The Wythe Arts Council is pleased to announce the Grand Marshal of the 2011 Chautauqua Festival is the American Legion Post # 9. Our local group of veterans was the ninth established post in the state of Virginia, founded in 1931. Currently, there are 168 members in the local organization. The American Legion is a Congressionally chartered group that represents veterans, their widows, and children. The group monitors all legislation in Congress which concerns veterans and their families.

In the last four years, the Wythe County American Legion Post #9 has contributed close to $50,000 to local charities. These charities range from the Family Resource Center, Hope, Inc., Mt. Rogers Community Services, Red Cross Blood Bank, Relay for Life, Run for the Wall, Special Olympics, United Way of Wythe County, Virginia Veterans Care Center, Wythe County Rescue Squad, Wytheville Training School Cultural Center and the Wythe Arts Council.

Members of Post #9 are extremely interested in our county's most valuable resource--our youth. Through programs such as youth baseball, Boy Scout Troop #60, JROTC, Presbyterian Children's Home, Wytheville Community College Scholarship Fund, and Boy's State/Girl's State, unique opportunities are available to interested area high school students.

The funding for these programs comes from the weekly bingo games held on Wednesday evening at the old community center. Members of Post #9 donate their time, without any compensation, for the purpose of raising revenue to fund area programs. The American Legion's presence is quite visible in Wythe County. From the weekly bingo games, purchasing and displaying the American flags on Main Street and Fourth Street, participating in Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies to a more solemn note conducting military funerals for fellow veterans. From 1997 until the present, the members of American Legion Post #9 Honor Guard have attended and conducted 340 funerals.

Indeed this organization greatly reflects the generosity, caring, and concern for the citizens of Wytheville and Wythe County. So, as American Legion Post #9 leads the Chautauqua parade on Saturday morning, June 18th, be sure to give these veterans a well-deserved cheer for what they have given to not only our area, but our country. The American Legion Post #9 invites the membership of interested veterans to help in furthering their work for our area by getting in touch with Don Lawson at 228-3817 or Bobby Rogers at 276-620-4765.