Odie Stewart, of Niles, is a Vietnam era veteran and member of the American Legion Post 26. Stewart has volunteered with the legion for the past five years as the vice commander. Stewart’s mission is to support the post and encourage new membership.

For this past Memorial Day, Stewart helped to organize the Niles parade with fellow legion members, including John Sly. Additionally, he helped to participate in the tribute to military veterans by firing a gun in salute to those who served during a ceremony in Silverbrook Cemetery.

How did you get involved with
American Legion Post 26?

I joined them because it was time to join, and I did not want to go outside of the area. My feelings for me, since I am from Niles, is to stay in Niles.

My responsibility is to help rebuild the post and that is what I am trying to do.

Through the kind-hearted people at Amvets we are able to hold our meetings there on the second Tuesday of the month.

How did you help with
the Memorial Day parade?

Another one of my goals is to make the veterans section of the parade more attractive to the city of Niles. That is one reason why we had Culver Military Academy cadets [participate]. They graciously accepted our invitation. They visited during what is designated as their “gold weekend” and that is for family and graduated dignitaries.

The parade could not exist without the unforgiving tenacity of John Sly. He does all the line ups and everything.

What do you enjoy about volunteering
with the American Legion?

We need members because, without members, we do not have a steady source of income to help with future planning. We cannot do anything unless we have a standing membership, because it takes a standing membership to pass along ideas and also to vote. If we do not have that we do not have the power it takes to be a steadfast unit as we once were.

What do you get out of helping
the American Legion?

I will take that question and kind of turn it around and say what a veteran can expect from being a member of the Niles community post or any community post is the strength and the brotherhood and the ability to receive directions in the help that they are seeking.