American Legion, VFW working to get past displacement

Published 8:00 am Wednesday, September 7, 2011

North Jefferson veterans groups are still working on what to do following the April 27 tornado that damaged their meeting spots.

The Hawkins B. Carter American Legion Post 255 owns the building at 1425 Stouts Road in Fultondale. The structure sustained heavy storm damage and was condemned, along with at least nine businesses in Fultondale, two apartment buildings (Fulton Hills and Fulton Ridge), two hotels (Days Inn and Super 8) and dozens of houses.  

“If it’s to be rebuilt, it has to come up to the current code,” said Fultondale city inspector Ed Hawkins. “If it can’t be brought up to code, they need to tear it down and rebuild.”

American Legion Post 255 Commander Bill Steber said several things must fall in place first.

“We’re still in limbo with the insurance company,” Steber said. “It’s going to be a long, drawn-out process. … Our options are, we can either tear the whole thing down and rebuild on that spot, or we can find another place and rebuild and sell that property.”

He said the group can’t make any decisions, however, until the insurance company makes a decision first.

In the meantime, the veterans will move into the former Oysters & Stuff restaurant in the same building complex. The American Legion was leasing the space to Oysters & Stuff, and the lease ran out in August, according to Steber.

Frank Siragusa, owner of Oysters & Stuff, said he wants to reopen in Fultondale.

“We’re looking for a suitable location. We’ll go from there,” Siragusa said.

Steber said he and other American Legion members will start cleaning and repairing the former restaurant space this week.

“We hope to be in by mid-September if we can get enough help,” he said.

VFW

Meanwhile, another group of veterans was also displaced by the storms.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10250 had met for several years in the upstairs portion of the American Legion building in Fultondale.

Since the tornado, the VFW has held its monthly meetings at Fultondale City Hall in the council chambers.

“If it weren’t for the city of Fultondale and Mr. (Mayor Jim) Lowery, we wouldn’t be having any meetings,” said VFW Post 10250 Commander Steve Marion.

Marion has been checking into various options as a meeting place for the organization, but has so far come up dry.

“I have talked to building manufacturers and they’re willing to sell us a building, but we don’t have any land to put it on,” he said.

Marion said he would like to talk with anyone willing to consider donating property in the Fultondale or Gardendale area.

He said his vision is to see younger veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan join the VFW, and to in turn get their families involved.

“I’d like to see young kids get involved in sports, with the veterans coaching the teams,” he said. “We need to have family picnics and family camaraderie.”

However, he said, none of that is possible without having a place to call home.