Whiting American Legion Post # 0502

Vice Commander Alfred Olson Adjutant Joseph D. Sturges Finance Officer Sylvan Grosvenor Sergeant-at-Arms Curtis A. Limback Chaplain George H. Webb

Crestwood Village Post 502 was organized as a result of the presence at an August 1975 meeting of the Old Guard of Crestwood Village at Unity Hall in Village III, of several Ocean County Officers of the American Legion. They were Edward J. Weznicki, Post Chairman for Ocean County and Post Commander of Post 455 of New Egypt, Thomas Marglie, Executive Committeeman and William Kisshauer, County Service Officer. They suggested that veterans residing in Crestwood Village might wish to form a post of the American Legion. It should be mentioned here that Al(John A.) Tellgren was the driving force in planting the seed for the posts birth when he discussed this idea with some American legion Officers while attending an affair in Lakewood during the summer of 1975. A meeting of some of the very first members was held in September at which time the formation of the post was discussed and a firm date was set for the first official meeting to take place on October 13, 1975 at Crestwood Village III Unity Hall on Schoolhouse Rd.There were 20 persons present at this first meeting. It was presided over by comrade Edward J. Woznicki, Post Chairman for Ocean County and Commander of New Egypt Post 455. At this meeting the above officers were elected: The temporary charter for Post 502 was presented to and accepted by Post Commanders Joseph Sturges and Norman Cox at the October 1`4, 1976 at a regular post meeting by the Ocean County's Vice Commander Edward Weznicki and Conrade Thomas Marglie Ocean Couty's Executive Committeeman. In the subsequent months all Charter Members signed the Charter Honor Roll. Under Commander Donald Brown (1998-99) Post 502 petitioned The National Organization of the American Legion for a name change from Crestwood Village Post 502 to Whiting Post 502 which was approved by National on March 4th and approved by the Dpartment of New Jersey on the 15th day of March 1999. The offical New Charter was adopted by the Post at their regular meeting on September 7th 1999. The Post in 1978 changed its home due to a increase in rental.They located to Whiting Village, Crestwood Village VII, 1 Falmount Avenue, Whiting,NJ 08759 where they are still today. Post 502 meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 10:00 AM. They serve the Townships of Whiting, Manchester and Lakehurst. Arrive a little early and meet with fellow veterans over a cup of Joe. Following is a list of Past Post Commanders Neils J. Rasmussen 1975-1976- Joseph J. Sturges 1976-1977- Norman H. Cox 1977-1978- Ernest W. Opie 1978-1979- Everett C. Johnson 1980-1982- Anthony Petolino 1982-1984 John Harley 1984-1985- John Yohannon 1985-1986- Norman Johnson 1986-1987 George W. Beisley 1987-1989- John S. Fox 1989-1990- William Vivers 1990-1991 Charles W. Mottram, Jr. !991-1992- John Cherubine 1992-1993- John Cassidy 1993-1994 Martha LaMort 1994-1995- Andrew A. Churchson 1995-1996- Frank LaMort 1996-1997 Carl Storer 1997-1998- Donald Brown 1998-1999- Melvin Reeves 1999-2000 Richard Whoeler 7/2001-10/2001- Arthur Wetmore 1/2002-7/2002- Michael Esposito 12/2002-4/2004 Arthur M. Wtright, Jr. 2003-2005- Remo (Ray) Bonino 2005-2006- Arthur M. Wright, Jr. 2006-2010 Bruce H. Grunstra 2010-2011- Arthur M. Wright, Jr. 2011-Present