By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – American Legion Post 96 will reopen in Montevallo after a two-year hiatus.

Building membership back up is the primary goal for those leading the post’s reopening efforts.

“We’re still working,” said Charles Duncan, vice commander for the 23rd District, in an Oct. 23 interview. “We’ve got some members, but it’s been slow. We’re wanting to get it started.”

Duncan said the group’s mission is to support veterans in the area and to be involved in local events.

“There are veterans in the area that are not being served,” Duncan said. “We need to be serving veterans and letting them know they can come to us with problems.”

23rd District Commander Richard Kaster said Post 96 wants to be a “viable partner” in the community by operating on the pillars of the American Legion, including service to veterans, national security, patriotism and doing what’s right for citizens young and old.

“This is a good opportunity to get involved because it is wide open,” Kaster said. “We want new blood. We want new ideas.”

Post 96, also known as Post Hendrick-Hudson, will be located at 250 Wilson Drive.

Anyone who has served in the armed forces and is interested in joining American Legion Post 96 can call Charles Duncan at (205) 910-3258 or newly appointed Post 96 Post Commander Roger Jefferson at (205) 602-6239 for more information.

“We’re just there to serve all veterans,” Duncan said. “The more the merrier.”