EASLEY — American Legion Post 52 welcomed Sen. Larry Martin as guest speaker for their August meeting, a meeting which Post 52 Adjunct Paul Smith referred to as “one of the better meetings we’ve had in several years.”
Topics that were addressed included everything from Martin’s domestic violence bill to powdered alcohol, funding the highway bill and his stance on the Confederate flag controversy.
Martin had previously stated that before the shootings in Charleston, he hadn’t fully considered the implications of flying the Confederate battle flag on state house grounds.
The Republican Senator now says he recognizes that the flag doesn’t represent all of the people in South Carolina.
“It isn’t part of our future. It’s part of our past. And I think we need to leave it at that,” said Martin.
Martin also stated that the topic of regulating powdered alcohol has been tabled for a year and the highway bill is scheduled to be addressed in the next session.
As for Post 52, they’ve been as busy as ever.
“We are working with Robinsons Memorial Garden for the Veterans Day program November 11, at 11 am,” said Smith. “Veterans Day is the same as Armistice Day and the ending of WWI. It is a time when we remember the soldiers who have died in foreign countries.”
In addition to the Veterans Day program, Post 52 is also hosting a Flag Retirement Program. Residents wishing to dispose of their faded, worn or tattered flags with dignity should contact the American Legion to take part.
The Flag Retirement Ceremony will take place Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. at Pope Field.
