SIDNEY — Sidney American Legion Post 217 is calling all young veterans.

Post leaders have scheduled an informational meeting for April 13 at 7 p.m., in the post hall, 1265 Fourth Ave. They particularly hope that military veterans who served during the Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom campaigns will attend.

“We want to invite them to be a part of (the Legion),” said Membership Chairman Jim Moorman. “We’re looking for younger men and women to help us continue the mission to support our community in which we live and send our kids to school in.”

Moorman noted that the Sidney post, like many other veterans organizations, is “aging.” Most of its members saw military service during the Vietnam War and earlier conflicts.

“We’re trying to get younger vets involved. They have a different perspective. Vets understand about helping each other. We want them to assist other veterans. It boils down to camaraderie between vets. Vets understand each other better than people who weren’t in the military,” Moorman said.

“The Legion does a lot for the community,” said Post Commander Larry Spence. “We do anywhere from 25 to 30 funerals a year. We’re trying to get those fellas replaced with younger ones. They’ll have different ideas. We’re always looking for new ideas.”

The American Legion was established in 1919 by Congress as an organization of veterans who served in wartimes. “The American Legion has delivered substantial improvements for veterans, families and communities. The Legion ushered in the modern VA. The Legion drafted and drove home passage of the GI Bill and the Post-Sept. 11 GI Bill. The Legion has brought into existence dozens of healthcare benefits for veterans and programs designed to provide civilian careers after discharge,” states a membership pamphlet.

Locally, the post provides youth scholarships and Americanism programs and supports a summer baseball team.

Spence and Moorman want to dispel a common misconception about the Legion.

“A lot of people, when they think of service clubs, they think of old men sitting around a dark, smoky bar sharing war stories. That may have been the case once, but not anymore. We’re more family-oriented,” Moorman said. “This is not an ‘old boys’ club. We welcome males and females to this. Come see us. We may be different from what your perceptions are.”

The April 13 meeting will include pizza and wings and a cash bar. Representatives of Shelby County Veterans Services will be there to answer questions and provide information.

Anyone who served in the military during wartime is eligible to join the Legion. Overseas service is not a requirement. The usual cost per year is $35. Most of that — $27.50 — is sent to state and national Legion offices. Post 217 keeps $7 of each membership.

During the meeting, vets will be able to join at a discount, for $27.50 for a membership lasting the rest of the year.

“The organization has been around almost 100 years. We want to continue that legacy,” Moorman said.