Kennewick Gold Star mom upset with state American Legion, escorted out of convention

Something went wrong as delegates to the American Legion’s Washington state convention were preparing for a banquet Friday in Kennewick.

Just exactly what isn’t clear, but both sides agree it ended with members of a hometown post being escorted out of the Three Rivers Convention Center.

Among those leaving: Joelle Ellis, the Gold Star Mother of Robert Ellis, a fallen soldier from Kennewick whose name graces Kennewick Post 4.

Joelle Ellis and two companions left peacefully, accompanied by a private security guard.

The circumstances and reasons are disputed by both sides. But both agree the stage was set when the governing board of the American Legion for Washington state voted to revoke Post 4’s charter, citing continuing disputes with members.

Undaunted, two Post 4 leaders, including newly installed commander Bill Eaton, together with Joelle Ellis, attended the American Legion event.

At some point, an argument began. Both sides say they were insulted. Both say they largely held their tongues.

Regardless, the head of the state organization, Wayne Elston, confirmed he asked security to remove one of the Post 4 members. Elston is a Benton City resident who concluded his term as commander during the annual gathering.

He said Joelle Ellis was not asked to leave and said such a move is counter to its mission to serve military personnel and their families. Gold Star Mothers have lost children serving in the U.S. military.

“Nothing was directed at her. She was just walking with that guy from Post 4 that was being disruptive,” Elston said.

She disagreed. Post 4 is named for the late son she calls “Robby.” The Kennewick High School graduate was 21 when he and three other soldiers were killed on June 18, 2013, when a rocket hit Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan.

“If he’s asking one of them to leave, he’s asking all of us to leave. And I am part of Robert Ellis Post 4,” she said. “I am protecting my son’s name.”

The Friday incident marked an escalation in a simmering dispute.

Post 4 leaders say it centers on a member’s pursuit of the state’s organization’s financial information. Elston counters that Post 4’s conduct has been a problem for the American Legion for months, if not years.

An Air Force veteran of Vietnam, Elston said he worries the incident could tarnish the reputation of an organization serving military personnel, veterans and families, particularly families of the fallen.

The conflict has been brewing for several years. In May, the American Legion placed Post 4 on probation and assigned two trustees to “help” it regain its footing.

Eaton said that was punishment for refusing to expel a member for asking questions. The post resisted the outsiders and appealed its suspension to the national American Legion.

It lost, leading to its charter being revoked. Members were advised to stay away from the convention. Elston, fearing problems, hired security for the executive committee meeting but it proceeded without incident.

Post 4 members attended, determined to show their work at its best — by barbecuing for fellow Legionnaires.

After being escorted out of the convention, they decided to cook anyway — steak and hotdogs.

With permission from convention center managers, they set up a mobile barbecue station in the parking lot, first in one spot and then, when asked to move, in another.

After a third move, post members served barbecue from a nearby parking lot to delegates and police officers working the night shift. The Kennewick Police Department thanked the post for the meal on Facebook.

Post 4, which has about 50 members, has no permanent home and says it serves veterans in the community rather than a traditional Legion Hall. It asked Joelle Ellis for permission to use Robby’s name several months after his death. She agreed, so long as members reflected well on his memory. It has kept its end of the deal, she said.

Post 4 has retained legal counsel and will appeal the loss of its charter. It plans to continue to serve veterans as an independent registered Washington corporation.

“We have a mission. We get guys re-engaged in the community. We do stuff,” Eaton said.

This story was originally published July 24, 2017 at 7:08 PM with the headline "Kennewick Gold Star mom upset with state American Legion, escorted out of convention."