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There's a cloudy, low-key atmosphere inside the American Legion, post 268, in downtown Wheaton on a recent Thursday evening.

At the largest post in the county for the official government-sanctioned veteran organization, mugs of frothy beer clack together for "thirsty Thursday," three TVs tuned to local stations rattle on and conversations about run-ins with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Saturday's cupcake sale rise and fall with the murmur of the room.

The American Legion remains somewhat of a mystery to most in the civilian population, yet it's an institution many of the men and women who have served their country cling to long after their lives in the military fade.

The post — there are thousands across the country, including nine in Montgomery County — is a place for camaraderie, a chance to serve the surrounding community and a source of help for desperate soldiers and their families, said Pfc. James "Blackie" Sarkisian, a two-time former commander of post 268 who served in the army before and during the Vietnam War.

There's a connection among the people allowed through its doors that can't quite be translated outside its walls, said Sarkisian, 69.

"We all put the uniform on during a time when we were needed," he said. "We would go put our life on the line, if necessary. The flag has a lot to do with it: We're defending that flag, which stands for many, many things. And many, many people have given their all in defense of that flag."

In 1919, Congress chartered the post for its veterans coming back from World War I. The legislative body has set the official "beginning" and "ending" dates for every war thereafter. Anyone who served in the military during those dates can join the legion; their family members can join the American Legion Auxiliary and their sons can join the Sons of the American Legion. Combatants who set boots on foreign land can join the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Congress has yet to close the dates for the Persian Gulf War, so anyone who served in the military from Aug. 2, 1990, until Congress deems a "cessation of hostilities" can join the American Legion.

But despite the federal mandates, the American Legion is fully self-supporting. The posts receive zero support from any federal, state or local government, said Cpt. Robert Allen, post 268's current commander, who served as an army infantryman during World War II.

That's why bake sales by the women of the auxiliary, Friday night dinners, Saturday brunches and Sunday bingos — all open to the public — are vital to the legion's existence.

And its mission.

Post 268, just like posts across the country, exists partly to lend a hefty hand in supporting local service groups, said Linda Sarkisian, the president of post 268's auxiliary and Blackie Sarkisian's wife.

Many of post 268's members participate in regular hospital visits to wounded soldiers and sick children, once-a-month birthday parties for nearby nursing-home residents, providing a week's worth of food to an adopted family during the holidays, year-round help for meal-delivery services and volunteer support for the county's public-school system program for at-risk children, Linda Sarkisian said.

The post is also an important stop for veterans who are having trouble with hospital or home bills, or for those who are just lonely, Allen said.

The legion does whatever it can with its meager funds to aid those requests, Allen said.

"As we say, comrades in need. We got to help them out," he said.

But hands to help are dwindling in the legion almost as fast as dollars.

While the VA estimates there are about 480,000 veterans in the state of Maryland, a relatively small fraction join the American Legion. Post 268's 950 to 1,000 members is one of the largest in the county, Allen said. Many posts are lucky to have a few hundred sign up, and most of their members are over the age of 50, said Sgt. Jim Mattingly, a former post 268 commander who served in the Vietnam War. Mattingly is 65.

"We're a little long in the tooth here," he said. "It's one of our problems."

Allen and Mattingly said member deaths are common — "Week by week, it seems we're losing someone," said Allen, 80.

But those lost are not getting replaced by younger men.

Like the rest of the at-large community, many of the military's younger members don't know about the legion, Allen said.

"They don't tell you when you get out of the service," said Allen, who recalled that he didn't hear about the post until he was retired.

Maybe recently discharged members don't want to know about it, suggested Blackie Sarkisian, who also didn't hear about the legion until he was retired.

Too many bad memories, he surmised.

"All you want to do is get away from the military at that time. You want to get discharged and go away for awhile and get your thoughts back," he said.

But Mattingly said the need is there. He's heard of young veterans who are on food stamps immediately after serving. That's absurd, he said.

"The government should protect the people who sign on to protect the Constitution," he said.

A good first step could be increasing the support for the American Legion and VFW, organizations that Mattingly said are usually taken for granted.

"The politicians only come around here beating the door down when they need the votes," he said.

But until that happens, the American Legion will have to support its own outreach to potential young and aging members.

And when anyone who served in the United States Military does sign on to become a legion member, the members of post 268 will be there to welcome them.

"I analyze everybody that comes in here, and in my opinion it's camaraderie and love of country [that brings them in]," Blackie Sarkisian said. "Love of democracy. Love of freedom, the freedoms we enjoy. We all did it, not necessarily at the same time. Everybody has different attitudes about the military, but we all had to do what we had to do then. That's why I'm here."