Just over 100 years ago, a group of newly minted American World War I veterans met in Paris. Their goal was to establish an organization in the United States that would support and advocate for the returning soldiers, according to an account of the nonprofit’s history posted to the American Legion Centennial website.
“There was nothing for veterans,” said Wayne Aldrich, a past commander of the Guyer-Carignan Post 22 in Lebanon, a former District 6 commander and chairman of its Centennial Committee.
Now, veterans from American Legion posts in Lebanon and Claremont — some of the earliest posts established after that Paris meeting — are coming together again for a common cause: to celebrate and get the word out about the Legion itself after a century of serving vets.
On Saturday from noon-4 p.m., Post 22 will host its Centennial Celebration at Colburn Park. The free event is open to the public and features live music and children’s activities. The barbecue portion of the celebration costs $10 per person.
Claremont’s Post 29 will hold its celebration on Sunday, July 28, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Broad Street Park and includes games for kids, raffle prizes, barbecue and music provided by a DJ. After that celebration, adults age 21 and over can attend a second celebration at Post 29, 119 Broad St.
“It was among the first,” said James England, adjutant for Post 29. “There’s a few posts that can share that distinction.”
Lebanon’s Post 22 was named for Arthur G. Guyer, who was killed during the Battle of Chateau Thierry and was the first soldier from Lebanon to be killed in action in World War I, according to an account posted to the American Legion Centennial website. The post was chartered on July 15, 1919, and signed by 15 members.
The “Carignan” was added to Post 22’s name after World War II, honoring Lebanon resident Richard L. (Pat) Carignan, the first Lebanon resident to be killed in action during World War II.
Post 22 is mostly made up of veterans who served in Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and subsequent conflicts since 9/11. World War II veterans used to make up the largest category before many of them died. Post 22 currently has more than 600 members, which range in age from 20 to 98. The post also has chapters of the American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion, which combined with the American Legion push the Lebanon headcount to more than 1,200.
“It goes through its cycles like everyone else,” said Aldrich, who served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He got involved with Post 22 about 12 years ago.
“It wasn’t on the agenda,” Aldrich said. “Usually once you get out, that’s about it. You don’t want to get involved.”
It can especially be difficult for younger veterans who have growing families, he added.
The organization has held member drives to reach out to younger veterans. Eric Morrill, commander of Post 22, said providing mentoring to younger members is key to recruiting and keeping them in the organization.
“You really need to search out and find the members who are participating and productive in the post,” said Morrill, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. “I’ve seen the greatness that we do and it makes me proud to continue on with that.”
Claremont’s Post 29 has about 242 active members, England said.
“We actually have been pulling in some younger members recently, and I’m pretty encouraged by that,” said England, who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The majority of veterans served in Desert Storm and the Lebanon/Grenada conflicts, not Vietnam, as used to be the case, according to England.
“There are a lot of veterans in this area, especially younger ones,” he said. “They just don’t think of the American Legion as a place that they can go to.”
England, Aldrich and Morrill said they were drawn to the American Legion because of its strong support of veterans and the greater community.
“As a younger vet returning home, I found that it was a lot easier for me to interact with other vets, and I liked what they were doing in the community,” England said.
Aldrich spoke of Post 22’s involvement in Legion Baseball, Boy Scouts, serving as an Honor Guard at funerals for veterans and raising money for scholarships.
“Our post in pretty active,” he said. “It’s the events that we have where we try to involve them and their families.”
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com.
