Lugoff, S.C.,'s Larry Jeffers Post 195 had a busy Thursday this past July 31, when the post made donations to or was recognized for contributions to the local youth and school sports community.
First up was the sponsorship of five youth sports teams for the Fall 2025-Spring 2026 athletic year with the Kershaw County Parks & Recreation Department at their offices in Camden, S.C. The post sponsors three youth teams, while the Auxiliary sponsors two teams of softball, baseball and T-ball in Kershaw County. Presenting the check was post commander Ruppert Baird. Accepting the sponsorship check was the recreation department's Rachael Sommer.
Next up was the renewal of the post's Platinum Sponsorship of the Lugoff-Elgin High School Trident Club. The Trident Club is the athletic booster club of the school's teams, which sports the Demon mascot. This is the third year of the post being a Platinum Sponsor. Baird (a Demon of the Class of 1978) and adjutant Ella Calvert presented the check to the school at their fitness center. Accepting the post's membership check were coaches Jordan Morris, Jarvis Littlejohn, Vincent Albano and Jeremy Lane.
Finally, the commander, adjutant and post member Ray McDowell stood with L-EHS baseball coaches Frank Ward and Frankie Waras to acknowledge the donation of three flagpoles that stand outside the left-field fence at L-EHS' Optimist Field. McDowell is also the senior adviser of L-EHS' Junior ROTC as well as coaching the school's and Post 195's air rifle teams.
The flags at Optimist Field will be that of the United States, the National League of Families POW/MIA flag – more commonly referred to as the POW/MIA flag - and the Post 195 American Legion flag. The team approached the post with a request for poles to fly the national, state and POW-MIA flags. But, once the poles were delivered and installed, the team revealed that the former line-up of flags would be flown as a way to recognize Post 195's contributions to L-EHS baseball! The flags are easily seen from the southbound lane of US Highway 1, which passes in front of the school. Landscaping will also be installed around the poles to beautify the plot and protect the poles from auto traffic.