About The American Legion
“Still
Serving America”
Post
Logo 2007 - 2009 Post
Logo 2009 - Present
Since its founding in
Recent
American Legion Victories for Veterans
Since
eligibility reform, VA's budget has increased by $20.7 billion ($38.6 billion
in FY 96 to $59.3 billion in FY 03) and VA's patient population has increased by
5.5 million (2.5 million in FY 96 to 8 million in FY 03).
Largest
defense budgets since the mid-1980s.
Annual
increases in military housing allowances to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
Annual
funding increases for the Defense Health Program and TRICARE
Supported the
creation and funding of the Department of Homeland Security.
Supported the
development and deployment of the National Missile Defense program beginning in
2004.
Prevented
doubling of VA prescription co-payments for Priority Group 7 and 8 veterans.
Prevented
establishing an annual $250 VA enrollment fees for Priority Group 7 and 8
veterans.
Prevented
increasing VA primary care co-payments for Priority Group 7 and 8 veterans.
Prevented
redefinition of VA disability to medical conditions incurred or aggravated
while in the performance of duties.
Combat-Related
Special Compensation program provides tax-free reimbursements to some
service-connected military retirees.
Proposed
Constitutional Amendment to protect Old Glory passed in the House for an
unprecedented sixth time.
VA disability
compensation for
VA benefits
for children with spina bifida whose parents are
Lifetime
access to Department of Defense medical treatment and discount pharmaceuticals
for military retirees.
More than
$150 million in annual federal investment in scientific studies on Gulf War
illness.
A federal law
making it easier for Gulf War veterans with undiagnosed illnesses to receive VA
benefits.
VA
compensation and health care for Gulf War veterans who have contracted Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Tougher
veterans-preference laws to protect veterans’ federal-advancement
opportunities.
A Legion-sponsored
American Legacy Scholarship Fund for the children of troops killed since
Along with
the American Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of The American Legion, donated more
than $4 million to help build the National World War II Memorial.
Historic
Contributions
Wrote the
original GI Bill in 1944 and has successfully lobbied for increases in
Provides
free, professional assistance -- for any veteran -- in filing and pursuing
claims before any administrative or judicial body of the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
Advocates a
GI Bill of Health to give military retirees, Medicare veterans and their
families access VA health care.
Strongly
advocates adequate funding for training, equipment and quality-of-life
improvements for the troops.
The first
veterans group to identify “Gulf War Syndrome.”
Through joint
research with
Assists
families of deployed active-duty troops through the Family Support Network,
(800) 504-4098.
Spends more
than $25 million annually on programs benefiting young people: American Legion
Boys State/Boys Nation,
Largest
collective donor of blood to the Red Cross: about 100,000 pints yearly.
National
Emergency Fund awarded grants totaling more than $3 million since 1989 to help
victims of natural disasters.
Authored
original "flag code" under federal law and has advocated recitation
of the Pledge of Allegiance in
Founded
Citizens Flag
Provides
honor guards at civic events and for the funerals of countless veterans.
Post#1 History
When
Probably
no Legion Post was ever organized with so many distinguished
men
as signers of the charter than
Alexander E.
Johnson
James H.
Littlefield
G. Edward
Buxton Jr.
Fred B.
Thurber
Raymond S. Weeden
Joseph O. San
Souci
Rush Sturgis
Charles F. Tillingast
Albert I. Russell
Gerald T. Fanley
Herbert R. Dean
Harold F. Barker
Thomas Francis Dailey
John F. Kiernan
The first commander was Col. C. Edward Buxton. As
organizing Commander his name does not appear on the charter application. This
honor was reserved for T. Dawson Brown. His organization consisted of Percy J.
