National Guard Recruitment and Three Air Defense Observation Posts Established in Town and Staffed by Legionnaires

January 2, 1940 : _ ******* Commander Horace Atkins called the meeting with 30 members and five visitors present. Department Vice Commander Dr. John Hall, District Commander Clifton Chaison and District Vice Commander John Buckley were escorted to seats by Sgt. @ Arms P. J. McMahon. As Jan. 1, 1940, F.O. Thomas reported a balance of $377.57 and December expenses of $123.40. 1st Vice Begley reported 80 members in good standing for 1940. The Memorial Association showed a profit of $72.95 from the turkey raffle, which was used to decorate the inside. Post voted to sponsor a safety calendar for 1941. A three man committee will be appointed to look into buying a fireproof steel cabinet for Legion records. District Vice Buckley spoke on membership, while District Commander Chaison spoke on Legion aims for the year. Dr. John Hall spoke on his work so far this year as State Vice Commander. He has visited 107 Posts and is chairman of the National Committee of Defense for the State for 1940. The Post voted to appoint a committee of five to work with Dr. Hall in furthering his campaign for State V. C. for 1941. Athletic Officer Bernier invited the Wareham Post for a social evening on January 17. A sum of $5.00 was voted for entertainment. Committees for a carnival and veterans night were appointed.

February 5, 1940 : - ******* Committee reports were given. Membership reported 120 members. Posters will be put up and the committee will meet on Monday nights during February in order to get in the quota. Service Officer Cole reported four men in hospital. It was voted to send a letter of thanks to the Commander of the Newport Naval Hospital for the many good services rendered to the sick veterans of Middleboro. Commander Atkins for the Veteran’s Night Committee recommended a night be held in Town Hall on February 29 and to invite the Auxiliary and Sons of Legion. Appropriated $30.00 for the night. A report on the formation of a Legion Band was accepted as a “report in progress.” Finance officer Ernest Thomas read the bills and reported $389.83 on hand. Adjutant Snow turned in 75 cents for Legion buttons. It was voted that a delegation from the Post visit Honorary Past Commander George Washington Thomas on his birthday, Feb.22 and to present him with a suitable gift. (M. Snow, Adj.)

March 4, 1940 : - ******** Dr. John Hall, State V. C., as State Chairman of the National Defense announced a recruiting program for Battery H of Bourne, a National Guard unit. There will be a demonstration and recruiting meeting in Town Hall on March 14. The Post will sponsor the meeting. A committee of three: Saunders, Fickert and Diotte were appointed to work with Dr. Hall in sponsoring the recruiting program. Postcards will be sent to the members notifying them of the event. Commander Atkins reported that the Committee visited Honorary Past Commander George Washington Thomas on February 22. It was voted to pay for the cigars that Commander Atkins bought for the gift. Athletic Officer reported $3.94 was spent for Wareham night. Voted to lay the band proposition on the table. Voted to donate $5.00 to the Boy Scouts and $5.00 to a member of the basketball team who broke his nose. A letter will be sent to our Congressman and Senators to vote in favor of the Widow’s and Orphans Pension Bill. Pool table players will be assessed 5 cents per playing period. A letter will be sent to Mr. George Sampson, who represented the High School in the Oratorical Contest. He won second prize in the Plymouth district contest.

April 1, 1940 : - ******** Twenty members present. Cards examined, flag advanced and invocation given by Chaplain Herman Fuller. Ernest Thomas reported $339.01 on hand with $68.10 in expenses. William Begley reported 144 members in good standing. For the Show committee, Comrade Bemis reported that Gene & Glenn, a well known radio team, would be appear in Town Hall on April 26 to be sponsored by Post 64. P.C. Saunders reported that 17 recruits have been signed for the National Guard Battery at Bourne. A letter of thanks will be sent to Dr. Bonnar for his services in examining recruits. After discussion it was voted to lay further National Guard matter on the table for a month. Voted to pay $3.00 annual dues to the Veterans council. Voted to pay annual District dues of $5.00. In co-operation with the Auxiliary, it was voted to pay half of a child welfare program. A nominating committee for officer s of 1941 was appointed. They were Dutra, Saunders, Carver, Bemis and Begley. Pool table money will be turned in every week to the Finance Officer and a separate account be kept.

