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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