The Grand Army of the Republic was an organization similar to the American Legion, but was comprised of veterans of the Union Army following the American Civil War. This charter, dated December 30th, 1873, likely granted the GAR usage of the hall now occupied by the Legion. The displayed date is incorrect because the website doesn't allow the input of any year prior to 1910.

The decision to establish an American Legion Post in the town in honor of Sgt./1c Raymond Stone was included in this town report from 1919, featuring the names of all the founding members.

There were 50 Shrewsbury Veterans who signed the petition for Legion Membership, listed by first name, middle initial and last name. Positive Date unknown. 

On November 20th, 1919, the Post received their temporary charter, allowing them to function as an organization under the American Legion.

The first meeting of the American Legion Ray Stone Post #238 was held in the lower Town Hall in November 1919. After a while the meetings moved to the hall over the old Town Fire Barn, but the Legion found it inadequate, and moved back to the lower Town Hall. Our first outing was in the summer of 1926, when we camped out at Mount Monadnock in East Jaffrey, NH. There we had big ball..

On the New Years eve of 1919-1920, a Military Ball was held with all members wearing our service uniforms. Many people turned out, as the town was very loyal to her servicemen. We changed our Military Ball to Minstrel Shows that ran from 1920 to the 1930s

There were 31 original signers of the petition for the Auxiliary Unit of Ray Stone Post 238, Department of Massachusetts. They are listed by first name, middle initial, and last name.

On March 15th, 1923, the Auxiliary received their charter, allowing them to function as an organization under the American Legion.

The Grange was a farmers association founded in 1867 that sponsored local events, community service, and political lobbying for farmers rights. This picture displays the 27 Shrewsbury Grange Masters from 1876 to 1926, who presumably met at the hall now occupied by the Legion. Listed L-R, 1st row: Chas. A. Holman, Henry S. Ball, Oliver B. Wyman, Edward C. Howe, Frederick Bartlett, George L. Davis. 2nd Row: Edward A. Bartlett, WM E. Rice, Hiram W...

May 30th, 1924 marked the 56th Anniversary of the founding of Memorial Day by the Grand Army of the Republic. The program lists the various participants and their duties during the day. The parade started on Boylston Street and proceeded to the northeast entrance to the cemetery. The Civil War Veterans' lot of the Unknown Dead is just inside and to the southeast of the main gate of the Cemetery, where the Women's Relief Corps..

This certificate was granted to the Post on September 3rd, 1926 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, effectively legalizing the formation of the American Legion Ray Stone Post #238.  

1928 The Town was having numerous automobile accidents, and people were taken to the hospital in private cars by volunteers. The Post realized what a handicap it was for the Police Department, so we organized an Ambulance Drive. Our members went door to door for contributions, and with the proceeds, bought the first ambulance for the town of Shrewsbury. The State Conventions had become very popular and the Post always had a large delegation and..

The Board of Selectmen at a Special Town Meeting held on August 31, 1934 were authorized to negotiate a lease of the Land and building known as the No. 2 school-house property to the Ray Stone Post No. 238 of the American Legion. Now therefor, We P.H. Prouty, V.W. Heath and W.E. Brigham, Selectmen of Shrewsbury, do by virtue and by the foregoing vote, make and enter this indenture on the twenty fourth day of..

We assembled at Town Hall at 2:00 PM. We then formed and Paraded to our new quarters (old #2 School), led by the Canterbury Street School Drum Corps and others.

Pictured below are two images of the Shrewsbury Legion Hall at the corner of Main St. and School St. The first was taken in 1934 and the second in 1950, which included the Legion Hall addition. Prior to being the host for the American Legion, this building was known as Shrewsbury School #2.

1935 Massachusetts American Legion Headquarters Citation of Honor granted to Post 238 under Commander Theodore F. Demers.

Pictured below is a group of legionnaires observing Memorial Day on May 31st, 1935 in the center of town. There would usually be speakers to the right of the group pictured.

The Sons of the American Legion is a service based program of the American Legion consisting of male descendants of servicemen who were members of the Legion. This Charter for the Shrewsbury chapter of the SAL was granted on October 25th, 1935, just 2 years after the program was founded. 

pictured is a short article cut out of a paper and saved by a legionnaire’s daughter in 1937 about the history of the song, “America" (My Country 'Tis of Thee). The tune is believed to have been composed by Henry Carey in 1740, with the words written by Rev. Samuel F. Smith of Boston in 1832.

Memorial Day services at Legion Lot, May 31^st, 1939 (Colorized).

Pictured below are 36 WWI soldiers and Legionnaires observing Armistice Day on November 11th, 1939. This holiday became known as Veterans Day after being changed in 1954 by president Dwight Eisenhower.

