1940 - 1941
Commander: Raymond Hass
1st Vice Commander: Grant Mitchell
2nd Vice Commander:
Adjutant: J.H. Hunt
Finance Officer: K. Blevins Sr
Sgt at Arms:
Chaplain: Cyril Lee
A committee for the Christmas Tree exercise was one of the first items of business for the year L.H. Britton is to be in charge of purchases of material for candy bags. H. Giltz to solicit bids from merchants for candy oranges, etc.
The stove offered by the Alexandria Bay Lumber Company was accepted for the Legion.
The membership for 1940 was 64 members. Proceeds from chowder party held on January 24 with Comrade Guerrieri as chairmen are $26.07.
On February 10th the Legion hosted a dinner for the football and basketball squads. The village and town boards, school boards and clergy of the village. The Squadron of the John B. Lyman Sons of The American Legion was formed this year. The following were officers:
Captain - Raymond Yerden
1st Lt. Clinton Jones Jr.
2nd Lt. Kenneth Blevins Jr.
Adjutant Phillip Haas
Finance Officer Jack Houghten
Chaplain Jack Pickert
Historian Charles Mitchell
Sgt at Arms Richard Forester
The Club rooms are to be opened during the week ends for the coming summer as a reading and recreation room for the soldiers from the surrounding Army camps. Commander of Pine Camp and Madison Barracks will be sent a letter extending and invitation to the officers and enlisted personnel to use the club rooms.
Comrade Guierrieri has offered to form a firing squad and colored guard composed of SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION.
From the TI Sun 1940 “Seven observation posts for the Alexandria area for army maneuvers to be held in northern New York from August 19-22 have been organized by H.E. Giltz, commander of the local Legion Post, assisted by Clinton Jones Adj. The posts are located at Thousand Island Park; on the Paul Getman farm near Omar; on the Clifford Van Brocklin farm near Alexandria Bay; on the Leslie Skinner farm near Redwood, on the Albert King farm, Dutch Settlement; on the Merton Smith farm, Hyde Lake and the Redwood High School grounds.”
From the TI Sun 1940 “The Pin Camp Military reservation became the largest training center in country, suitable for both summer and winter maneuvers. Under a plan now being considered the present area of the camp 20,000 acres may be increased to 90,000 through the purchase of adjacent farm lands in the towns of Wilma, LeRay, Philadelphia and Antwerp.”
1941-1942
Commander: E.P. Burtch
1st Vice Commander: E. Reynolds
2nd Vice Commander: C. Carpenter
3rd Vice Commander: S. Guerrieri
Adjutant: L. V. Hunt
Finance Officer: K.P. Blevins Sr. – H. Forester
Sgt at Arms: Ross Lillie
Chaplain: H. Forester
WELFARE OFFICER: R.M. Haas
From TI Sun 1941 “Elisha Burtch was installed, as Legion Commander with his staff of officers, at the Monday evening meeting of the John B. Lyman Post, American Legion, Alexandria Bay, newly installed County Commander Clinton Jones was the installing officer.”
From TI Sun February 19,1941 “The John B. Lyman Post 904 of American Legion in Alexandria Bay will undertake to register all World War I veterans in this area in response to the call from the national government that such count be made. Raymond M. Haas, commander of the local post urges all members to respond”
From TI Sun September 4th, 1941 “Eighty percent of the estimated 500 families in the Pine Camp expansion area, which include parts of the towns of LeRay and Philadelphia, evacuated their homes to make way for the army as the deadline for the great exodus was reached Tuesday. Four communities of that area are being turned into ghost towns by the army’s acquisition of 75,000 acres, to make Pine Camp the largest training camp in the northeast.”
From TI Sun November 6, 1941 "F. Gould Lyman, a member of John B. Lyman Post, American Legion has appointed to serve on the State Committee for rehabilitation, a most important work among the less fortunate veterans and their families.
