The American Legion post in the heart of Ridgefield dates back to the Legion's very founding in 1919.

But today, Post 221 has just two active members, and an official membership of 26. Like many posts, it's struggling.

Army veteran Sophia Dmoch is trying to keep the post from closing its doors forever. Dmoch serves as the Bergen County American Legion senior vice commander, and is leading a drive to attract at least 20 to 25 more members.

The effort includes a billboard on Route 17, a fundraiser, and a letter campaign.

"We want to up their numbers," Dmoch said. "We don't want to lose a historic place, because it is 100 years."

As the American Legion celebrates a century of supporting and advocating for veterans, the organization finds itself at a crossroads.

As of this month, the Legion nationwide has more than 1.6 million members, with more than 38,000 at New Jersey posts. That's a 3% drop from last year nationally, and a 7% decline in New Jersey.

In Bergen County, there are 3,797 Legion members this year, down from 4,403 last year, for a nearly 14 percent drop.

Legion's origins

The American Legion was not formed in America, but in Paris in March 1919 by veterans of World War I, to lobby on behalf of veterans. The first Legion posts in the United States were formed within months of its birth.

Of approximately 300 American Legion posts in New Jersey. around 120 are considered centennial posts, meaning they registered with the national organization in 1919 and 1920.

One is in Leonia: New Jersey's Post 1, founded in July 1919 by men who were at the Paris meeting where the Legion was formed.

Entering Sgt. Clendenon S. Newell Post on Broad Avenue is like stepping into a museum. its framed charter hangs on the wall, opposite a portrait of Newell, a Leonia resident who died in World War I.

Rich Palka, 74, the post's commander, jokes that the walls of the room are "awfully crowded" with mementos, but living members are few. He recalls his early days with the post in the late 1980's, when he estimates there were as many as 280 members.

Now, he said, "When we have our meetings, we might have 10."

Declining membership has been a pressing issue for his post, which has tried several remedies. In past years there have been barbecues, family nights and other events to bring in a younger crowd, but they have not been successful. They will host an open house in September.

"Without the younger veterans, you can't attract more younger veterans. So it's kind of a Catch-22 situation," Palka said. "We'll definitely be here for the 100th; I'm not sure we will be here for the 150th."

Some posts stay strong

Amid the declines, though, there are hopeful signs.

John Baker, adjutant for the American Legion Department of New Jersey, said the state has been working to bring in new blood, highlighting services and family-friendly halls.

"When the veterans come back, we want to reach out to them, and say, 'What can we do for you?' Not 'Come join our organization,' but what can we do … to help you and your family," Baker said.

The old impression that a Legion post is "just a bar where people go to drink" is wrong, he said. The Legion works with other organizations to sponsor "Stand Down" events to help homeless veterans with free services such as mental health and addiction counseling and employment opportunities, among other services.

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He said merging posts can actually boost participation. "We're trying to make other posts stronger by merging," Baker said. "And that way once we get a stronger post in an area, hopefully that post can make an impact in the surrounding area."

Olivier Burtin is a doctoral student at Princeton University who has written about the American Legion, and he, too, sees cause for optimism.

Even with its aging membership, he said, the Legion has one of the largest memberships among social organizations.

"One reason why the Legion's membership hasn't dropped so dramatically is because often you have younger veterans who are very critical of older groups like that, [but] they actually come to them later once they realize that more established groups have their own advantages," Burtin said.

"The question is whether they can send the message to [younger] veterans that they do care," Burtin said.

Wanaque Post 246

John Kaminski is the commander as well as one of the younger members of the American Legion Post 246 on Ringwood Avenue. He is 74.

When he joined the post about 30 years ago, there were about 120 active members, mostly veterans of World War II and the Korean War. Now, he counts fewer than 40, with only a handful able to attend meetings.

"Most of them now, it's down to the Vietnam guys, guys now in their upper 60s and in their 70s, so unfortunately it's hard to get the guys out," Kaminski said.

Kaminski said Post 246 tries to attract younger veterans, but "They're in their 30s and 40s, and mostly involved with their families and work," Kaminski said.

Cresskill Post 21

Joe Curtolo has a plan, maybe not the best one, to keep the American Legion Camp Merritt Post 21 in Cresskill functioning in coming years.

"You kneel down and say the Rosary on bad knees," Curtolo said.

"My personal opinion is that if membership does not increase, then I think the American Legions and the VFW's will be gone within 20 years," Curtolo said. "Not only American Legion and VFW, you're talking about the Elks, you're talking about the Knights of Columbus, everybody is hurting."

To join

Membership is open to those who have served in the federal Armed Forces during war eras and are active or have been honorably discharged. Visit legion.org/join. For Ridgefield, contact Sophia Dmoch: 201-859-0921

Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com