The Worthington Veterans Alliance appeared before City Council on Monday evening to present their 2026 budget request, highlighting their community service work while also making an unexpected ask: an additional $5,000 to help cover building repairs at the Leasure-Blackston American Legion Post.
Unexpected Repairs Discovered During Renovation
Commander Glenn Luksik explained that during ongoing remodeling work at the Post, contractors discovered asbestos in the flooring and found that gravel beneath the floor had receded, requiring leveling work before the renovation can be completed.
Luksik requested a one-time $5,000 increase to help cover these unforeseen costs. He offered to accept a corresponding reduction in next year's grant if that would make the request more palatable to Council.
He emphasized that this is a rare circumstance, noting the building hasn't been remodeled in 50 years, and he hopes it won't need such work again for another 50.
City Manager Robyn Stewart indicated she learned about the additional request just before the meeting started. Council will have until next Monday to consider the request, which could then be incorporated into the budget numbers before the first December meeting vote.
Who They Are and What They Do
The Worthington Veterans Alliance is made up of five veteran service organizations that share two historic buildings: Veterans Memorial Hall and the Leasure-Blackston Post. The main house dates to the 1860s, with the organizations using the carriage house as their primary meeting space.
Luksik explained that the majority of their city grant funding goes toward maintaining these aging buildings, which are home to the VFW, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans, and Columbus-based sub vets groups.
The Alliance's mission centers on serving and honoring veterans through both veteran-focused and community programs. Their veteran services include hospital visits, extensive volunteering at the Veterans Administration, providing military honors at funerals, and offering a safe space for veterans to connect with others who understand their experiences.
Luksik spoke candidly about the importance of that peer support: "In 15 years that I've been here, we've lost two veterans to suicide. The hope is that we're stopping some of those 21 per day suicides."
Community outreach includes classroom presentations to students, Police and Firemen of the Year awards, Memorial Day Parade support, Patriot Day commemorations, and assistance to Blue Star Mothers and Honor Flight.
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2025 Accomplishments
The Alliance highlighted several achievements from the past year:
The World War II event at the Griswold Center drew particular praise—the standing-room-only event featured a 96-year-old Navy veteran who served on an aircraft carrier. Attendees lined up to shake his hand after the presentation.
Other accomplishments included repairing 200 wheelchairs for Honor Flight, marching in five parades, organizing shelving and storage for the Blue Star Mothers' basement operations, escorting six veteran funerals and the traveling Vietnam Wall, and providing honors to 30 veterans throughout the year.
During Navy Day celebrations in October, the Alliance hosted crew members from the USS Columbus, a fast attack submarine currently undergoing overhaul in Newport News. The sub vets group hosted the visiting sailors for about a week, including a barbecue at the Post.
How Last Year's Grant Funding Was Used
Luksik highlighted several building projects completed with city grant support:
At Veterans Memorial Hall, the organization installed a new fire alarm and building alarm system and completed foundation repairs to address water intrusion.
At the Leasure-Blackston Post, they replaced the furnace and air conditioning system. Luksik praised local business Favret Heating and Cooling, which provided the equipment at under half the allocated price and installed it for free, leaving the Alliance with extra funds for other needs.
Those savings allowed the organization to address tree maintenance on two maple trees over 100 feet tall. After an arborist identified disease risk at the trees' Y-shaped growth points, the Alliance arranged for trimming and cabling to prevent dangerous branch falls or splitting that could threaten neighbors and members.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The Alliance plans to participate in USA 250 celebrations during Military Month next November, continue the Memorial Day Parade (now in its 106th year) and Patriot Day activities, and maintain support for Blue Star Mothers and Honor Flight programs.
One innovative initiative involves developing a new U.S. flag disposal program. Luksik, who previously worked for Ohio EPA in air pollution, explained that modern flags are made of synthetic materials that create toxic smoke when burned, unlike the cotton flags of the past. The Alliance is working with an environmental company to collect flags and transport them to commercial disposal facilities with proper scrubbers. If successful locally, they hope to expand the program statewide.
Council Response
Council members expressed appreciation for the Alliance's work. Council President Rachael Dorothy noted the Memorial Day Parade has been running for 106 years, and this is the city's second year of direct financial support for the organization.
Councilmember David Robinson congratulated Luksik on forming the Alliance and bringing the five veteran organizations together, calling it "a significant step."
Council members also encouraged the group to explore state-level capital funding for building preservation in future cycles, though timing constraints made that impossible this year. Stewart noted she had shared information about such opportunities with the Alliance.
The base 2026 grant request—like those for other community groups—was prepared assuming a 3% increase over the prior year. Council will revisit both the overall 2026 budget and this specific one-time funding request in its upcoming budget wrap-up discussions next Monday.