Martii Moats
More than 70 years after James T. Rayle American Legion Post 123 opened its doors, veterans are giving the building a new life by volunteering to transform it into a more welcoming space for those who have served.
“The vision is clean, brightened up, where it just feels like you want to be there,” said Martii Moats, who served in the U.S. Navy from 2001-09.
Moats, who is the financial officer and the incoming commander, is leading the renovation.
“The biggest thing is part of the renovation process is also renovating how we’ve been doing things,” Moats said. “We’d like to get more communally involved, more veteran heavy.”
The post was constructed in 1951, and welcomes veterans from all branches of the U.S. armed forces. The space serves as a social area for community events, such as the Oglethorpe County Athletic Booster Club’s annual Patriot Powerball annual fundraiser, and programs.
“The overall mission of American Legion posts are to serve your veterans, serve your community and be a place where they can come find help and comfort,” Moats said.
The renovations are primarily taking place in the bar space. Renovations include a new bar top, tables, a tin wall, glass shelves and new appliances.
“Currently, it looks like a 1950s wood paneling building that’s been painted different colors, (with) drop ceilings, power cords going everywhere,” Moats said. “Everything’s a little bit of a modge podge.”
Around 50% of materials used during the renovations were provided by the community. Volunteers make up the entire renovation team.
“We’ve almost gotten a new bar in there with a little less than $1,000, and it’s all voluntary time,” legion member Bart Harper said.
Harper, who served in the Coast Guard from 1992-2015, volunteered to help reconstruct the new bar top. After retiring, he started a woodworking business making custom furniture.
“I’m doing this for the guys that can’t,” Harper said. “A majority of the members here are Vietnam era, and they don’t have the time to do a lot of the manual labor. It’s just a thanks, appreciation to the shoes that they walked in.”
The legion hopes to wrap up renovations in the next 2-3 weeks.
“We’re ready to be back open and let people back into the bar,” Moats said. “It may not be photo ready, but she will definitely be operational and totally new.”