American Legion, ARLINGTON POST NO. 139 — 1924

Claredon, Virginia

Arlington Post No. 139, American Legion, meets at Clarendon, Arlington County, Va., on the last Wednesday of each month, said meeting being held at the Community Hall. The Auxiliary of our Post meets at the same time across the street from the Post meeting place at the home of a member of the Auxiliary. At the conclusion of each Post meeting the comrades meet with the ladies of the Auxiliary and there discuss our problems in a joint session. The ladies have always served refreshments at these meetings.

The Post was named from the county in which located, since this small county had twelve (12) gold star comrades. The county itself takes name from General Robert E. Lee’s old home, Arlington, now the site of Arlington National Cemetery. One of the Post objectives is the care of graves in this hallowed spot.

The first application for a temporary charter was signed at the drug store, Ballston, Va., in August, 1921. It was approved with the following names: O. H. Beasley, Dr. J. A. Boston, J. L. Crupper, Jr., J. P. Devine, R. S. Gardner, A. K. Gilman, Dr. S. T. Noland, A. 13. Prosise, W. E. Payne, F. M. Sherwood, S. T. Swecker, S. F. Thomson, E. M. Tyler, Dr. J. H. Walton, J. H. Warner, W. W. Woodruff, Dr. W. C. Welburn.

The first official meeting was held September 28, 1921, at the Ballston Schoolhouse. The following names were added to the seventeen (17) on temporary charter and thirty-six (36) names sent in on the permanent charter: G. D. Lee, E. M. Rich, R. R. Rich, H. H. Porter, Clinton C. Hitt, D. H. Shallcross, S. P. Gordon, Thomas G. Diggs, R. E. Rucker, Walter Crack, C. W. Lohman, C. W. Fitch, A. H. McCarthy, L. D. Mason, W. H. Leigh, G. S. Kerfoot, A. S. Knowles, F. R. Bause, Miss Ella T. Whitten.

Names of officers of Post:

1921-22-Commander, A. B. Prosise; vice-commander, W. C. Welburn; adjutant, G. D. Lee; treasurer, F. M. Sherwood; service officer, Dr. S. T. Noland; athletic officer, Walter Crack; historian, H. H. Porter; sergeant-at-arms, A. K. Gilman.

1922-23-Commander, D. H. Shallcross ; vice-commander, W. C. Welburn; adjutant, R. J. Pickin; treasurer, F. M. Sherwood; service officer, Dr. S. T. Noland; athletic officer, Walter Crack; historian, H. H. Porter; sergeant-at-arms, A. K. Gilman; delegates to State convention, Miss Ella Whitten and S. F. Thomson.

1923-Commander, F. M. Sherwood; vice-commander, W. C. Welburn ; adjutant, G. D. Lee; treasurer, W. H. Leigh; service officer, Dr. S. T. Noland; athletic officer, D. 13. Shallcross; ; historian, H. H. Porter; sergeantat-arms, A. K. Gilman.

1924-Commander, R. Bleakley Tames; vice-commander, W. C. Welburn; adjutant, W. H. Leigh; treasurer, A. B. Prosise; service officer, Dr. S. T. Noland; historian, H. H. Porter; sergeant-at-arms, R. J. Pickin.

Post Activities:

Service-Approximately seven-eights of total Post expenditures have been for benevolent purposes.

Owing to our nearness to Washington, our Post has been able to assist many applicants before the Veterans’ Bureau. We must express our thanks to Dr. S. T. Noland, service officer of the Post, and a member of the Fourth District Rehabilitation Committee for his ungrudging gifts of personal time in many such instances.

An annual dance has been featured as a source of funds to cover expenses of Memorial Day activities. Members have collected floral gifts annually throughout the county for use at Arlington Cemetery, and with the able assistance of the Auxiliary have distributed them.

Social-A few other dances have been given each year with other endeavors, such as Ladies’ Night. A social hour is enjoyed with the ladies of the Auxiliary at the conclusion of the respective meetings of the Post and the Auxiliary. The Post wishes to extend its deepest appreciation to Mrs. A. J. Porter for her gracious hospitality shown the Post and Auxiliary at all times. Through the generosity of Mrs. A. J. Porter the Auxiliary is able to holds its meetings of her palatial home and the doors of her home are thrown open to the members of our Post for a social hour at the conclusion of our monthly meetings.

Civic

Each year the members of the Post have assisted a local civic association at its annual carnival, and in return the Post has had the free use of its large hall for meetings, thus solving the problem of a home.

The Post has taken part in flag-raisings, tree plantings, educational work, etc.

The Post is now carrying on a campaign for a local Memorial Hospital.