Cantwell as adjutant, Fred B. Thurber treasurer, Earl L. Cooney, Service
Officer, John F. Kiernan employment officer, Rev. Leonard C. Harris chaplain,
Charles Y. Muggins Athletic Officer. There were no
Vice Commanders and no historian. It was not until later that a full compliment
of officers was established. The first meetings of the Post were held in a Fire
Station situated where the Post Office Annex is now located. The Post soon
moved to the Elks Home on
Harry
Freeman Post Historian 1973-1974
Past Commanders
02/20 G E Buxton 06/60
- 06/61 J H Gillick 06/03 - 06/04 H Zaborski
l2/20 T D Brown 06/61 - 06/62 E A Liberati 06/04
- 06/05 H Webster Jr
01/22 H A Braman 06/62
- 06/63 E F Saunders 06/05 -
06/06 G Helton
------- A Corvese 06/63 - 06/64 F
X Byme 06/06
- 06/07 D Moravec
01/23 J
B Littlefield 06/64 - 06/65 P P Granieri Jr 06/07 - 06/08 F Torrice
01/24 T
F Monahan Jr 06/65 - 06/66 W G
01/25 H R Johnson 06/66
- 06/67 E F Young
06/09 - 06/10 K DiLeone
01/26 H T Samson 06/67 - 06/68 C
Elmstrom
01/27 J F Hawkins 06/68 - 06/69 T
Hughes
02/28 J A Doherty 06/69
- 06170 B L Soscia
01/29 R
Sturges 06/70
- 06/71 T G Rotella
01/30 D
Langdon 06/71 - 06/72 H Osbom
09/30 W
F Andrews 06/72 - 06/73 R J Walsh
09/31 T L Pierce 06/73
- 06/74 J B Gegan
09/32 H
Annington 06/74
- 06/75 I E Dorsey
10/33
10/34 C A Webster 06/76
- 06/77 R T McKeon
10/35 J E Clark 06/77
- 06/78 R B Strong
10/36
G H Nye 06/78
- 06/79 B F Kimball
10/37 W
H Powers 06/79 - 06/80 P
V
10/38
J S Kelley 06/80 - 06/81 P Belanger
10/39 E L Cooney 06/81
- 06/82 J H Bums
10/40 W
A Soban 06/82
- 06/83 Dr J A Allen
10/41 H
Freeman 06/83 - 06/84 R L Carr Jr
01/42 E J Staff 06/84
- 06/85 R H O'Rourke
10/43 J J Collins 06/85 - 06/86 E Distefano
10/44
F Cannon 06/86 - 06/87
10/45 H H
Kimball 06/87 - 06/88 W Bond Jr
11/46 E L Weed 06/88 -
06/89 L F Geoghegan
10/47 A Corvese
06/89 - 06/90 P
J Collins
11/48 H H Boden 06/90 - 06/91 H Radoccia
10/49 J D Bacon 06/91 - 06/92 R F Rochon
09/50 M P DiFusco 06/92 - 06/93 A N Rochon
05/51 C J Jones 06/93 - 06/94 R Nelson
05/52 C
05/53 H G Lewis 06/95 -
06/96 V O'Leary
05/54 J W West 06/96 -
06/97 J
05/55 W H Powers 06/97 - 06/98
R
06/56 J Tramonti Jr 06/98
- 06/99 J Forgue
06/57 F A Lennon 06/99 -
06/00 L J Roy
06/58 R L Stuntzner 06/00 - 06/01 R Francoeur
06/59 J J D'Errico 06/01 - 06/02 R Blade
06/60 W H Anderson 06/02 - 06/03 R Lachape!le
"The Cyril Henius Memorial Fund"
ARTHUR HENIUS, ET ALS.,
TRUSTEES)
VS., )
JOHN
H. NOLAN,ATTORNEY GENERAL )
OF THE
STATE OF
PETITION TO MODIFY DECREE
Respectfully
represent the undersigned as they are trustees under Deed of Trust from Arthur
Henius and Henrietta Henius
dated January 4, 1921, as modified by decree of this Honorable Court entered
May 21, 1942 in that cause entitled "Arthur Henius
et als., Trustees vs. John H. Nolan, Attorney General
of the State of Rhode Island" numbered Equity No. 586 in the files of the
Clerk of the Superior Court for the County of Washington, as follows:
(1) That in and by the terms of said decree entered
on May 21, 1942, the trustees under said Deed of Gift and their successors in
office were authorized and directed to keep and invest in a fund to be known as
"The Cyril Henius Memorial Fund" all monies
paid to said trustees by the United States of America for certain real estate
described in said original Deed of Gift and to apply the income from said fund
from time to time in the discretion of the majority of the trustees for the
relief of the members of Providence Post No. 1, The American Legion, and the
wives, children and parents of such members "as shall be in critical need
of assistance by reason of ill health or unemployment or lack of financial
resources."
