| 230 Otis Street, Sunbury, Ohio . . . | ||||
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HISTORY OF AMERICAN LEGION SUNBURY, OHIO by Gene Fuller, Post Adjutant |
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Colonel Benson Hough Post 457, American Legion received its Charter on October 19, 1939. The following World War l veterans are listed as Charter Members: Harry Lake, Van Clay Wilson, Walter R. Williams, Earl Fravel, Robert Gregg, O.T. McDonald, B.W. Curtis, T. Lamont Kempton, Harry Selmer Hanson, Charles Ward, Forest Fravel, Karl L. Darkey, Gale Longshore, Otis Kimball Baker, Robert R. Bennington, Richard B. Paul, Wilson Edwards, L.S. Mickle, Ralph M. Mallarnee. Post 457’s namesake Colonel Benson Hough was born in Berkshire Township and served in the 42nd Infantry Division (Famous Rainbow Division). He requested and received a demotion from General to Colonel so he could accompany his men to serve in World War l in France. Each year Post 457 conducts a memorial ceremony at his gravesite in the Berkshire Cemetery around Memorial Day. In 1940 members placed a large boulder with a bronze plaque at the birthplace of Civil War General William S. Rosecrans. Located on the North side of Rosecrans Road in Kingston Township this Memorial was recently renovated by a local Boy Scout as his Eagle Scout project. The American Legion Post 457 Auxiliary was granted a Charter on June 24, 1940 and continued to serve the community with fundraisers, blood drives, and weekly bingo and other social events for decades. Due to a shrinking number of members they surrendered their Charter in 2009. Post 457 has always played an active role in the community with several different educational programs in the elementary and high school to help teach our young children about patriotism, respect for the flag, and how our government functions. Over the years Post 457 has sponsored over 200 high school juniors to Buckeye Girls State and Buckeye Boys State. During World War ll American Legion members held War Bond Drives and were very active in supporting the war effort. The Post was one of the social centers of the community during and after the war. When the Korean Conflict came along the American Legion members got behind our troops and did their part by sending “care” packages to our men and women in service of our country. Many of the younger members also were called to duty to serve once again. During the late 1940’s and through the 1950’s Post 457 sponsored a baseball team in the American Legion League, as well as sponsoring local youth baseball teams. |
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Commander Frank Roberts decorating the Veterans' Memorial on Sunbury Square |
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In the early 1950’s members of the Post and other donors raised funds to erect a Memorial on the North West corner of the Village Square in memory of the Veterans of all wars. The Clyde Wright family donated an addition to the Memorial after the Viet Nam War. In 2011 this Memorial was once again renovated with the help of VFW Post 8736, American Legion members, and other local donations. |
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Milo Owen and Commander Frank Roberts break ground for Post 457 on Otis Street. |
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Unknown delegate, Frank Roberts and Bob Williamson at Groundbreaking Ceremony |
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The American Legion Post was built in 1957/58 at 230 Otis Street and has been recently renovated to allow the hall & kitchen to be rented for family reunions, parties, and other events. ST John Neumann Catholic Church started in the Post and continued to meet there until their first building was built at the present location. In the 1970’s the building served as a temporary classroom for the Big Walnut Schools. Since its inception, Post 457 has sponsored a Memorial Day Service followed by a march to the Sunbury Memorial Cemetery to place flags on all Veterans’ graves. In recent years Post 8736 of the VFW has teamed up with The American Legion to help commemorate Memorial Day. Boy Scouts and 4H members are also now helping with the placing of flags in the cemetery a few days in advance. |
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| Since its inception, Post 457 has sponsored a Memorial Day Service followed by a march to the Sunbury Memorial Cemetery to place flags on all Veterans’ graves. In recent years Post 8736 of the VFW has teamed up with The American Legion to help commemorate Memorial Day. Boy Scouts and 4H members are also now helping with the placing of flags in the cemetery a few days in advance. | ||||
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Some of the Commanders of Post 457 |
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Henry Selmar Hanson, Sr. |
Walter R. |
John W. Antanovich |
Carl Laymon |
Robert Daniel Townley |
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Clyde Limings |
Donald R. Thomas |
Henry Selmar Hanson, Jr. |
Lt. J. G. Clayton J. Whisman |
Frank Clifton Linnabary |
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Today most of the Post activity is involved with Veterans’ Day programs at the Elementary Schools, Buckeye Girls/Boys State, July 4th Parades and conducting military funeral honors for deceased veterans. Most recently Post 457 members, VFW members, and other local volunteers joined forces to build the Ohio Fallen Heroes Memorial East of the Community Library in Sunbury. American Legion Post 457 members spent several thousand man-hours constructing all the underground concrete foundations, electrical wiring, gas lines, carpentry, and painting over the 2 plus years of construction. Post 457 members established The Ohio Warriors Scholarship Fund to assure that children of Ohio military members who lost their lives in the War on Terror, since September 11, 2011, have an opportunity to attend college. This fund is administered by The Columbus Foundation. The fund web site is: www.ohiowarriorsscholarship.com Membership in the American Legion is open to any veteran who served on active duty during a period of war. Today’s American Legion member is most likely a Viet Nam War era veteran, with a few World War ll and Korean War Veterans and some from Desert Storm or the War on Terror. The Post web site is: www.americanlegionsunbury.com
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Photos from American Legion Post 457 |
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| Goto
Otis Baker's Uniform Return to Local History Index |
(02/25/2012) |
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