Page 60 - May-June-July Life In Naples Magazine

AMERICAN

LEGION

NATIONAL COMMANDER
VISITS HODGES UNIVERSITY

M ichael D. Helm, National Commander of The
American Legion, attended a special ceremony at
Hodges University recently to present the official
charter to the university’s American Legion Post. The Post has
been renamed the John Ebling Memorial at Hodges University
American Legion Post 397 in honor of the late John Ebling, who
was instrumental in arranging for Hodges University to receive
an official American Legion Post.

Helm is the chief executive officer and official spokesman of
The American Legion, with full power to enforce provisions of
the organization’s constitution, bylaws and resolutions.

“We are extremely honored that the National Commander
came to Hodges to personally present the American Legion
Post Charter to our student veterans,” said Dr. David Borofsky,
Hodges University president. “With more than ten percent of
our student body being comprised of veterans, we are proud our
returning military are choosing Hodges to help them in reaching
their educational goals.”

The John Ebling Memorial at Hodges University American
Legion Post 397 is the first of its kind to be located on a college
campus in the United States. Mr. Ebling, a Hodges University
alumnus, served in the U.S. Army for 23 years, retiring in 1993.
He took a job in Lee County as a Veterans Service Officer and
was appointed as the County Veterans Service Officer in January
2002. He had also been a fully state-certified, part-time deputy
for more than 18 years with Lee County. He passed away late
last year.

Post 397 at Hodges was first established in 2013 as the
nation’s first American Legion Post to be housed on a university
campus and solely run by student veterans.Several local American
Legion commanders were in attendance for the presentation,
along with Ebling’s daughter, Jessica Cargile, who was presented
a commemorative plaque from the Post to honor the occasion.

1. L-R: Jessica Cargile, Post 397 Commander Elbert Ziegler, Commander John Dollinger
2. Ken Jordan and Melvia Ziegler
3. L-R: Dr. David Borofsky, HU President; Commander Matt Helm, Southwestern Area

Commander John Dollinger; Dr. Marcia Turner, HU Dean of Students
4. L-R: Elbert Ziegler, Jay Conti, Dennis Boland, Matt Helm, Jessica Cargile, John Dollinger