1942 US Army Air Force First Interceptor Command Aircraft Warning Service certificate.

The first edition of the "Shrewsbury Bridge the Bridge from Us to You" was published and sent to our sons and daughters, who were serving in the Armed Forces of the U.S. There were 14 issues from January 1944 through November 1945.

War was coming, and had already broken out in Europe. The Post had continued with regular meetings, participated in Legion Conventions, Post dances, suppers and many other functions through the late 30s and early 40s. The Post had many members, some in the service by 1943, when it was decided to publish a monthly newsletter of happenings in Town for them. January of 1944, the first edition of the " Shrewsbury Bridge, the Bridge from..

Pictured below is the final newsletter of the Shrewsbury Bridge. This was the last issue.

1946 FBI Special Service Certificate awarded to the American Legion Ray Stone Post #238 from J. Edger Hoover.

The construction of the East Wing of the Post was completed on February 12th, 1950.

Ray Stone Post #238 American Legion New East Wing Dedication Day Feb. 12^th, 1950. L-R: Rear Admiral Wat Tyler Cluverius, Commander A. Henry LaFleur Jr., Admiral Louis E. Denfeld.

Pictured below was the firetruck purchased by the Post from the Worcester Fire Department after it was decommissioned. It was purchased for convention parade annually in June and occasionally in July. Post 238 no longer participates in American Legion conventions. 1951 American Legion convention, Holyoke, MA. Delegates pictured from back of truck (L-R): Anthony P. Grosso, commander; Kenneth G. O’Brien, senior vice-commander; Philip G. Hedquist, junior vice-commander; Francis J. Murphy and Henry LaFleur, both past..

Nov. 30, 1953 Cub Scout Pack #92 Charter granted to A.L. Post 238. Pack Cmte. Members Robert Taft (Chariman), Frederick S. Haskell, and Irving Washburn; Cubmaster Richard D. Duke. Asst. Cubmaster G. Frank Drinkwine. Den Mothers: Muriel Laramie and Mary Hallock.

Pictured below are 2 men at the Ghost Town Picture Gallery at Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA, taken on December 1st, 1951. Ed McDonald is pictured on the left.

Ray Stone Post and Auxiliary Officers 1951-52: Front row (L-R): Barbara Gilmond, Vice President; Marilyn Reed, Secretary; Kenneth O’Brien, Commander; Effie Washburn, President; Mary Grosso, Vice President; Elsa Crooker, Chaplain.  Back row (L-R): Donald Sieurin, Chaplain; Elton May, Adjutant; Philip G. Hedquist, Sr. Vice Commander; Norman Cortis, Jr. Vice-Commander; Harry S. Cutting, Jr., Finance Officer. 

Pictured is the 1952 American Legion sponsored baseball team with coach Fred Layton. The Legion liked to support the youth of the town. 

Ray Stone Post Officers 1952-53.  Front row (L-R): Elton May, Adjutant; Philip G. Hedquist, Commander; Harry S. Cutting, Jr., Finance Officer. Back row (L-R): Edward W. Greene, Chaplain; Irving E. Washburn, Sergeant at Arms; Frederick Layden, Jr. Vice-Commander; Donald Sieurin, Sr. Vice-Commander.

Ray Stone Post Auxiliary Officer Induction ceremony (1952-53). Front row (L-R): Rosa Wells, ___ Knight, Elsa Crooker, Rachel Haskell. Back row (L-R): Effie Washburn, Marilyn Reed, Dot Taft, Ann McLeod.

1952-53 Certificate of Merit for Community Service to Ray Stone Post #238, American Legion.

Pictured below are past Post Commanders celebrating the completion of the East Wing in 1953.

The Ray Stone Past Commanders Club was formed on April 6, 1953 with P.C. Harlow Shepard as Cmdr., P.C Ken Beaman, Sec., and P.C. Leslie Clark as Treasurer. The first banquet was held at Legion Quarters, 2 School St., on April 20th, 1954, headlined by Tom Dowd of the Boston Red Sox as guest speaker. A Ham Dinner was provided by the Auxiliary of the Post for a ticket cost of $ 2.00.

1953 American Legion Convention, Lowell. Picture of same firetruck in photo #9. L-R: ____ (driver), Henry LaFleur, ____, ____ (woman), Phil Hedquist, Tony Rosso.

Ray Stone Post and Auxiliary Officer Induction ceremony (1950s). Seated (L-R): Dot Taft, Marilyn Reed, ___Knight, Effie Washburn, Mary Grosso. Standing (L-R): ______, Tony Grosso, Phil Hedquist, _____ (woman), Don Sieurin, Elsa Crooker, Norman Cortis, Harry Cutting, Jr., Kenneth O’Brien.

