Mayotte-Viens

American Legion Post #13 Celebrates 100^th Anniversary

By Ronald P. Coderre

(On March 15, 2019American Legion National and on July 7, 2019The Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13 will celebrate 100-year anniversaries.  This is the first of a two-part story recapping a brief history of Post #13.  Excerpts in this article have been taken from a history written by G. Stanley Shaw in 1969 and from articles in the 1925 Hartford Courant, 1970 Windham County Observer – Putnam Patriot and the book Sky Pilots.)

During the past decade, from 2008 to 2018, the Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13 has regularly been in the news, through its numerous community activities, promoting its mission, “For God and Country.”  In 2019 Post #13 will celebrate its 100^th Anniversary.

But have you ever wondered, “How and when did the world’s largest veteran’s organization get its start?”

In the fall of 1916 President Woodrow Wilson, campaigning on the slogan, “He kept us out of war,” won a second term in office.  A few weeks following his inauguration, on April 2, 1917, Wilson addressed a special session of Congress and asked for a declaration of war against Germany. 

This war, World War I, “The Great War” famous for its “doughboys,” is eventually what spawned the organization known as The American Legion.  Following the signing of the armistice ending World War I on the 11^th hour, of the 11^th day of the 11^th month of 1918, the wheels of action began to churn, pressing for an organization in which the doughboys of World War I could find the same sense of unity and camaraderie that they experienced in the military.

Under the leadership of Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., the national organization got its start.  A caucus of veterans meeting in Paris from March 15–17, 1919 officially formalized the establishment of The American Legion.    

Soon after the Paris caucus Lt. Alfred N. Philips, who was appointed by Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. to establish a Department of Connecticut, arrived in Putnam to enlist the interest of 400 World War I veterans in organizing a Post in the town.

THE FIRST 50 YEARS

Putnam’s answer came with the submission of a charter signed by 25 area veterans.  On July 7, 1919 the National Executive Committee formally certified and granted the charter.  By December 9, 1919 an additional 202 members had added their names to the new Post.  On July 22 Dr. Edward F. Perry was elected President; Harold S. Corbin, vice president; and Whitman S. Danielson, secretary-treasurer.

(The 25 veteran signers of the original charter were: James P. Ryan, Arthur P. Brodeur, Emilien Breault, Peter J. Magnan, Charles F. Donahue, Lorenzo M. Kennedy, Dr. William Saretski, Edmond Gagne, Eugene Miller, Albert J. Gregoire, John L. Wright, James J. Charron, Michael J. Daigle, Hyde Smith, Archibald Macdonald, Jr., Harold S. Corbin, John Lussier, Alfred L. Gilbo, Lucien Girard, W.D. Favreau, James E. Murray, Dr. Edward F. Perry, Norman E. Warren, A.C. Keith, G. Stanley Shaw)    

In August of the same year, more than 100 members assembled at the former Union Hall and unanimously voted to name the Post, Anselm Mayotte Post.  Father Anselm Mayotte was an assistant at St. Mary’s Church.  He was one of 40 young priests who answered the call of Bishop John J. Nilan of the Diocese of Hartford to serve the needs of the young soldiers as a chaplain on the battlefields of France.

Shortly after arriving in France the young chaplain was assigned to the 102^nd Infantry Regiment and later transferred to 12^th Field Artillery Regiment.  While with both units, which were in the midst of heavy fighting, Chaplain Mayotte not only tended to the spiritual needs of the troops but also assisted with caring for the wounded.  In addition to battling the German enemies, the men also battled what also prove to be a killer – disease.  The real killer became the flu or influenza, which was accompanied by pneumonia.

Shortly before Thanksgiving 1918, just after the signing of the armistice, the chaplain and his unit were in Buchenofe, Germany when he was transported to a hospital in Echternacht, Luxemburg with full blown flu symptoms.  He died there, six days before his 30^th birthday, on December 5, 1918.

In February 1947, Post #13 officially changed its name to The Mayotte-Viens American Legion.  The Post was renamed in memory and honor of George R. Viens, a Putnam High School graduate and United States Marine, who was killed by a sniper’s bullet at Guadalcanal in September 1943 at the age of 21.

During its 100-year existence Post #13 has experienced periods of inactivity where its future was uncertain.  Since its early beginnings when more than 225 men joined the organization, membership witnessed a growth to an all-time high of 280 members.  Just prior to its 50th anniversary in 1969, the Post was almost abandoned due to low membership and poor financial conditions.

A concerted effort to revitalize the Post under the leadership of Commander Gerard “Gerry” Richard occurred in 1965.  From 1966 through 1970 Commanders Richard Turcotte, Leo Beausoleil and Robert F. St. Onge continued the revitalization and growth of  the Post.

From its inception in 1919 American Legion Post #13 has been fortunate to have had the leadership of strong veterans throughout the years.  In the very early years such well- known names as its first commander Dr. Edward F. Perry have dotted the roster of commanders.  G. Stanley Shaw, Sr. (1928-1929), Arthur Keith (1929-1930), Gilbert Perry (1931-1932), Rosario J. “Dodo” Beausoleil (1935-1936), James J. “Jimmy” Charron (1936-1937), Dr. Henry C. Breault (1937-1938), Sen. Henry Dunleavy (1941-1942), James W. Frost (1944-1945), and John W. Gahan (1949-1950) followed, providing the leadership that kept the Post intact and viable.

During the initial 50 years, two members Rosario Beausoleil and Norman J. Levesque were accorded life membership awards.  Beausoleil was a World War I veteran who was a prominent businessman and Alderman in Putnam.  Levesque, a World War II veteran served as Post Commander on three separate occasions, 1948-1949, 1950-1951 and 1952-1953.

