brown, finance officer and acting adjunct at American Legion Post 12. The Legion is a veterans’ organization that offers social, financial and emotional support to Armed Forces members, as well as to veterans and their dependents. The car show’s purpose is to encourage participation from active Legionnaires and invite other veterans to join. “American Legion is set up for veterans to have a place to go and have fellowship and get involved in the community and support patriotism,” Brown said. The car show will include a 2014 BMW, 1920s classics and everything in between. While the car enthusiasts parade around in their hot rods, the children can show off their bicycles. The Legion also plans to award patches to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts or make donations to the organizations for the children’s participation. Local bike shop Melonbike also will set up demonstrations about bicycle safety and maintenance for kids. The car show winners will be awarded plaques, and the first 50 registrants will receive dash plaques as well. The Bethany post has 1,400 members, making it the biggest post in Oklahoma. However, its active membership has fallen, Brown said. She hopes the event will bring more active members into its ranks. The American Legion also financially supports community programs like Special Olympics, American Legion Boys State and baseball, and it is working toward having a large enough active member base to support these programs by volunteering members’ time and talents as well. During the car and bike show, guests can peruse booths of local arts and crafts vendors and win prizes from local businesses like dinner for two at Ann’s Chicken Fry House or car- related paraphernalia. The event is meant to galvanize the post’s membership, too. Verle Coslett, a World War II and Korean War veteran, has been a member of The American Legion for more than 20 years, and the post has provided him with many fun memories during that time. American Legion member and Vietnam War veteran Phillip Gray said The American Legion and the veteran community in Oklahoma are important reminders of the incredible service these veterans have given to their country. The veterans’ continued service to the community is a reminder to Oklahomans to be thankful to all of our veterans for their sacrifices.

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