Mr. Lyman has served as Commander of the John B. Lyman Post of this village, which was named after his brother, Lt. John B. Lyman, who was killed in action on the fields of France in the first World War. He has also served as County Commander of Jefferson County and District Commander of the 5th District of New York”
From TI Sun December 18, 1941 “Alexandria Bay is meeting the present war crisis with fortitude and preparations are being made to protect its citizens. A system of lights to serve as an alert signal is to be set up’ an emergency casualty depot established with a test black out scheduled for the near future.
Mrs. Harold Edick and William Vesty have been named Co-captains of the emergency red Cross Campaign being conducted in Alexandria Bay, in conjunction with a county wide effort.
A goodly number of the residents of the village attended the meeting called Sunday afternoon by the John B. Lyman Post”
SPECIAL MEETING JOHN B. LYMAN POST 904 DECEMBER 14, 1941
A special meeting wasl called. County Commander Jones was in charge of the meeting, due to the Commander being sick, Lt. Ernest W. Longton USN was introduced by Com Jones and he spoke on preparedness and the emergencies that might arise from an invasion of our country. Fire Chief Longton of Clayton spoke on fire and bomb protection and the school that the state is operating to teach all fire departments how to handle fire and bomb attacks.
The Mayor and other civic organizations attended and the information received from the talks were well received.
The meeting was closed with the signing of the National Anthem
R.W. Lillie Acting Adj.
From the TI Sun Dec 1941 “Since the entrance of the United States in the World conflict there has been an increased activity at the U.S. Naval, army and Marine Recruiting offices at Watertown and Pine Camp. Clinton M. Jones, County Commander of The American Legion says that the county organization stands ready to assist, in any way, the local defense program and to detect enemy activity in Jefferson County.
Redwood: George F. Stacy, son of the late John Stacy and Mrs. Stacy was the first young man in Jefferson County to enlist and be accepted in the US Marine Corps after the Japanese – United States War began (1941). Also accepted on Tuesday by US Marine Corps was Wilfred J. Cartwright, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Cartwright of Redwood.
Among the large number from the county who have joined in some branch of their country’s defense is Frank DeLair, Alexandria Bay, who enlisted in the Navy.”
1942 – 1943
Commander: G.W. Mitchell
1st Vice Commander: Perley Bigness.
2nd Vice Commander: Andy Duclon
3rd Vice Commander: Carl Haas
Adjutant: Vilas Hunt
Finance Officer: H. Forester
Sgt at Arms: Ross Lillie
Chaplain: Bud Taylor
WELFARE OFFICER: Bud Lee
An Honor Roll to be erected Comrades Bigness, M. Patience, Martin, Reynolds and Giltz to be on this committee. A scrap drive will be conducted to aid in the current Legion expenses.
Duane Forester wishes to donate the model planes that he designed to the Legion. Accepted. Fish Chowder supper held with a profit of $61.70.
Gould Lyman reported that the County has passed a RESOLUTION to raffle off $900 worth of war bonds to help raise money formaintance of Mountian Comap. This camp will be used by the service men. Twenty five dollars donated to Red Cross War Drive.
Discussions on building repairs and how to raise money for same being held. United War Fund Drive to be conducted will arrive Sat. Oct. 16, @ 5:30. The Legion will put on a supper for the Caravan.
From TI Sun 1943. “American Legion in need of $40.00. This amount needed to finish paying for repairs and redecorating of Legion building. The members of John B. Lyman Post, American Legion, are justly proud of their building and grounds and are desirous of keeping it in the best of condition for the boys from the Town of Alexandria, when they come back from the four corners of the world in the present conflict”
From TI Sun “A grand piano has been presented to the John B. Lyman Post of the American Legion by Grove Governor Lowden of Castle Rest.”
1943-1944
Commander: Vilas Hunt
1st Vice Commander: Curtis Martin
2nd Vice Commander: John Brownell
3rd Vice Commander: Carl Jobson
Adjutant: Ernest Reynolds
Finance Officer: Del Lyman
Sgt at Arms: Andy Duclon
Chaplain: Hubert Hunt
Comrade Reynolds reported there is $305.92 in the tobacco fund. The Commander has appointed himself a committee of one to see that all veterans have their discharge papers properly recorded with the county clerk.