1954-55 Certificate of Merit for Community Service for the American Legion Ray Stone Post #238.

Pictured below is a photo of the Dedication of North Shore School by the Veterans Council, Philip G. Hedquist, Cmmdr.  James Bernie, Cmmdr. A.L. 397; Edward DeJoinville, Walter J. Swift Post, VFW; Frederick Layden, Cmmdr., A.L. 238; Anthony P. Grosso, Cmmdr. Worcester County Council; Camillo Corazzini, District Subcmmdr. District 2. The School has since burned down, and the dedication plaque was returned to the Post. However, it is unclear where plaque currently resides.

The Veterans Memorial Hall in North Shore School, Parker Road, Shrewsbury, MA, was dedicated and presented a bronze Plaque by the Shrewsbury Veterans Council in September, 1954. L-R: Anthony P. Grosso (Commander, Worcester County Council, A.L.), Camillo J. Corazzini (Commander, District 2, Worcester County Council, A.L.), Edward DeJoinville, Walter J. Swift, Jr. (V.F.W. Post 1628), James L. Birnie (Commander, Victor R. Quarenta, A.L. Post 397), Frederick T. Layden (Commander, Ray Stone, A.L. Post 238), Phillip..

1956-57 Certificate of Merit for Community Service for the American Legion Ray Stone Post #238.

1956-57 Certificate of Merit for Americanism for American Legion Ray Stone Post #238.

1956-57 Annual Americanism Citation for the American Legion Ray Stone Post #238.

1957-58 Certificate of Merit for Community Service for American Legion Ray Stone Post #238.

Membership Citation for the American Legion Ray Stone Post #238 granted on June 27, 1957.

Unsure of meeting occasion (mid-late 1950’s?): 1^st row (L-R): ____, Harlow Shepherd (Town Building Inspector), ____, Henry Lafleur, Russ Wall, ____, Post Commander 397 (?), ____, ____. 2^nd row (L-R): Ed Fletcher, Arthur “Bud” L.W. Larson, Kenneth O’Brien. 3^rd row (L-R): ____, George Henchey (smiling), Elton May, Phil Hedquist, ____, ____, ____.

The WWI Legion members of the American Legion Ray Stone Post #238 joined the organization "Veterans of WWI in the USA" as Shrewsbury Barracks, Department of Massachusetts, No. 1105 on November 14th, 1957. Commander Kenneth E. Beaman, Clayton E. Smith as Adjutant. Listed by first, middle and last names were the 50 Legionnaires who petitioned on January 31st, 1958, the Barracks 1105, formerly requested of Post 238, the use of the hall for their meetings..

Veterans Day, 1958. One person spoke at the event. The photo was taken where the gazebo is now (used to be a bandstand) in the center of town area, across from the library. L-R, Arthur Cellucci, Richard Carney, Robert Tisdell, James Cook, Kenneth Beaman, Lester Dyer, George Henchey, Leonard Erikson.

May 25, 1959 Membership Citation for the American Legion Ray Stone Post #238.

The American Legion Ray Stone Post #238 was granted a Charter to carry on the Exploring program for Character Building, Citizenship Training, and Physical Fitness subject to the provisions of the Constitutions, Bylaws, and rules and regulations of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. This charter was originally granted in 1961, when Russell Wall was the Commander and Arthur L.W, "Bud" Larson, Jr., ex Navy, was the Legion representative to Ship 59. By..

1963-64 Annual Child Welfare Citation; the Post had to meet certain requirements to receive a citation.

Pictured is the Sea Scout Ship #59 which was sponsored by the American Legion Ray Stone Post #238.

Pictured is another picture of Sea Scout Ship #59 featuring the group officers in the front row.

Pictured are 5 group leaders from Sea Scout Ship #59.

Pictured was the leader of Sea Scout Ship #59.

October 7, 1964 thank you note to Paul Goward (American Legion Post 238) of 5 Crescent Street, Shrewsbury, MA from the Veterans Administration for fundraising for the veterans hospitalized at Rutland Heights.

Pictured is a recruitment poster from the Department of Defense, printed in 1965, featuring a quote from Thomas Jefferson. It was sent to the Post along with 3 others in 1965.

Pictured is a recruitment poster from the Department of Defense, printed in 1965, featuring a quote from John F. Kennedy. It was sent to the Post along with 3 others in 1965.

Pictured is a recruitment poster from the Department of Defense, printed in 1965, featuring a quote from Abraham Lincoln. It was sent to the Post along with 3 others in 1965. 

Pictured is a recruitment poster from the Department of Defense, printed in 1965, featuring a quote from Teddy Roosevelt. It was sent to the Post along with 3 others in 1965. 

