Dan Scace is proud of his rank – Retired Brigadier General, USAF – but he does not use it at the place where he spends a lot of time – the American Legion Post 119 in Estes Park.
“There’s no rank at the Legion,” he said firmly in a recent interview at the newly renovated Tavern in the Legion Hall. “And we are politically neutral,” he added.
But Scace will adopt another rank when he becomes the commander of the Post in mid-June.
It will be his job to retire the debt that went into the remodel of the bar and restaurant, which he thinks can be done easily by the end of the year, with the ongoing support of 300 Legion and auxiliary members and the Estes Valley community.
“We are open to the public and serve the entire community,” he said.
The new Tavern bar and restaurant serves an extensive array of snacks, light meals, and burgers. The live music programs, which the Legion is known for – Listening at the Legion – continue every weekend.
The formal grand reopening is set for June 8, and today – Memorial Day – the Legion will be open from noon to 9 p.m. with music by Chuck Sitero of High Lonesome from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The Memorial Day ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. at Estes Valley Memorial Gardens, 1672 Fish Hatchery Road, to honor and remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
At noon, a ceremony will be held at Post 119 to raise the flag from half-staff to full staff. Scace said that Memorial Day is the only day the flag is intentionally flown at half-staff from sunrise to noon to honor the fallen, signifying that the country will always rise from travail.
Post 119 received its charter in 1919 with fewer than 20 members. In 1954, the Post purchased its current building, located at 850 N. St. Vrain Ave., from the Bureau of Reclamation. The building, constructed in 1939, was placed on the state’s register of historic properties in 1998.
Over the past year, renovations have taken place inside and out. Architect Thomas Beck of Estes Park and Alpine Construction have been responsible for many of the upgrades.
Scace said several civic groups hold meetings at the Legion Hall for as little as $50. Weddings, funerals, or birthday parties also can be accommodated on a sliding scale.
Outside are picnic tables and decks so people can enjoy the good weather. An honor wall separates the parking lot from the yard. It is not just for veterans. If you want to honor your mother, husband, or wife, you can buy a plaque for $100.
“We have a lot of projects going on,” said Scace. He intends to oversee an expansion of the parking lot and the addition of solar panels to the building. He will also have to deal with the pesky elk that visitors love so much.
Andrew Virdin, an English teacher at Estes Park High School, is an American Legion Foundation Board member.
He said getting involved with the Legion was an opportunity to do good work with people he enjoys.
“I love the vision and the mission,” said Virdin.
The mission is spelled out in the Legion’s Four Pillars: support for veterans and their families; mentoring youth and youth programs; advocating for patriotism and honor; and promoting strong national security.
Before the American Legion was founded, no organization for veterans existed. The Legion’s early efforts to support World War I veterans eventually led to the creation of the federal Veterans Administration.
Scace said he is proud of his Air Force service – 34 years – and of all the work the Legion is doing. He emphasized again that the American Legion Hall is open to the public, the community it serves.