Ed McCloskey was honored for his years of service with American Legion Post 370 during a banquet at Mountain Laurel Tennis Club on Friday night.
For nine years, Ed McCloskey has been the go-to guy at American Legion Post 370 in Highlands.
As post commander, McCloskey has tackled everything from fundraising, to recruitment of new members, to the implementation of community service programs, all while increasing the post’s visibility and viability.
On Friday night, the members of Post 370 gave McCloskey a fitting sendoff as he stepped down from his post commander role. McCloskey was honored with a banquet at the Mountain Laurel Tennis Club.
“When I joined the post, we were in trouble,” McCloskey said. “Two months after I joined, some guys in suits from Raleigh came to our meeting and they told us they planned to disband our post and revoke our charter. We only had nine active members at that time, and you have to have 15 to remain a post.”
A few dedicated Post 370 members rebuffed the idea that the post would be shuttered and instead set out on a mission to save it.
“We hit the road and started reaching out to veterans in our area, and by the next week we were up to 11 members, which was at least a step to show growth,” McCloskey said. “A month later we had 15, and some of those new members came on board and got right to work helping our cause and recruiting.”
Post 370 currently has 67 active members.
McCloskey noted that once the membership numbers were solidly above the minimum, the attention of the post turned to community service. The post has a veterans suicide prevention team, they complete multiple service projects each year, provide scholarships and help families who have lost a loved one while on active duty.
“Last year for the first time we decided to sell poppies the weekend after July 4,” McCloskey said. “We didn’t know how it would go, so I only ordered 100. Traditionally, someone gives you a dollar and you give them a poppy, so 100 poppies should equal $100. Well, Highlands being the giving community it is, we sold all 100 poppies and when we counted the money we had $605.”
McCloskey noted that the Legion doubled their order for 2023, and the 200 poppies generated $1,100 in donations.
“That’s $1,705 dollars we have sent to the children’s fund to help provide scholarships to children of veterans,” McCloskey said. “Our post did that, and we were able to do because Highlands is an incredible town with very caring people.”
Incoming Post Commander Paul Showalter recognized McCloskey’s work ethic and dedication to the post.
“I know better than to call Ed a ‘former Marine’ because he has always been very clear that ‘once a Marine, always a Marine,’” Showalter said. “And the dedication he showed during his time in the service has carried over to this post. We would not be where we are today without Ed and his tireless work to improve the post.”
McCloskey, a former baseball umpire, was presented with a plaque immortalizing his time as post commander. The plaque featured a miniature baseball bat signed by the post members.
American Legion Post 370 meets the third Saturday of every month at First United Methodist Church in Highlands. Meetings begin with breakfast and social time at 9 a.m. with post business to follow at 10 a.m. For more information, visit www.amerlegionpost370nc.org.