Combat veteran lawmaker fights to save struggling American Legion Post

MORRISTOWN, NJ – Assemblyman Brian Bergen surprised members of the Morris County American Legion at their countywide meeting Friday by presenting them with a $3,000 check dedicated to support Post #391 in Mine Hill.

“They needed money to invest in repairs as a result of years of neglect,” said Bergen (R-Morris). “I promised to help this post be successful and now it’s time for me to put my money where my mouth is.”

Bergen – a West Point graduate, combat veteran and ranking member of the Morris County American Legion organization  – was appointed in November 2019 to be the registered agent in charge of breathing life back into the Mine Hill post.

The post had been struggling for years and recently fended off an attempt to take away their tax-exempt status.

“I’ve been putting in the work for months along with my fellow committee members, and now its time to start getting the building ready to sustain itself again,” continued Bergen.

The American Legion post is using the money to pay for grounds improvements and to reconnect power, water and other services. They will hold a flag raising ceremony around Veteran’s Day to symbolize their renewed presence in the area.

“This is a team effort by the veterans of Mine Hill and the surrounding area,” concluded Bergen. “We will need to raise money, and we will need to solicit support from the community. I know we are positioned to succeed and I will make sure that we do.”

In addition to his role as a state assemblyman, Bergen is the owner of an interior landscape company, Bergen Botanicals, which has pledged to donate 20 percent of its profits each year to support veterans organizations. Though he admitted that this might not be a profitable year due to COVID, he still felt compelled to support his fellow veterans.