May 6, 1940 : _ ******** Wm. Begley reported 157 members in good standing, a gain over last year at this time. Edson Bemis reports a profit of $200.00 on the Gene & Glenn radio show. P. J. McMahon helped a lot on programs. Finance Officer Thomas reported expenses of $65.29 and a balance of $328.72 as of May 1, 1940. A Roll Call Supper was voted for May 15 in conjunction with the Auxiliary. $15 was voted for entertainment. Reported that the Legion lot in St. Mary’s Cemetery was in need of repairs. The state law in effect that the town should take care of Soldier’s graves. The Town Manager notified the Commander that the town will only pay $3.00 for fixing the lot. It was voted that if the town will not do the whole work for free that we have it done and send the Town the bill. The 40 & 8 will hold a meeting in the hall on May 21. Voted to attend Memorial services on May 26 at the Church of Our Saviour. The District Nurse Association was voted $5.00. The YMCA was voted $6.00 for membership for one of our own Sons of Legion. Flag Day exercises at the Elks Home on June 14. Dr. Hall is the Exalted Ruler of the Elks this year. Voted $25.00 for the campaign of Dr. Hall as State Department Vice Commander. He spoke on Legion affairs. PC Saunders for the Memorial Association reported signs will be made for parking areas around the Legion building. Resolutions were read concerning the deaths of Comrade Alton G. Thomas and Peter A. Paoli and were sent by the Post to the grieving families.

June 3, 1940 : - ******** 1st VC Wm Begley reported 169 members for 1940 and of the assigned $20.00 for membership--$13 has been spent and $7 returned to the treasury. With expenses of $109.94, bills were read and assigned to proper channels. Ernest Thomas reported $268.03 on hand. The Post voted to sponsor for entrance to the Coast Guard Academy Francis Keith son of Comrade Clifford Keith. A letter will be sent to Commander Ralph Kelley of Franklin, N.H. Post for services rendered in the burial of Comrade Merwin Blakesley. Voted to use Post stationery for Dr. Hall’s campaign. A bill has been sent to the Town Manager for repairing St. Mary’s Legion lot, reported PC Saunders. Reimbursed Commander Atkins for $26.oo for painting Legion Hall. Also, voted $10.00 for 4th of July celebration and $5.00 for Red Cross emergency drive. Comrade Edson Bemis turned in $200.85 for the Show Committee as a profit from the show. The Roll Call supper expenses were $12.00 reported P. J. McMahon. Elections were held for 1941 Officers. Elected were: Commander, William J. Begley; 1st Vice, Frank J. Diotte; 2nd Vice, Herman Fuller; 3d Vice, Fred Wright; Adjutant, Marshall Snow; Finance Officer, Ernest Thomas; Chaplain, Fred Beale; Sgt. @ Arms, Rogers; Athletic Officer, William Bernier; Americanism Officer, Reginald Drake; Graves Registration, Roger Anderson; Judge Advocate, Fletcher Clark, Jr.; Service Officer, Louis Cole; Historian, McMahon. Delegates elected to the Convention were McMahon, Begley and Bemis. Alternates, Wright, Hall and Thomas.

July 1, 1940 : - ******** There are 172 members in good standing reported Wm Begley. A House committee was elected for 1941. They were Charles Card, Eugene LaPlante and Elwin Norris. Delegates and alternates to the State Convention will be given $15.00 for expenses. It was voted that they make out a bill showing expenses. Finance Officer Thomas rendered a report of $423.68 on hand. Colonel Victor Page of Rock Mass gave a very interesting talk on Aviation. He explained that German success in the war so far was most likely due to the excess in airplane equipment. Commander Atkins presented the Post pictures of all Past Commanders taken separately. Compiled by Marshall Snow, Adjutant.

August 7, 1940 : - ********* Normal rituals after meeting called to order by Commander Horace Atkins. There is a balance of $365.20 on hand reported the Finance Officer. Voted to send a letter of thanks to the Andrew F. Young Post of Woonsocket, R.I. for their cooperation at the funeral of Comrade Fred E. Beale. He was the Past Commander of the R.I. Post. As a member of Post 64 he had been elected as Chaplain prior to his death. Commander Atkins notified the nominating committee to bring in a list of candidates for Chaplain. Post voted to write resolutions on the deaths of Merwin Blakesley and Fred E. Beale. Discussion concerning the amount of money to be paid to the delegates and alternates to the State Convention was heard. State Vice Commander Dr. Hall stated he did not wish to be paid the $15.00 voted to him at last meeting. The Post then voted again to pay the $15.00 to the other delegates, but only $5.00 to the alternates for expenses. Voted that the delegates go uninstructed to the Convention. The Adjutant was voted a salary of $25.00. Dr. Hall talked on National Defense Program and is waiting for policy from the National Commander. The retiring Commander and the incoming Commander will arrange a date for early installation.

