PPHS Members’ Thanksgiving Luncheon to Be Held Veterans’ Day, November 11 Recognizes the American Legion.

This year the Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society members will hold their annual potluck Thanksgiving Luncheon at the American Legion Hall in Porter.  This seems fitting as the date is Veterans’ Day – November 11 and we have been commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the U.S. entering World War I.  The American Legion organization was established at the end of that War.  Here is a bit of what we learned about them.  We appreciate them allowing us to use their hall for our luncheon.

 

The American Legion was chartered by Congress Sept 16, 1919. It was to be a patriotic veteran’s organization focusing on service to veterans, service members and communities.  It became one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the U.S.  After World War II the American Legion played the leading role in drafting the GI Bill to benefit veterans returning home from service to their country.  The Maine Department of the American Legion was organized in 1919.  There were 134  Posts with a membership of 10,000.  The Auxiliary was organized in 1921 with 73 units and a membership of about 2,000.

West-Day Post 123, Kezar Falls, Maine

Carroll S. West

Erwin Day

          The American Legion Post at Kezar Falls, Maine had been in existence for a few years by the time it received its permanent charter Oct. 25, 1929 – dated 1928. The post was named – The Carroll S. West Post, No. 123 in honor of Carroll S. West of Parsonsfield, the first soldier from this area to die in World War I.   After World War II the name was changed to The West-Day Post to also honor Erwin Day of Porter, the first local soldier to die in World War II.