(2) That the terms of said decree are contrary to
the original intent of the donor of said Deed of Gift in that the intention as
expressed in such Deed of Gift was that the corpus of said trust should be
held, managed and controlled for the use of the members of Providence Post No.
1, The American Legion, and implied that such use should be mainly
recreational.
(3) That the provisions of said decree
restrict said trustees in carrying out the original intention of the donor of
said Deed of Gift, in that by its terms no assistance may be given to members
of said post unless said members shall be in critical need of financial
assistance by reason of ill health or unemployment.
WHEREFORE your petitioners pray that the decree
entered by this Honorable Court on
(1) The
trustees under said Deed of Gift and their successors as such trustees are
authorized and directed to keep and invest in a fund to be known as "The
Cyril Henius Memorial Fund" all monies paid or
to be paid to the trustees by the United States of America for the realty
described in said original deed of gift, together with any accretions to the
principal of said fund and said trustees are further authorized to apply
the income from said fund from time to time in the discretion of the majority
of said trustees in such manner as shall be for the benefit of members of
Providence Post No. 1, The American Legion, and said trustees, or a majority of
them, shall have the power from time to time to pay over, loan or advance to
such members of Providence Post No. 1, The American Legion, as shall be in need
of assistance
by reason
of ill health, unemployment or lack of financial resources, such portion of
the principal of said trust as in the judgment of said trustees shall be
necessary or proper to relieve such need.
(2) The
trustees who are complainants in this cause shall hold office as trustees of
said "The Cyril Henius Memorial Fund" until
the annual election of said Providence Post No. 1, next succeeding the date of
entry of this decree, and at said annual election their respective terms of
office shall cease, and from and after said annual election the trustees of
said Fund shall consist of 5 members,
one of whom shall be said Arthur Henius so long as he
shall live (and he shall be deemed to serve recurring five-year terms) and four
of whom shall be members of Providence Post No. 1. The American Legion and
veterans of World War I, and all of whom shall be elected at said annual
meeting, one to serve for a term of four (4) years, one to serve for a term of
three (3) years, one to serve for a term of two (2) years, and one to serve for
a term of one (1) year. At each annual election after the original meeting at
which said trustees are elected, Providence Post No. 1 shall elect a trustee to
serve for a term of five (5) years, to succeed the trustee whose term shall
expire at the time of said annual meeting. At the annual election after the
death of Arthur Henius, the members of said
Providence Post No. 1 shall elect a trustee to serve in his stead for the
unexpired portion of his five-year term, said trustee to be a member of
Providence Post No. 1 and a veteran of World War I. Whenever any trustee shall
die, resign, be removed, or be unable for any reason to act as such trustee,
the members of said Providence Post, at any regular meeting thereof or at any
special meeting thereof duly called for the purpose shall elect a trustee who
shall be a World War I veteran., in his stead to hold office until
the next annual election and until his successor shall be elected. When it
shall become impossible or impracticable to elect trustees in the manner
hereinbefore provided, the veterans of World War II shall be eligible for
appointment as trustees, and in default of said election, the trustees of said
fund shall be appointed by the Superior Court of the State of
(3) The situs
or location of said "The Cyril Henius Memorial
Fund" shall be in the City of Providence, County of Providence, State of
Rhode Island, and the complainants herein and
their
successors as trustees as aforesaid may apply for further relief to the
Superior Court of said State within and for said
Entered as
the Decree of said Court this day of
, A. D. 1948.
