American Legion Post 243, Mount Vernon, Texas, celebrated the Legion's 100th birthday with an open house and hot dog lunch on Saturday, March 16. The town's mayor read a proclamation declaring March 16 "American Legion Day" during a program which highlighted the contributions not only of the post, but of the multiple and varied organizations partnered with it.
Those community organizations voiced how they had "shared the love" in the community with the assistance of The American Legion. Post 243 (in 2018) donated almost $50,000 and hundreds of hours of volunteer service in a program they call FOCUS. FOCUS is an acronym: First responders, Our membership, Children, Uniformed veterans, Schools. The recipients of the post's love include multiple fire departments, law enforcement agencies, children with special needs, children's homes, Scouting programs, and disabled and transitioning veterans. The post also provides scholarships to graduating high school seniors, and has provided financial and physical assistance to families in the community who have lost their homes to fire or experienced other hardships. In 2018 the post service officer visited 55 times with veterans while assisting them, and the chaplain assisted with weddings, funerals and memorial services.
During the Centennial program the post chaplain stated that "love is not an emotion, it is an action. We are an active community."