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With the approach of Veterans Day on Monday, our collective spirit of gratitude is directed to those who put on the uniform and, in many cases, put themselves in harm’s way to defend this nation from threats to freedom. Over the past year we’ve published a series of stories on a venerable Hinsdale organization dedicated to serving and advocating for the nation’s veterans, American Legion Post 250. The post is among the oldest in the country, formed shortly after the American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congr...
Charlie Hartley's motivation for joining American Legion Post 250 came from an unlikely place. He was attending a funeral service in Ohio. "The American Legion did such a great job for my son-in-law's dad," he said. "I came back and said I've got to join the legion." Hartley, who joined the post about six years ago, has been serving as its chaplain for the past three years. One of his duties is to reach out to the families of servicemen who have died. He checks the obituary...
Jack Orbell's service with Hinsdale American Legion Post 250 began six years ago when he said yes - grudgingly - to one simple request. "They needed some walkers for a Memorial Day parade one year and my uncle dragged me over, and I kind of stayed," he said. Orbell not only stayed, he's starting his second year as post commander. His family's lineage of post members includes his uncle and his great-uncle. The grandfather and uncle of Orbell's son-in-law have been active in...
When the American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 to support those returning from the World War I battlefields, many felt "the Great War" veterans organization needed an equally great mate. The American Legion Auxiliary was founded by women committed to serving those who still had health battles to fight back home and their families. Auxiliary eligibility extended to wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of American Legion members or service members "between April 6,...
When Congress chartered the American Legion in 1919 and Hinsdale Post 250 was formed shortly after, the goals of the organization - as stated in the preamble to its constitution - were straightforward. And lofty. "For God and country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a 100 percent Americanism; to preserve the memories and...
Rohan Chadha believes America will truly thrive as the world's leading democracy if its citizenry is educated on current affairs and endeavors to understand all sides of an issue. Oh, and have respect for the rule of law. "Those are the most important responsibilities," said Rohan, a Gower Middle School eighth-grader and winner of this year's essay contest sponsored by Hinsdale American Legion Post 250. Chadha's social studies teacher encouraged his students to participate in...
The 2019 Memorial Day procession sponsored by the Hinsdale American Legion Post 250 will kick off at 10 a.m. Monday, May 27. The parade will start from Third and Washington streets and proceed north on Washington, ending at Chicago Avenue. At the conclusion of the parade, the Post will hold a memorial service on the front lawn of the Hinsdale Memorial Building. The Hinsdale Central Band and student singer Annie Ascher will perform during the ceremony, and local essay contest...
Hundreds of organizers gathered in Paris March 15-17, 1919, with the goal of supporting veterans who served in the Great War. A committee tasked with naming the new group had a dozen options from which to choose, including the Liberty League and Society of the Great War. American Legion was selected as the working name. It stuck and now, a century later, the organization is celebrating all it has achieved since its founding. And those accomplishments are impressive. The...
