ANSONIA – The Ansonia American Legion Post 353 held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday night for its “New Addition for the Member Event Area” to the current building in Ansonia.
The 1,250-square-foot addition will provide Post 353 with much-needed space for the growing American Legion post.
“The addition will make a larger veterans’ events space,” said Post 353 Commander Jennifer Anthony. “It’s an ever-changing world for veterans. It’s not like the old legions of the 1970s and 1980s, and we’re trying to make it a place where veterans can feel at peace and socialize. We want them to feel as welcome as possible. We want this to be the best American Legion not only in Darke County but in Ohio.”
“We have the enviable problem of having a great membership and not enough space,” Anthony added. “We want to make everyone comfortable. We get such great community support.”
Minster’s H.A. Dorsten, Inc. has been selected as the general contractor for the new Ansonia American Legion addition.
“It’s been a pleasure planning and coming up with a design,” said Steve Elsass, H.A. Dorsten Project Manager. “Now it will finally come to fruition, and we will put this worthwhile project together for them. We’re going to more than double the area they currently have for members. We are glad we were invited to put a number together and get the project.”
The Ansonia American Legion is well-supported by the community and is often open to the public for local events and gatherings. Post 353 is very generous, donating money to local causes each year.
“We have a Sons organization (Sons of the Legion), we have an auxiliary, and we just started a chapter of The American Legion Bikers,” Anthony noted. “We are trying to reach out to other Legions in Darke County that might have people interested in becoming a member of the American Legion Riders. They do not have to leave their Post to join our riders, but there are no riders’ organizations in the area.”
The project is financed by Greenville National Bank (GNB).
