10th District Council To Hold Second Annual Dance

10th District Centennial

……………………The Tenth District Council of the Massachusetts American Legion has scheduled its Second Annual Dance for Friday evening, June 18, 1926 at Bournehurst-on-the Canal. A special souvenir program has been published, which will be distributed at the door.
……….. Thirty-one American Legion Posts make up the Tenth District Council, which comprises Posts from Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket Counties. Clarence L. Piper, Chairman of the Tenth District, wished to thank each and everyone who have in a way helped to make this our Second Annual a success.
………… “We are especially grateful to those Posts who through circumstances were unable to solicit advertising and have generously donated from their Post treasuries,” it was printed.
…………Directors of the 10th District Council Dance were Chairman, Clifford W. Collins, Sandwich; Advertising, Harry Freeman, Falmouth; Hall, Herbert A. Long, Bourne; Tickets, Clifton A. McCrillis, Middleboro; Music, Anthony Pioppi, Plymouth; Floor Direction, Dr. Henry F. Weston, Brockton; and, Henry E. Cheney, Pembroke; Favors, Richard Murphy, Hyannis.
………….Officers of the Council are Clarence W. Piper, Chairman; Clifton McCrillis, Vice-Chairman; John R. Parker, Secretary-Treasurer; Executive Committee: Henry E. Cheney, Pembroke; Thomas A. Buckley, Abington; Manual Prada, Provincetown; Clifford H. Collins, Sandwich; Alvan J. Carr, Plymouth; Frank Pierce, Brockton; and, Harry Freeman, Falmouth.
………….Claude M. Fuess, Department Historian, wrote a three page history of the American Legion which covered the first meeting of veterans held in Paris in February, 1919. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., was chosen Chairman of a Temporary Committee with Eric Fisher Wood, the writer, as secretary.
…………..Nearly a thousand delegates, representing every rank and grade from private to Brigadier General, assembled in the Cirque de Paris and effected a tentative organization, according to Fuess’ article.
………….. Fuess also wrote that the first caucus of the Legion held in the United States was held May6-7-8, 1919 in St. Louis. At this gathering, Henry D. Lindsey of Texas was chosen Chairman. Mr. Roosevelt having declined the honor.
…………..The next two pages of Fuess’ writings applied to some Massachusetts Legion activities. He notes that the first meeting in the Commonwealth was held June 6, 1919 at Worcester. The first state convention was conducted on October 15, 1919.
…………… Standard-Modern Printing Company, Inc., of Brockton printed the souvenir booklet. The company had a full page advertisement, which announced that the company were “Specialists in Carnival and Field Day Work.”
……………. A page two advertisement sponsored by the James Edgar Company of Brockton told of the upcoming national American Legion Convention to be held at Philadelphia, October 11-15, 1926.
……………………………………..(Compiled by Post 64 Historian Bob Lessard 2016)