(Solicitors
for the Complainants)
Enter:- Assented to: (Att'y Gen. of the
State of
(Comdr. of Prov. P. No. 1, A.L. )
CONSTITUTION
AND BY-LAWS
Including a11
amendments through January 31, 2006.
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I. Name
and Headquarters
Section 1. The name of this Post shall be
Post
No. 1, American Legion, Department of Rhode Island, with Headquarters in the
City of
ARTICLE II. Nature
Section 1.
Providence Post is a civilian organization.
Rank does not exist in the Post. No member shall be addressed by their
military title in any meeting of the Post.
Section 2.
Providence Post shal1 be absolutely non-
political
and shall not be used for the dissemination of
partisan principles or for the promotion of the candidacy of any person
seeking public office or preferment. No candidate for or incumbent of a
salaried elective public office shall
hold any office in the Post.
Section 3. Each
member shall perform their full duty as a
citizen
according to their own conscience and understanding.
ARTICLE III. Eligibility
Section l. Eligibility for membership in the Post
Shall
be as prescribed by the National Constitution and By-Laws of The American
Legion.
Section
2. There shall be no form or class of membership
except an active membership as hereinabove provided.
ARTICLE IV. Officers
Section 1. The
officers of this Post shall consist of
a Commander, Senior Vice-Commander, Junior Vice-Commander, Adjutant, Finance
Officer, Chaplain, Sergeant-at-Arms, members of the Executive Committee and
such other officers as shall be prescribed by the By-Laws.
Section 2. They
shall be elected or appointed annually
as prescribed by the By-Laws.
ARTICLE V. Amendments
Section 1. Ten
(10) members of the Post may submit to the Adjutant any proposed amendment to this Constitution, provided that such proposed
amendment be submitted in writing, at least ten (10) days before any regular or
special meeting of the Post. The Adjutant shall thereupon, at least five (5)
days before such meeting, mail a postpaid written or printed notice to all
members, setting forth the text of such amendment with a statement that the
same has been submitted and is in order for initial action. If passed by a
two-thirds vote of all the members present at such regular or special meeting,
said amendment shall be in order for final action at the next succeeding
regular or special meeting of the Post, provided a five (5) days postpaid
written or printed notice of said meeting shall be given by the Adjutant to
all members. If at said meeting the proposed amendment shall be again passed by
a two-thirds vote of all members present, it shall thereupon become valid and a
part of this Constitution.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I. FORUM
Section 1. Freedom of Speech.
While every member of this Post may exercise the greatest
freedom of speech on any subject for the good of the Post, City, State or
Nation, such freedom shall not extend to discussion or promotion of the
business or financial interests of individual members.
ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Eligibility.
Each applicant for membership in the Post must give their name, address and a brief
statement of their military record. The eligibility of each applicant shall be
investigated to insure that they fulfill the requirements set forth in Article
III of the Constitution.
Section 2. Election to Membership.
To become a member of the Post a candidate must be
elected by a majority of the members present at a meeting of the Post.
Section 3. Default of Dues.
If any candidate elected to membership in the Post shall
fail to pay their dues for the ensuing year to the Adjutant within ninety (90)
days after election, their election shall be void.
ARTICLE III. OFFICERS
Section 1. Elective Officers.
The following officers of the Post shall be elected
annually for a term of one year as hereinafter provided: Commander, Senior
Vice-Commander, Junior Vice-Commander, Adjutant, Finance Officer, Chaplain,
Sergeant-at-Arms and four (4) Executive Committee members.
Section 2. Vacancy.
In the event of a vacancy in any of the offices enumerated
in Section 1 of this Article, the Post may fill such vacancy for the remainder
of the term by election at a regular or special meeting of the Post.
