Members of Lloyd J. Schroeder American Legion Post 200 met for years in the building at the edge of downtown. They also shared their home — with families celebrating a wedding or birthday or anniversary, and seniors who visited the building for their noon meals and other services.

“That building was used more as a community building,” said American Legion post commander Gary Wilkens.

Then came the storm and a downburst of wind that damaged the building so badly it collapsed a week later. That was a year ago, days before Memorial Day.

Since then, an eight-member group has worked to raise enough money to pay for another building on the site of the former post home.

Wilkens, who represents the legion on the new building committee, said supporters have raised about a third of the $900,000 they need.

But now another storm of sorts has hit. Concerns over COVID-19 have temporarily closed businesses, thus making it difficult to raise money.

In addition, a community celebration planned the weekend after Memorial Day has been canceled, again because of the coronavirus. All proceeds would have gone to the American Legion building fund.

“We’re in a holding pattern. It’s just not a good time to raise money,” Wilkens said.

So far, he continued, the committee has received $75,000 from the Logan-based Dane Hansen Foundation and corporate and individual contributions also have been received.

In addition, the building committee is selling bricks — $150 for a regular-sized square and $300 for a brick twice that size. Forms are available at H&B Communications, Bank of Holyrood, C&V Convenient Store and other businesses.

The hope is everything will be close enough to pre-coronavirus conditions that the building committee can plan another major fundraiser in the fall, Wilkens said.

Meanwhile, Legion items are stored in buildings throughout town. Senior meals are distributed from the basement of the United Church of Christ.

Perhaps the town’s biggest claim to fame — the lively polka dances that attracted dancers and bands from Holyrood and many miles beyond have moved to Legion halls at Wilson and Ellsworth.

[The former Holyrood Legion home was built in 1946 as a skating rink. It was purchased by the veterans in the mid-1950s.]

On Monday, members plan to stand on the site of the former Legion home, raise an American flag and read the names of their fallen brothers and sisters. The ceremony is not open to the public because of virus-related restrictions.

But it won’t stop even nonmilitary residents from remembering — and looking forward to the time another home for the veterans and the community is part of the Holyrood landscape.