VFW Asks Manor Twp For Help in Preserving Field

Karl Swigart, Judge Advocate for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4843, addressed the Manor Township Supervisors at last night’s public meeting with concerns regarding the Little League field in Pattonville.

“Kittanning’s VFW lost their charter several years ago,” Swigart explained. “Once a charter is lost, the VFW comes in and seizes assets.  It is never sold to any member. 

“Our Post started thinking, ‘What if down the road we were to lose our charter?’ We currently lease a four-acre tract of land to the Little League for their games. We wouldn’t want their field seized and taken from them.”

Swigart told supervisors that the VFW Post 4843 spoke with their attorney, Roger Mechling.  “He said there should be an agreement between Little League and our VFW,” Swigart said. “He suggested that we sell them the four acres with the stipulation that as long as they are in business as a Little League, it is theirs. If they default, it would revert back to the Post.”

Swigart also gave supervisors another scenario. “Suppose in the meantime the Post loses its charter, and then the Little League group disbands. Then what happens?”

Swigart asked Manor Township if they would be willing to become the legal entity in case the local Little League organization folded and the Post was no longer there to recover the property.

Supervisor Howard Jack suggested that Mr. Mechling and the Manor Township solicitor Jack Steiner sit down and discuss the matter. A formal proposal would then be drafted for final consideration.

Swigart said the property originally belonged to Bailey family and was sold to the Laird family. Laird then sold the property to the VFW.  “Contrary to some rumors, there is nothing in deed that lets it revert back to any of those original owners,” Swigart clarified.

“We want to guarantee the Little League property would still be there if something ever happened to our Post,” he said.

Swigart said the subject has been discussed at the VFW, but he wanted to make sure Manor Township was interested before it was presented to the Post membership. “We have to talk to our membership and see if everyone is on the same page.”