Pictured is a quote from Louis S. Silvey, printed by the J.R. Rosen studio in Boston. This was found in a storage room of the Post.

June 8, 1965 Membership Citation for the American Legion Ray Stone Post #238.

Pictured below are George and Mrs. Henchey taken sometime in the 1960s. At the time, he was the Post commander and she was the Auxiliary President.

Pictured below is 1967-68 Post 238 Commander Don Gray and Auxiliary President Alice Troy, taken sometime during September of 1967.

1967-68 American Legion Post 238 Auxiliary Officers. Seated (L-R): ____, Alice Troy, Mrs. Henchey, ____. Standing (L-R): Elsa Crooker, Abbie Larson, Evonne S., Mary May, Mrs. Brayton. Photo taken Sept. 1967.

1968-69 Annual Child Welfare Citation; The Post had to meet certain requirements to receive a citation.

1967-68 American Legion Ray Stone Post 238 Officers. Seated (L-R): George Henchey, Don Gray, Mr. Brayton, Paul Goward (originator of The Bridge).  Standing (L-R): Eddie Pelkey, Ed Fletcher, Ed McDonald, _____, Harry S. Cutting, Jr.

July 15, 1968 Town of Shrewsbury Victualler License approved by the Board of Selectmen Licensing Authority (Howard B. White, Arthur B. Cellucci, William J. Belanger, Herbert A. Dufresne, Michael A. Trotto).

1968-69 American Legion Post 238 Auxiliary Officers. Seated (L-R): Alice Troy, ____, Mrs. Henchey, ____, Mrs. Brayton. Standing (L-R): Rose Willis, Abbie Larson, Elsa Crooker, Mary May, ____.

1968-69 American Legion Ray Stone Post 238 Officers. Seated (L-R): ____, George Henchey, Fred Layden, Harry S. Cutting, Jr. Standing (L-R): Paul Goward (?), Arthur “Bud” L.W. Larson, Eddie Pelkey, Roy Davis, ____.

1970s American Legion Post 238 Officers. Seated (L-R): ____, Harry S. Cutting, Jr., Robert Logan, Roy Davis.  Standing (L-R): ____, Arthur “Bud” L.W. Larson (past Commander), Elton May (past Commander).

1970s American Legion Post 238 Auxiliary Officers.  Seated (L-R): Abbie Larson, ____, Lorraine Reheuser, Mrs. Henchey, Sunny Fletcher, Mary May.  Standing (L-R): ____, Rose Willis, Alice Troy.

1970s American Legion Post 238 Auxiliary Officers.  Seated (L-R): ____, Lorraine Reheuser, ____, ____.  Standing (L-R): Abbie Larson, Mary May, Sunny Fletcher, ____, Alice Troy.

1970s American Legion Post 238 Officers. 1^strow (L-R): Roy Davis, Arthur “Bud” L.W. Larson, Harry S. Cutting, Jr. 2^nd row (L-R): ____, Bud Willis. 3^rd row (L-R): Elton May, ____, Norman Cortis (?).

American Legion Post 238 Auxiliary Officers. Seated (L-R): Alice Troy, ____, Lorraine Reheuser, ____. 2^nd row (L-R): ____, ____, Mrs. Henchey, Mary May.   3^rd row (L-R): Abbie Larson, Lenora White, ____.

November 5, 1977 Auxiliary Membership Citation for Meritorious Service to Ray Stone Post #238 District #4.

1981 Food Service Establishment Permit.

1994 certificate by the Town of Shrewsbury announcing their Fourth of July Activities held at Noon in Dean Park. The American Legion Ray Stone Post #238 was one of five Co-Sponsors, as 1994 marked the 75^th anniversary of the American Legion (1919-1994).  The Post offered hayrides at this event in celebration of their 75^th anniversary.

Town of Shrewsbury 4^th of July celebration, 1994. The American Legion celebrated their 75^th anniversary (1919-1994) and this was their first year to offer “wagon rides” at the town’s annual celebration. They rented wagons and tractors from Don Weagle then switched to Home Grown Wagons in 1999.

On September 12th, 2013, the American Legion Ray Stone Post #238 was granted a charter to carry on the Scouting Program for Character Development, Citizenship Training, and Mental and Physical Fitness for Troop 1004, BSA. The Troop came from Westboro, Massachusetts.

On December 31st, 2013, the American Legion Ray Stone Post #238 was granted a Charter to carry on the Scouting Program for Character Development, Citizenship Training, and Mental and Physical Fitness for BSA Venture Crew #2238.

On December 31st, 2017, the American Legion Ray Stone Post #238 was granted a Charter to carry on the scouting program for Character Development, Citizen Training, and Mental and Physical Fitness for BSA Cub Pack #62, going strong into 2021.