Post History
SOME PARTS NOT FINISHED.
First Chartered in 1938, American Legion Post 148, of Windham, Maine was initially called the Lt. Field Post after the first Windham Resident KIA in World War I. Lt. C. C. W. Field was a well-educated local member of the community who responded to the call of duty. He was killed in France leading a charge across an open Rail Road bed against a German machine gun emplacement raining down brutal fire over those that opposed it.
Twenty four leading citizens and WWI Veterans of the Town of Windham formed the first Post in 1938 and Roland Ward was the first Commander. Little in the form of records remains from this early post formation and activity.In 1949-50, The Field Post was re-charted as the Field- Allen Post in memory of USMC Sgt Jim Allen who was the first Windham resident Killed in Action in WWII. Sgt Allen was killed in the Island Campaign in the Pacific Theater. Jim was an outstanding academic and star on the athletic field in his High School years.
Post Dedication in 1949
In 1949 the Town of Windham dedicated a new School to Lt. Field and Sgt. Allen.
It is somewhat ironic that the Field and Allen families were closely related. Lt Field was the uncle of Sgt. Allen. Small Town.The Field-Allen Post was officially re-charted as of Aug 25th 1950 with Ralph Newell as the Post Commander. The Post met at various locations around the Town of Windham until, in the early 1950s, the Post purchased the Ireland School on Nash Road from the Town of Windham. The Ireland School burned in the early 1960s and the Post was again without a permanent location for meetings. Hand scribed legers from the period until 1970 indicate the membership met at various locations around Town, including an annex at the Town Office. Records again go thin during the 1970 through 1990 and from several sources it would appear that the Post was hanging on, but, that was about all. The Post continued to coordinate the Memorial Day Parade for the Town until the 1980s.In the late 1980s the Post attempted to acquire land for a home on Sandbar Road in Windham, but was met with local neighborhood resistance. Following that, the Post started working with the local VFW Post to establish a building that both organizations could use as headquarters and call home.
Affiliated Organizations
A Women's Auxiliary of American Legion Post 148 was formed on _______. The Legion has every reason to be proud of it's Auxiliary. Auxiliary members are always anxious and willing to co-operate in every Legion activity.
A Sons of the Legion for American Legion Post 148 was formed on _______. The Legion has every reason to be proud of it's Sons of Legion unit, which gained statewide recognition because of it's programs of service.
Patriotic Days
MEMORIAL DAY has always been an outstanding occasion in this community. In addition to memorial events throughout the _____ community, the goal of every Veteran to it's last man is to keep MEMORIAL DAY sacred to the memory of our war dead of all of the wars of the country; and all graves are decorated on this National Holiday.
ARMISTICE DAY, now called VETERANS' DAY, originally marked the end of fighting in World War I. It is an important holiday on the calendar of Legionnaires everywhere and in the hearts of all Veterans. It has been in ____. Annually the Post sponsored the Armistice Day Parade. An important tradition was established when the Post led in the memorial exercises at 11 o'clock on the morning of November 11, marking the exact hour of the cessation of hostility on the war fronts.
Registration Of Graves
Since it's inception American Legion Post ___ has been a leader in this community in the area of graves registration; which has been incorporated by all the American Legion Posts in ___ County. Grave Registration enables all interested parties to locate the site of the grave of each Veteran. American Legion Post ___ acquired a burial lot in ______ Cemetery and this has been marked by the erection of a massive monument marking it as the burial lot for servicemen without kin. Each year, active members place a flag on each Veteran's grave.
Scholarships and Community Projects
American LegionPost --- sponsors various scholarships for the further education of our children. We also sponsor and financially assist many worthy community projects and programs initiated by the National American Legion.
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