American Legion Post 44 in Ridgefield celebrated its 100th anniversary on Aug. 27 at Abrams Park as a slew of members and guests commemorated the occasion.
The centennial celebration was attended by over 40 members, alongside their family members and guests. It included time to socialize, swearing in of post officers, food and a birthday cake.
“A great time was had by all,” said Post 44 member Steve Campbell.
Although Campbell hasn’t been in the organization long, he’s happy to be part of it.
“I feel good about it,” he said. “I think it’s a big milestone, so it feels good.”
Campbell said the post in Ridgefield was established in June of 1922 but the celebration was postponed to August because of the timing of other events.
“I like that it’s a small post,” Campbell said. “I think it’s 100 members. … They work together really good. They’re a bunch of good people really.”
Campbell said he looked around at other American Legion posts before he ultimately decided to join the one in Ridgefield, in part because of the effort they put in to help the city.
Post 44 puts up around 250 flags around the city for every major holiday and has hosted a Blue Star ceremony, which recognizes families of active military members. Post 44 also assists other local posts with the honor guard and funeral services.
“With that being said, they’re a very active small post and that’s what I like about it,” Campbell said.
He mentioned members of the post recently helped a veteran who needed assistance cleaning his property. They also helped another veteran, who is in his 80s, by loading a U-Haul truck for him in preparation for a move to California.
Post 44 Commander Darren Wertz said the American Legion in Ridgefield has placed flagpoles in cemeteries that didn’t have any. They also plan to put one in at Overlook Park.
“(We’re) just making sure that the colors are flown and the facts are known that there’s patriots alive here in Ridgefield,” Wertz said. “There is an agency, a group of folks here in town, that care for the vets.”
Wertz said the post occasionally provides gift baskets to families of veterans who are in need.
“I think it attests to the basic function of caring and sharing,” Wertz said. “Life is a gift, and living is learned, but the honor and accomplishment actually has to be earned. We try to honor those folks that have actually, what we figure, earned from their life.”
He noted veterans can be “kind of a different group.”
“Once you’ve been in combat, you’ve changed. It’s an experience not everybody gets and it comes with a price,” Wertz said. “It also comes with a camaraderie that is kind of like an initiation into an organization you didn’t intend on joining.”