Section 3. Appointive Officers.
The Commander may at any time appoint such additional
officers as may be deemed advisable. These appointments, unless sooner
terminated by removal or resignation, shall continue during the term of the
appointing Commander.
Section 4. Commander.
The Commander shall be
the chief executive officer of the Post. The commander shall preside at all
meetings of the Post and Executive Committee. Shall exercise general
supervision and management over the affairs of the Post with the usual powers
of the office. Shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Post,
concerning the affairs of the Post, are duly executed, and that the duties
imposed on the officers of the Post are in all respects properly performed.
Shall be, ex officio, a member of all committees.
Section 5. Senior Vice-Commander.
The Senior Vice-Commander shall perform all the duties of
the Commander in the absence of or inability to act, or in case of
vacancy in the office of Commander. Shall also perform such other duties as may
from time to time be delegated by the Commander.
Section 6. Junior Vice-Commander.
The Junior Vice-Commander shall perform all the duties of
the Senior Vice-Commander in the absence of or inability to act, or in case of
vacancy in the office of Senior Vice-Commander. Shall also perform such other
duties as may from time to time be delegated by the Commander.
Section 7. Adjutant.
The Adjutant shall attend all meetings of the Post and
Executive Committee; shall keep a correct record and full minutes of all their
proceedings and enter the same in books to be kept for the purpose, and when so
entered shall sign the same as the minutes of such meeting; shall give due
notice to all members of every meeting of the Post, as hereinafter provided.
Shall, upon request, furnish to each member removing from the Department of
Rhode Island a certificate stating the membership in the Post of such removing
member and the duration thereof; shall keep a record of all transfers and changes
affecting membership and shall notify candidates of election to membership in
the Post. Shall, if required by the Post, give bond with surety for the
faithful discharge of the duties. Shall also perform such other duties as may
from time to time be delegated by the Commander.
Section 8. Finance Officer.
The Finance Officer shall collect all dues and keep an
accurate account of all moneys received and paid out; shall deposit all the
moneys received to the credit of the Post in such bank or banks as the Post may
determine; shall render at each Annual Meeting a full and complete statement of
the finances of the Post for the previous year; shall sign all checks, drafts
and notes of the Post. All expenditures must be authorized by the Post, and no
bill shall be in order for payment unless approved by the Post. The Finance
Officer shall, if required by the Post, give bond with surety for the faithful
discharge of the duties. Shall also perform such other duties as may from time
to time be delegated by the Commander.
Section 9. Chaplain.
The Chaplain shall invoke Divine blessing at all formal
meetings of the Post and shall act as its religious representative
where advisable. Shall also perform such other duties as may from time to time
be delegated by the Commander.
Section 10. Sergeant-at-Arms.
The Sergeant-at-Arms shall preserve order at meetings and
perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Commander.
Section 11. Re-Election.
No member of the Post shall
be eligible for reelection to the office of Commander, Senior Vice-Commander,
or Junior Vice-Commander until two (2) years
after have elapsed from the date of last
election to such office.
Section 12. Nominating Committee.
The Commander shall appoint a Nominating Committee, whose
duty it shall be to nominate candidates for the offices enumerated in Section 1
of this Article. These nominations shall be published in the notice of the
Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS
Section 1. Annual Meeting.
The Annual Meeting of the
Post shall be held in May of each year, and at this meeting the officers
enumerated in Article III, Section 1, of these By-Laws shall be elected
for a term of one year, to take office at the first meeting of the Post in
June.
Section 2. General.
All meetings of the Post shall be held within the City of
Section 3. Notification.
The Adjutant shall notify all members of the time and
place of each meeting, either by publication in a daily newspaper published in
mailed postpaid to all members at least forty-eight
(48) hours previous to the meeting.
Section 4. Quorum.
Ten (10) members of the Post present at a meeting shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business.
ARTICLE V. EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
Section 1. Composition.
