51�Թ�

Post 321 in Huntersville, N.C., gets much-needed renovations through Lowe’s Hometowns grant program. 

In 2022, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Kevin Horn joined Central Mecklenburg American Legion Post 321 in Huntersville, N.C. It didn’t take long for him to realize the facility itself needed work.

“The roof was leaking,” Horn said. “I went to Lowe’s and got them to donate some supplies for us to fix the roof. It was about $1,500 worth of supplies from the Huntersville Lowe’s.”

Shortly thereafter, Horn became part of a committee to determine Post 321’s mission, what he called “an internal revitalization group.” And near the top of the list was building renovations.

That item now can be scratched off the list, thanks to Lowe’s Hometowns grant program. Through the grant – and with the assistance of Lowe’s volunteers – the post was able to replace floors, paint its walls, and update restrooms to meet accessibility standards. Renovating the bathrooms alone was estimated to cost around $40,000.

“We rent (out) our hall, and it’s our primary source of income,” said Horn, a senior security engineer for Lowe's corporate who now serves as Post 321’s commander. “We needed to bring it up to ADA compliance. The biggest thing that the renovation has meant is now I’m not worried that the building’s going to collapse. I can work on fundraising. Getting our brand out to the community.

“We’re trying to get our programs front and center into the community. We’re trying to do more membership drives, more open houses. We’re trying to bring the community in and say, ‘Hey, this is what we actually do.’”

51�Թ� has always been a part of Horn’s life and provides a safe space for veterans to gather. “The post is community. It’s where we go for community,” he said. “I grew up in New York at an American Legion post. It was my family. So when I had my own family, I decided I wanted to get involved with the post more frequently, other than just paying my membership.”

And Post 321 has long been entrenched within Huntersville.

“The names that are inside the building on the wall … the SAL past commander, the Auxiliary past commanders, the post past commanders, their names line the streets in Huntersville,” Horn said. “It’s been the centerpiece of downtown since the inception of Huntersville. The names that helped build this building, their children and grandchildren still live here. They’re still part of it.”

Post 321 also has learned that the renovation effort is part of promoting Lowe’s support for veterans and the military. “It was totally shocking,” Horn said. “It’s absolutely amazing. It’s a great feeling.”

Lowe's Hometowns is a five-year, $100-million commitment to rebuild and revitalize the spaces that bring communities together.

“This is our community,” said Lowe's Huntersville Store Manager Lucas Brewton, who volunteered onsite to assist the effort. “These veterans are our neighbors. Helping them rebuild this post was about giving back to the people who have given us so much.”