From the pages of the November 12, 1925 edition of the Hartford Courant, the American Legion was cited for its involvement  in a ceremony at the World War I Veterans Memorial Bridge on Pomfret Street.

The headline read, Observance of Armistice Day – Putnam Dedicates Bridge (from the Associated Press), “Putnam paid tribute to its war dead today and honored the living who took part in the struggle, when a memorial bridge across the Quinebaug River was dedicated and appropriate exercises were held.  Between 15,000 and 20,000 persons witnessed the ceremonies which were attended by Governor Trumbull and many other prominent men.”

Today, more than 90 years later, thanks to the initiative of the men and women of Post #13 that same bridge proudly displays the American Flag, the POW/MIA Flag, the American Legion and VFW flags, as well as the flags of the five branches of the military.

Since the first National Convention in 1919, to the 2019 National Convention, both taking place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the veteran members of American Legion Post #13 have played a significant role in the establishment of the organization as it is formed today.  Veterans who served in World War I, World War II and the Korean War carried the Post through its first 50 years.

1969 TO THE PRESENT

The beginning of the second 50 years in the history of Post #13 started in regal fashion.  On April 18, 1969 the Post celebrated 50 years of existence and initiated its second 50 years under the leadership of Commander Robert F. St. Onge.

The 50th Anniversary Ball was held at The Raceway Restaurant in Thompson.  The Ball Committee was headed by Commander St. Onge who was assisted by Legionnaires Leo Beausoleil, Owen Peppin, Adelard “Pete’ Roy, G. Stanley Shaw, David Bernklow and Robert Racine.  The Master of Ceremonies was Alfred C. Dion.  Dancing was to the music of “The Coachmen.”

Post #13 enjoyed a period of relative progress and success from 1970 until approximately 1992, when it failed to elect and register officers with the Department of Connecticut.  During this time the Post home was located at 36 Canal Street in property it purchased on March 16, 1959 from Romeo P. Tessier.

In the decade of the 90’s and shortly following the turn of the 21^st century Post #13 once again witnessed serious problems where its status was in jeopardy.

During the two decades leading up to 1992 the Post was led by Commanders Owen Peppin, Raymond Bouchard, Merrill Hughes, Arthur Desjarlais, Gordon M. Goar, Jr., Henry Robillard, Edward Gilmore, John W. Sherman, Sr., Norman M. Dauphinais, E. Leo Moran, Adelard “Chief” LeMay and Ronald Adkinson.

In 1998 the Post once again failed to elect and register officers.  In 1993 Lawrence N. Wood assumed the role of Commander.  He was succeeded by W. Wayne Cotnoir who served as Commander from 1994 through 1997, enabling the Post to remain in good standing with the Department of Connecticut.  From 1999 through 2006 the Post was led by Paul E. Goulette, Sr., Bernard E. Cooney and John P. March Jr. until it once again failed to elect officers and register with the Department of Connecticut.

On February 21, 2003 the Post sold its home on Canal Street to the Gerardi Insurance Agency.  On October 22, 2003 American Legion Post #13 purchased property on Kennedy Drive from Nanette Ventura with the intent of building a Post home and function hall.  This plan never materialized and the property remains in the possession of the Post.

In 2008, after years of fluctuating success and failure, Post #13 began a resurgence under Commander Norman “Barney” Seney a Vietnam War veteran.  Seney, who would later be elected Mayor of Putnam in 2017, led the Post to new heights.  Seney instituted the Post Color Guard, which marked the beginning of being publicly recognized as a community organization.

Seney served until 2012 when he was succeeded by Walter Larochelle, who served two full years before he was replaced in 2014 by Richard E. “Rick” Carnahan.  Following one year as Commander, Carnahan turned the reins of the Post over to Ronald P. Coderre who served as Commander through 2018.

Under Coderre’s leadership Post #13 witnessed significant growth and progress.  Membership grew from less than 100 to 170 members.  Thanks to fundraising programs such as Veterans Day Recognition and Celebration, the Charity Club and the Post Golf Tournament, Post #13 achieved financial stability and growth.  Post #13 became an active member of the Putnam Business Association, instituted oratorical contests and Americanism programs in the Putnam schools, revitalized the American Legion baseball program and initiated two scholarships, one for a Putnam resident graduating from high school and another for a veteran at Quinebaug Valley Community College.

Coderre was recognized for his efforts by the American Legion Department when he was named Connecticut Commander of the Year in 2016 and Connecticut Legionnaire of the Year in 2017.

Post #13 also initiated a search for a new permanent home, which continues today under the leadership of Commander Alan R. Joslin, who began his term in office on July 1, 2018.  On November 26, 2018 Commander Joslin and his members, celebrating the Post’s 100^th Anniversary, led the popular Putnam Holiday Dazzle Light Parade, as the event’s Grand Marshall.  The parade was witnessed by an estimated 20,000 spectators,

Since its founding in 1919, following World War I, through World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon/Grenada and the Middle East conflicts, the American Legion National and The Mayotte-Viens Post #13 remain a symbol of the ideas originally conceived by its founders.

The American Legion, the world’s largest veterans’ organization with approximately two million members, continues to strive based on its four Pillars.  Those Pillars are, 1) Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation; 2) National Security; 3) Americanism; 4) Children & Youth.  The organization is also proud that through its effort’s veterans of previous wars and today’s conflicts enjoy the benefits of the G.I. Bill.

Following 100 years of glorious service to our great nation, the motto of the American Legion remains steadfast, “For God and Country.”