AIKEN, S.C. ()- An investigation is underway after a local organization that serves veterans discovered a misappropriation of funds. 

American Legion Post 26 found upwards of $20,000 missing from the post’s account. Now, the post’s financial officer has been removed. 

Members of the post are looking for answers after discovering the money was missing.

“I look at all the great things our volunteers do, all the great things our community allows us to do. The first thing I thought in my mind was, man it’s going to be really hard to do a lot of those things,” said Post Commander Frank Carson.

American Legion Post 26 in Aiken recently discovered the misappropriation of a large amount of money. 

An internal review of financial records between last November and this February showed unauthorized cash withdrawals totaling more than $17,000.

“Then the gamut of emotions that come after that, right. I’m angry because now we’re not going to be able to do those things,” said Carson.

Now the post’s financial officer David Savage is being investigated by law enforcement.

The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office confirms Savage is under investigation for embezzlement.

Carson says he immediately tried to contact Savage, and after multiple attempts to reach him, Savage told Carson he was responsible.

Savage served as the Post Treasurer since 2023, raising thousands of dollars for the baseball and softball programs.

“Last year, he was our Legionnaire of the year. He’s been running our baseball program. 2 years ago, we started a softball program for the young ladies, and he’s had a hand in doing all of that. Well-respected member of the post, and one that most of us would consider a friend,” said Carson.

The post filed a report with the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, but now they’re concerned whether they can support vital programs like baseball and Boy’s State. 

“That is one of our larger expenses each year, and now we’re in discussions on whether or not we are even going to be able to do that. Boy’s State is a great program that’s also a fairly large expense where we send young men to Anderson. It’s far enough out that we’ll be able to do some fundraising, but instead of us saying we’ll do fundraising throughout the year, now we’re in a crunch,” Carson added.

“We’re going to have to dig deep, get out in the community and do that fundraising, or else we’re going to lose some of those programs. These are men and women that have written a blank check to our nation. They do a lot of great things for our community, and now we have to come to them to ask them to double their efforts,” Carson said.

Post leaders confirm Savage is still a post member, but is not serving as the post’s financial officer. 

An interim financial officer will be appointed at the beginning of April, and Carson says in the meantime post leaders will discuss necessary changes to financial processes.

The Sheriff’s Office has passed the investigation on to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

They say no arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.