American Legion Post 333 in Sun Prairie no longer has a place to call home. But, their members are determined to keep the 80 year old post moving forward.

"This was our museum,:" said solemn post member Joe Powelka. "All of our memorabilia was stored here. It is all gone now."

"It is tough to come back," admitted Don Hooser, whose another member. "It is almost a knock-out blow."

Three years ago, the nearly 500 member American Legion Post 333 in Sun Prairie left their home of 50 years as part of the city's redevelopment plan. They moved into a beautiful new downtown building and just couldn't make it work.

Said Powelka, "it just didn't make it. And as a result the expenses were greater than the income and we lost the building."

And now, they have no place to call home. Since they moved, the legion has lost about $500,000 and could lose another $312,000 that was given to the bank as collateral for the new post. That money is contingent on the bank being able to sell it. And, right now, there is not much demand for a 10,000 square foot building complete with bar, banquet hall, restaurant, kitchen and museum.

"If we get anything it would be a present," stated an realistic Powelka. "Right now you can't look at it. You have to move on."

The post may have lost the money, but the community will suffer. Over the past eighty years the legion has given more than a million dollars to scholarships, funerals, parades, blood drives, baseball programs and the Badger State Games. And now, without a base of operations they have no way to make money. But, they remain optimistic.

"The people are still here. That is what the post is. It is the people. It's not the building," added Powelka.

"It is time for some fresh ideas, and a new course of action," said Hooser. "And what that is right now I don't know. It is like starting a new chapter."

For the past month the post has held its club meetings in city hall.

To help or get involved with the American Legion Post 333 in Sun Prairie call Joe Powelka at 837-8022 or Don Hooser at 222-7048.