Haddonfield Today 062_2019Dec20

12 | haddonfield.today
#062 • DECEMBER 20, 2019 TO JANuARY 10, 2020
1919 • 2019
HADDONFIELD POST 38
Our Centennial Year was a Great Success!
2019 was a big year for The American Legion and for Haddonfield Post 38. We
celebrated our centenary!
Nationally, the Legion focused not only on its founding, in Paris in the aftermath of
the Great War, but also on its extraordinary range of accomplishments during the ten
decades since. The basis for its mission? The FOUR PILLARS of service: Veterans
Affairs & Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, and Children & Youth.
In June 1919, a group of Haddonfield veterans petitioned the new national body to
charter a post in Haddonfield. (More than 300 local men and women had served in
the armed forces during the war.) A temporary charter was issued on JULY 23, 1919,
designating Haddonfield Post 38 in New Jersey.
This year, we enjoyed each other’s company at our STEAK DINNER MEETING in
January, the ANNUAL PICNIC in August, and the HAM & SWEET POTATO DINNER
in October. The LAST MAN’S DINNER in April provided not only an opportunity to
“eat, drink, and be merry” (as the Charter commands), but also to “pay fitting tribute
to our departed comrades” (ditto). As usual, it was very well attended.
We placed AMERICAN FLAGS on veterans’ graves in Haddonfield cemeteries
in advance of Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Members visited the Middle School
in November to share PERSONAL EXPERIENCES with students, and explain why
“Freedom is not Free.” We organized the PARADE and SERVICE on Memorial Day,
and sponsored a REMEMBRANCE PROGRAM at the High School on Veterans Day.
In May, the 5K RUN & 1-MILE WALK raised more than $15,000 for Veterans
Haven South, a transitional housing program for homeless veterans. The Post
sent 19 high school students to Boys State and Girls State in June, enabling them
to learn how state and federal governments work, and about the privileges and
responsibilities of citizenship. The annual COLORING CONTEST for Middle School
students also focused on themes related to Americanism.
Members provided a color guard for FLAG DAY,
proudly led the INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE
on July 4, and distributed flags at those events and
during FALL FESTIVAL. In November, the Borough
Commissioners honored Post 38 with a proclamation
to recognize WORLD WAR II VETERANS
REMEMBRANCE MONTH. We wrapped up the
Centennial Year on December 21, at the RONALD
BOND DUALS wrestling tournament at HMHS.
Mission accomplished. “BREAK RANKS!”
Tom Reilly and Al Peak received the
Borough’s WWII proclamation.
● Post 38 meets on the second Monday of each month at 129 Veterans Lane, Haddonfield. All honorably discharged
and current members of the U.S. Armed Forces are welcome. To learn more about the Post, membership, and
programs, please visit www.HaddonfieldPost38.org.
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