On May 30,1919, Memorial Day, the ceremonies were performed by the remaining Civil War veterans and the Spanish-American War veterans.  But now, the veterans of the War just finished swelled the parade ranks as the youngsters just back from France has donned their khaki uniforms with the wrap-around leggings and had taken part in the rituals.

Remember?

The lunch after the parade had been given to the marchers as usual by the ladies of the Daughters of the Revolution, at the Artisan's Hall, down on the corner of Grove street and east Main street.

After lunch Carlton Webb, the son of an old Haddonfield family, was socializing around the Hall and instigating the thought that the town should have an American Legion Post.

He collected 25 signatures of World War I veterans and sent the list to the Legion Headquarters in Washington, D.C. along with a letter requesting a Charter. Subsequently, on July 23, 1919, approximately a month later, a printed Charter was received that established American Legion Post 38 in Haddonfield.

W. Gentry Hodgkin was elected the first Post Commander and in a short term there wer over 200 members.

The Post from the very first was an active participant in every community activity.  The headquarters were on the upper floors of the old Post Office building on the corner of Ellis street and east Main street.

Eventually, the Post purchased the privately owned Birdwood Club on Hawthorne avenue and the larger quarters provided availability for dances and more social activities.

Wes Anderson, Herbert Gleeson, Charles Birney, and William Doughty are the remaining members of the original 24 signers of the petition that began Post 38 57 years ago in the Fortnightly building that then was the old Artisan's Hall.

Data for this article was supplied by Charles Birney, who was an original signer to give Haddonfield an American Legion Post.