The Executive Committee shall consist of the Commander,
Senior Vice-Commander, Junior Vice-Commander, Adjutant, Finance Officer
and four (4) other members elected at the Annual Meeting for a term of one
year.
Section 2. Quorum.
A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be five (5)
members thereof.
Section 3. Meetings.
The Executive Committee
shall meet at the call of the Commander.
Section 4. Powers.
The powers of the Executive Committee shall be;
(a) Trial. To try members for charges
preferred against them, as provided in the National and Department By-Laws.
(b) Advisory. To advise the Commander
and assist in carrying out the duties of the office.
(c) Emergency.
Unless specifically reserved to the Post at large, to take any action that
might be taken by the Post, PROVIDED that it be inadvisable to await the next
regular meeting of the Post, and FURTHER PROVIDED that it be inadvisable to
call a special meeting of the Post.
ARTICLE
VI. DUES.
Section 1. General.
Membership
dues in the Post shall be Thirty $30.00 dollars per
annum effective
Section 2.
Reinstatement.
All
suspensions forfeitures and reinstatements of membership shall be as provided in
the National and Department By-Laws.
Section
3. Exemption.
Any
member of the Post may apply to the Commander or to the Adjutant for exemption
from the whole or any part of their dues for any year, presenting reasons
therefore; and upon a finding by either of such officers that the payment of
the full amount would be over burdensome to them, shall be exempted from the
whole or such part. Such application shall be kept in strict confidence.
ARTICLE
VII. PARLIMENTARY AUTHORITY.
Section 1. Rules.
The
rules contained in "Robert's Rules of Order, Revised" shall govern
the Post in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not
inconsistent with the Constitution of the Post or these Post By-Laws.
ARTICLE
VIII. AMENDMENTS.
Section 1. By-Law
Amendment.
These By-Laws may be
amended, at any regular or special meeting of the Post by a two-thirds (2/3)
vote of the members present, PROVIDED that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing to the Adjutant
at least ten (10) days before such meeting, and the Adjutant shall have given
all members at least two (2) days postpaid written or printed notice of the proposed amendment. The Executive Committee shall
review the By-Laws during the month of January each year to determine if changes
are necessary.
A letter sent to all new Post#1
members during the 1970’s-1980’s
THE AMERICAN LEGION
DEPARTMENT
OF
Recently,
________________ sent me a memo requesting that I forward to you, an application
to join
It is
enclosed herewith. It is also necessary that I inspect your discharge papers,
namely, WD Form 55, War Dept Form 53-55 with WD Form 100, NAVBURPERS FORM, DD
FORM 214, DA Form 356 or whatever other type of discharge or release order you
were furnished. It isn't that we do not
trust our comrades but it is required that I certify personally, that you are
qualified to join the American Legion, thus I must see the documents that you
were released from service under.
We generally
have a short remembrance service on 11 November in memory of our departed
Comrades followed by a Hot & Cold Buffet. This is followed by a Cocktail
and Social hour (or two) Post Members Ladies are always included in this
affair.
We also hold what we refer to as "Ladies
Night" during April. This consists of a Sit down Dinner followed by an
Evening of Dancing (or gabbing if you prefer)
Both of the above get-togethers are usually very
well attended and enjoyed. The eight dinner-business meetings are usually
attended by about 5O to 60 percent of Post Comrades. The bulk of the balance of
the membership is homebound, in Nursing Homes or live in distant States which
precludes their attendance as a rule.
At present we have on board ___ members. This
includes Members (both Male & Female) from World War 1 (we still have eight
of the original group that helped form
The American Legion in
The Dividends
from this Trust cover the main operating expenses of Post One. Members are requested
to donate a small sum at each Dinner Meeting to help defray the cost of the
meal. The Token Fee or Donation at present is $2.00 basically; the above is a
brief summary of Providence Post One's Operations, At present annual dues is
$10.00 a year of which Post One gets .75 per
year.
HOWARD B WEBSTER
