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While other areas of the country are struggling to keep fraternal organizations operating, the American Legion is growing in West Virginia.

Jim Davis, national vice commander of the American Legion, told members of the Wheeling Civitan Club on Wednesday that the Legion welcomed two new posts in the state last year and 486 new members. A former resident of McMechen, Davis now travels the country to bring the Legion's message to the public.

He said the American Legion, now a 90-year tradition, is the nation's largest veterans organization. It strives to let veterans and their families know they are appreciated for their service to the country and educate youth on the workings of the American government.

One of their programs - Boys State - was initiated in 1935 to counteract the evil teachings of Adolph Hitler prior to World War II. Boys State in West Virginia is held at Jackson's Mill 4-H Camp. Davis noted that the Wheeling Civitan Club sponsors a local boy to attend Boys State, where the teens learn the inner workings of the country's government.

In addition, Girls State is held at Wheeling Jesuit University each summer. Last year, 367 girls attended.

The Legion is an intregal part of just about every community in the state in some way.

"Last year we handed out 33 medals to ROTC members, sponsored 28 Legion baseball teams, visited 943 schools, sponsored oratory contests in high schools, sponsored 19 Boy Scouts troops and the new Junior Shooters program," Davis said. "We also donated 958 units of blood in the state last year. Sadly, we performed funeral details at 1,762 funerals last year."

Davis reminded Civitan members of some of their experiences in the military and displayed items from the past. Among the items were a mess kit, helmet, a can of SPAM, canteen, pillowcase and other food packets for wartimes long ago. The majority of Civitan members in attendance Wednesday are veterans of the military. Many chuckled at the items and memories Davis produced.

Another important project of the American Legion is the Legacy Scholarship, which provides college funds for children of veterans who have died while on active duty in the U.S. military.

"After 9-11, the families whose loved ones were killed at the World Trade Center received about $1 million each. But the families of those killed at the Pentagon only got about $36,000. We didn't think that was fair, so we started a scholarship program for descendants of military personnel," Davis noted.

One way the scholarship program is funded is through a Legacy Run. This involves veterans on motorcycles who raise money much like in a poker run. These Legion Riders will stop in Wheeling on Aug. 18 and spend the night at the McLure House Hotel. Davis hopes residents of the area will turn out that evening, around 6 p.m., on Main Street to welcome the riders. More information will be provided closer to the date of the event.

For more information on the American Legion and its programs, go online to www.legion.org.

Meanwhile, Wheeling Civitan Club President James Dague recognized Fred Horne and Dr. William Crowl for their 50-year membership in the club.