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American Legion, MILLER-CAMPBELL POST NO. 22 — 1924

h4>Luray, Virginia

American Legion, 1924

The Miller-Campbell Post No. 22, American Legion, Luray, Va., was organized in 1919, with a total membership of one hundred and ten members. Its first commander was Major Carson G. Mason, and its adjutant, Lieutenant W. V. Ford.

The first year saw much local work done, and carried out with a great amount of enthusiasm, and the Post went into the year of 1920 with a strength of about the same as the previous year. Post activities consisted of much work in bringing together the ex-service men into the American Legion, also the organization of a Ladies’ Auxiliary, and much work in municipal benefit.

In 1921, this Post’s membership which heretofore had drawn from approximately five counties and twice that many towns, suffered a decrease due to the organization in many of these towns of separate posts, chartered under the Department of Virginia. However, it showed a strength of forty-four members, which it carried into 1922, one hundred per cent. At the election of officers at the beginning of the year 1921, the old officers declined the honor further, and Lieutenant M. J. Menefee was elected post commander, and Lieutenant A. A. Grove, post adjutant, to which offices they were re-elected in 1922. During these two years the Post worked faithfully and diligently toward the betterment of its organization and its city, State and nation.

In 1923 with the same officers as the two years previous, this Post, with many of its members leaving the State and several deaths in the ranks, suffered a decrease to a low level of twenty-eight members. This decrease was not due to lack of enthusiasm, nor did the members fall dawn on their work. During this year, legion work and popularity grew in the community, with several programs and shows rendered under the auspices of the Post.

In 1924 the following officers were elected: Post commander, George Vogt; Post adjutant, W. H. Huffman; vice-commander, D. B. Coffman; finance officer, Hubert Strickler; sergeant-at-arms, M. Engle; chaplain, Rev. Whittle; service officer, Major Mason. This year saw the Post membership increase over forty per cent, and it now has about its old standing of forty-three members.

In 1922 the Post leased a large and commodious clubroom. They have held many public affairs in the clubroom and many public meetings which have aided the Post, financially and morally. This year the Post held cleanup days in the town of Luray; it has helped and is now helping all ex-service men in making application for adjusted compensation, and it has helped materially the disabled men of the county with the veterans’ bureau. The Auxiliary has an attractive membership and has been a big help to the Post. It has fitted out nicely the clubroom with furniture, and they with other friends of the Post have decorated the walls with maps, pictures, etc. Our Congressman. Hon. T. W. Harrison, has helped the Post in many ways, having lately furnished it with a map of the advance sector, western front, of the morning of the eleventh of November, 1918.

The Legion has officiated at the ceremonies of the return to this country and burial of the following comrades: Elwood Campbell, Julian Campbell, Walter Campbell, Julian Miller, Andrew Burner, . . . . . . Sours, Roy Stover, ……. Yancey, John Waiters, Thomas Brubaker, ………. Cullers, ………. Lucas, Homer Jenkins. The following comrades have also answered the call since the days of 1918: Colonel Robert F. Leedy, Albert M. Chapman, C. T. Holtzman, Jr., Leo Kendrick, Harry Lash, . . . . Jenkins.

The Post is working onward to fulfill their mission to perpetuate the memory of these comrades, to combat the autocracy of the classes and the masses, to foster the spirit of American ideals and principles, to help toward the betterment of their city, State and nation. This Post is growing in strength, and its present membership with renewed enthusiasm, are making their aim a one hundred per cent increase in 1925.