From the Nashua Telegraph, 20 Jun 1991, pg. A3
By Sally Bashalany, Telegraph Correspondent
Some 750 American Legion delegates will descend on Nashua this weekend for their annual state convention. In addition to various general committee meetings, the three-day event will be capped Sunday by a parade of Legionnaires down Main Street.
Local James E. Coffey Post No. 3 Commander, Al St. Onge, anticipates upwards of 750 delegates from the state's 101 posts arriving for Friday's opening ceremonies at the Sheraton Tara hotel.
Also expected to attend are Gov. Judd Gregg, Nashua Mayor James Donchess, U.S. Reps. Dick Swett and Bill Zeliff, Sen. Bob Smith, National Vice Commander George Sampson, and candidate-elect for national commander, Dominic DiFrancisco. among other.
The purpose of the annual state convention is to "check on the health and well-being of the American Legion in the state," St. Onge said.
Nashua last hosted the event in 1982. "(The Convention) rotates around cities who bid for it," he explained.
Following the opening ceremonies, various committee meetings at the Sheraton are scheduled. These include the resolutions committee, which determines what the state will send to the national level regarding charter changes.
St. Onge point to membership eligibility as an example of charter change. Veterans of particular wars or military actions are eligible when the national level drafts a resolution regarding the inclusive dates of the military action or war. The resolution then must be approved by Congress and signed by the president, St. Onge explains.
Currently, the eligibility dates of those who served in the Persian Gulf war is being determined through the resolution committee. Last year, those veterans of Grenada, Lebanon and Panama were welcomed as potential members.
Another resolution on the tables of many local post committees is flag desecration. "That's always a hot topic," St. Onge says.
The James E. Coffey Post was incorporated in 1919, the third post in New Hampshire....
The Nashua post is located in the former police precinct building on Court Street, built in 1890...
On Sunday, various post color guards from throughout the state will compete at Holman Stadium in the morning. The local color guard is the current state champion.
The parade, which kicks off at 12:0 PM at Sargent Avenue, travels down Main Street, then goes "the wrong way on East Pearl Street." laughs St. Onge. It will culminate at the fleet Bank on Temple Street, where the change of state command takes place.
Current Department Commander Frank Rowe of Dover will hand over his duties to the new commander who will be elected by his peers this week end.
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