September 9, 1940 : - ******** There is a $251.15 balance on hand reported F.O. Thomas to th 27 members present. C. Elmes Leggee was elected Chaplain. It was voted that there will be a joint installation with the Auxiliary on October 4. Installation expenses of $20 was voted. A purchase of a Past Commander’s medal was voted for outgoing Commander Atkins. A committee for Armistice Day was elected: Saunders, Cole, Marois, Bemis and Almquist. Dr. Hall was elected once again as State Vice Commander. He sent his thanks for helping out. It was voted to hold a special meeting on Thursday, September 19 to complete plans for attending the National Convention in Boston. Not over $25.00 was voted for transporting the Sons of Legion Drum Corps. Comrade Rogers, Marois and Cole were appointed to check up on buses and trains and report on September 19. Delegates to the State Convention reported. Begley reported on conditions at Salisbury. Bemis reported on election figures and policies, while P. J. McMahon reported on activity, particularly in the campaign for Dr. Hall.

October 7, 1940 : - ********New Commander William Begley called the meeting with 22 members present. Previous meetings were read and approved. Financial report saw $248.50 on hand. Middleboro had best membership report in the District for 1941. 1st VC Diotte asked for $20.00 for the 1941 membership campaign. Comrade Warren Rogers thanked everybody for giving the Sons of Legion Drum Corps a good time at the National Convention in Boston. On a motion by Fuller and Bemis $6.00 was voted to reimburse PC Atkins for the amount he spent for lunch for Sons of Legion Drum Corps. A letter of thanks will be sent to the Captain of the Sons of Legion thanking him for the fine showing made by the Drum Corps in the parade. The Service Officer was voted $10.00 for 1941 expenses. Nov. 8-9 was announced as poppy-sale days. It was voted to purchase 1,000 poppies. The Auxiliary gave the Post a check for $10.00 at installation. Dr. Sumner Coolidge gas given the Post a flag with 35 stars, which is about 100 years old. Mrs. Burkhead , some time ago, also gave a flag. It was voted to purchase mothballs to preserve the flags. Plans for a farewell party to men who will soon leave for winter camps. These are newly enlisted men and National Guard from this locality. An expense of $10.00 was voted for the party. A committee of ten was appointed to discuss ways of getting money, particularly a winter carnival. Appointed were A. Hall, P J McMahon, Saunders, Millette, Atkins, E Thomas, Leggee, Fuller, Rogers and Davis. A picture of the Past Commander of the Post will be sent to the Legion Monthly Magazine for publication. ( Marshall Snow, Adjutant)

November 4, 1940 : - ******* Thirty-four were present and called to order by Commander Begley. VC Diotte of the membership committee added ten to work this month on membership. A Christmas raffle of five turkeys will be held, and soon Middleboro Theatre will run benefit pictures, reported Arthur Hall. A party was held for those leaving for camps, reported PDC McCrillis for the Veterans Council. It was held at the Grange Hall with help of the Auxiliaries. Most of these men are now on the way to Texas. There are now two separate funds for the Sons of Legion—Drum Corps and Sons of Legion, which has a balance of $28.46. They are soliciting old papers and rages-object- Drum Corps new uniforms by May 30, 1941. A vote last month to place two donated flags into mothballs was rescinded. Comrade Wm. Bernier offered to donate two mothball bags for same. Welfare Officer Harold Dunham was given permission to buy Christmas boxes for members in the hospital. Said boxes and contents not to exceed $1.50 each. Voted $5.00 for local Girl Scout council work. Voted $5.00 to the Society Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Members voted to sponsor a basketball team. It was voted to share ½ of Christmas Party in conjunction with the auxiliary for members’ children, amount not to be over $15.00.

December 2, 1940 : - ******** Regular formal opening and rituals. Bills were read and F.O. Thomas showed $364.28 on hand. VC Diotte reported all Post 64 members were on the membership committee. There are 80 members in good standing for 1941. Arthur Hall reported that theatre and turkey raffle tickets are going good. Voted $2.00 for the Plymouth County Health Association for tuberculosis work. $5.00 was voted for the State Auxiliary for Christmas gifts to veterans in hospitals. PC Cole reported for the 3 Air-Defense observation posts to be established for January Air Corps tryout. There is a post at Barden Hill, one at Benson Pond and one at the Rock. Dr. John Hall talked on various phases of this tryout. Commander Begley reported receipts of $137.12 on poppy drive. Expenses $21.00. Balance $116.12. It was voted to share half of balance with Auxiliary. Delegates to the Local Allied Veterans Council were named : McCrillis, Dunham and Saunders. Alternates Diotte, Begley and Snow. Bylaw changes were voted and Past Commanders Marois and Geo. Dunham will oversee the printing. To conform to the new bylaws it was voted to elect a three member National Defense Committee: PC Cole, PC Fletcher Clark,Jr., and PC Joseph Dutra. ( 1940 Minutes Compiled by RNL Historian 2014)