Lorton American Legion Post 162 Celebrates 75 Years Of
Service To The Community And Nation
Sam Ramseur - Historian
A group of twenty officers who served in the American
Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.) in France in World War I is credited with
planning the Legion. One officer, Lieutenant Colonel Theodore
Roosevelt, Jr., proposed an organization of veterans. In February
1919, this group formed a temporary committee and selected several hundred
officers who had the confidence and respect of the whole army.
The first organization meeting took place in Paris in
March 1919 and about 1,000 officers and enlisted men attended.
This meeting, known
as the Paris Caucus, adopted a temporary constitution and the name, The
American Legion.
Congress granted the Legion a national charter in
September 1919. The first National Convention, held in
Minneapolis, adopted a permanent constitution and elected officers to
head the organization.
In October
1933, a group of
young Veterans met in a room over the Post Office at Lorton, which at
that time was known as Springman's Store. They decided to form an
American Legion Post. A
temporary Charter was applied for at Department Headquarters in
Richmond, Virginia. The application was approved by the Department of
Virginia, and on November 13th,
1933 Pohick Post
#162, the American Legion, began operating under a
Temporary Charter.
The first Post Commander
was Edwie Welsh elected for the years
1933 - 1934. The Post requested
and received permission through
the kindness of one of the members on
the school board to hold
its Post monthly meetings in the old Lorton School House. This
practice was continued later when the new school was constructed.
In July 1938, a resolution was presented and adopted to
change the name of Pohick Post #162 to Lorton Post #162. A
permanent charter was also applied for and granted at this time.
Every year since we demonstrate that community spirit and leadership
through our outreach programs that have assisted veterans and their
families in our area, and by our monetary support of more than
$35,000.00 last year to the local charities within both Fairfax and
Prince William Counties.
2008 marks the 75 Anniversary of our Post and its
close association with the Lorton Community. The Post will sponsor
several programs and events throughout the remainder of the year in
celebration of this event and the public will be invited. These
events will be announced through the local news media and on our website
www.valegion162.org.
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