The sale of Christmas Trees showed a profit of $31.15. This was turned over to the service men’s fund/ Also $100.00 was realized from the sale of hot dogs at the horse races, and this went into the cigarette fund. At the Feb. meeting the Finace Officer reported a total of 82 paid up members and $250.00 on hand. It was voted to buy a $100 war bond and to give $20 to the local Red Cross Drive.
The St. Patrick’s Day dance which Sam Guierrieri was Chairman of netted $200 and the Fish Chowder Party chaired by Comrade Reynolds netted $62.15 This amount was turned over to the cigarette fund.
In April there were 96 paid up members. The post voted to send $100 to the Veterans Mountain Camp.
A Committee will be appointed by the new Commander for 1945 to raise funds to decorate and refurbish, Legion Rooms so the returning service men will have a decent place to go. The village and town boards will be contacted regarding funds to be raised for the welcome Home celebration.
From the TI Sun 1944 “Mrs. P.M. Everts has given the John B. Lyman, post 904, American Legion, a beautiful 6 by 10 foot flag in memory of her father, Edgar L. Sherman, a civil war veteran, A member of the 15th heavy artillery of New York he was one of the guard of honor when the body of Abraham Lincoln lay in state at the capital at Albany.”
1945
Commander: H. D. Lyman
1st Vice Commander: J. Brownell
2nd Vice Commander: C. E. Miller
3rd Vice Commander: G. Plantz
Adjutant: Ernest Reynolds
Finance Officer: Hubert Hunt
Sgt at Arms: Cyril Lee
Chaplain: C. Jones
At January 8th meeting a membership of 91 was reported, however by the February 12th meeting it was 105 and this was the total for the previous year and was not reached until July 1st.
It was noted that $300 was made on the horse races last summer. A donation of 2 canes and one pair of crutches were made by Mrs. Fred Rodenhurst for Rhodes Hospital at Utica. George cook is making 4 pairs of crutches for this program.
Three new members were introduced at the February meeting. They are Henry Collins, Bert Tibbles, and Fred Bain Jr. at the next meeting James Caufield, Fairman Davis Jr. and Harld Jobson were introduced. A report from the dance held February 22 showed a profit of $319.20. It was voted by the Post to give $30 to the Redcross. A letter of thanks was sent to Mr. and Mrs. Earl Hunter for their contribution of $20. It was noted that Mrs. Albert Hartman is making a tablecloth for the Legion.
At march 26th meeting Finance Officer said a check of $200 was received from the TOWN BOARD for expenses of the past year. The Post voted to have Comrade Hunt rpresent the Legion at the Village Board meeting in regard to obtaining land adjoining the Legion property, now owned by the Legion. He reports that unless needed before hand a vote by the people would be taken at the Village election in 1946. In the meantime the Legion is, to inform the Board of the amount of Land required.
The Adj. was authorized to order Legion flags for the graves of Legion members for Memorial Day Graves are to be decorated on Sunday before Memorial Day. Assemblyman Oren Wilcox will deliver the Memorial address this year. During May Lansing, Hartman and Wilmot M. Keeler joined the post.
At the October 8th meeting there were 65 members present. Proceeding the meeting a dinner was served at the Royal restaurant to 45 members and guests.
Financial report is $135 in Post General Fund $361 in Improvement Fund and $678 in cigarette Fund. The post voted to continue to pay dues of its members who are now in serving.
A BBQ will be held Oct. 15th at the bridge Camp and Comrade Cole to donate 2 porkers. At the October meeting the Commander for 1946 presided: Charles Becker. A firing squad for next year was appointed as follows: Sam Gueirrieri, Cyril Lee, Fred Bain Jr., William G. Mitchell Jr., William S. Mitchell Jr. Lawerence Cole, Albert “Tommy” Mitchell. Comrade Andy Duclon was hired as Janitor for 5 months at $30 per month.
November meeting shows a desk being donated to the post Paul Duke. Improvements are to be done on pool table with lights over it installed. The Legion is to attend Reformed Church in a body December 9th in response to an invitation by Rev. William Huntes. A railing at the front steps to be paid for by P.M. Everett. Plans under way for a dance December 14th and tickets on sale for $.75. Fish chowder party cleared $80
