Slideshow created by Lynn Brown, Riga Newman Library

Post History

We have a long and proud history that we are eager to organize the articles and photos and share them on this website.

A few key facts:

American Post 954, Churchville, NY was chartered soon after the Legion was chartered after WWI by Congress. For years the members met in a variety of venues in Churchville.

The Auxiliary was chartered soon thereafter.

The Post became the HARVEY C NOONE Post in the 1950's, after Mary E. Noone left money in her will to build a permanent Post Home in memory of her beloved son, Harvey, a runner in the US Army in WWI. He died on September 29, 2018 in France.

In 2018, a series of events was held by the Post honoring Harvey. The Town of Riga planted an oak tree in the Legion lawn in his honor. The Village of Churchville also planted an oak tree along the Westshore Rail Trail. And, County Legislature, Steve Brew arranged to have lilacs from the Highland Park added near the oak tree. Daffodils have been planted both at the Legion Post and along the rail trail as Living Field of Honor for our Hometown Hereos.

In Creekside Cemetery there is a Soldiers Monument that honors those local soldiers who died in the Civil War. Their names are on the Monument an$ will be added to this website.

At the Churchville Elementary School there is a collection of crimson maples that were planted after WWII for each Hometown Hero who lost his life defending our freedoms. There names will also be added to this website.

Harvey C. Noone Biography

On _______, five former servicemen met in the high school auditorium. Existing at the time in __________ was an informal community consisting of former World War I Veterans. The decision to organize an American Legion Post resulted from the conclusion of these Veterans that the American Legion was the representative Veterans' organization in this country. That conclusion has been proven true as today the American Legion is the largest wartime Veterans' organization with nearly 13,000 American Legion Posts worldwide. Current national membership is over 2 million and combined with the American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion, membership in what is known as The American Legion Family, exceeds 3 million who care about America, Veterans, their families and our nation's youth.

At the first meeting Mr. ____ was elected temporary Chairman and Mr. _____ temporary Secretary. Decision was made by the attending Veterans to file an application for an American Legion Post.

At next meeting, a Certificate of Application for a Charter was presented. It was also decided at this meeting to organize a Post as soon as one hundred servicemen of _______ had indicated their desire to join the Post..

A committee was formed to name the Post and the Post was named "American Legion Post___”. All of _______’s servicemen who died in the service of their country, as a mark of respect, were honored when the Post was chartered.

Permanent organization was affected at the next meeting which time permanent officers were elected. The first officers of American Legion Post were: Commander: Mr___________, Adjutant: Mr. _______, and Finance Officer: Mr. __________, etc.

Affiliated Organizations

A Women's Auxiliary of American Legion Post ____ 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 ____ 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.

Join Us and Keep this History Alive