January 1950 to December 1950

Jan. 1950
The bowling team was provided with T shirts.
Post adjutant Russell Alpaugh, reported that the post had 525 paid up memberships as of 1 January, putting it over the top of its quota at first of the year and making the post eligible for the Membership Certificate award.
The post had collected several cases of toys, some new and some used , for shipment to Europe via National Headquarters.
The annual Past Commanders' banquet and ball was held in the post home with speakers from 19th District Headquarters.
February, 1950
In celebration of Washington's Birthday, the post joined with the Purple Heart Chapter in holding a banquet served by the Auxiliary in the meeting room of the post. At this time Harry Burns, chairman of the Essay and Scholarship project, announced the winners. Leland Daihl, a senior, not only won the local contest but went on to win the county and the scholarship that went with it.
The Minutemen of the post attended the annual Military ball and dance given the Pennsylvania Soldiers Orphan School at Scotland along with the 40 & 8. This affair is given the school each year by the Post.
A donation of $50.00 was given to the Boy Scouts and a donation of $25.00 given to the Girl Scouts.
March, 1950
The Drum and Bugle Corps held a western show, " Dusty Jim Bailey" in the high school auditorium for the purpose of raising money for instruments.
April, 1950
The Constitution and By-Laws were amended so that the Commander of the post be a member of the home association board with voting privileges.
Legion weight lifting team won three "first' prizes in weight lifting in Wilmington Delaware.
William H. Burkhart, grave registration chairman, reported that the whiteprint maps of Spring Hill Cemetery showing the location of all veterans graves were completed.. One map will hang in the Adjutant's office, another will hang in the cemetery association's office and a third will be for field use in placing flags. A book of records of names of veterans buried in Spring Hill and other local cemeteries was also completed showing numerical location on map as well as the war the veteran served in. Except for Spring Hill for which the large map is provided, the other cemeteries have been sketched on pages of the records book showing grave locations of veterans. Mr. Burkhart the satisfaction of having up to date records to guide in the placement of flags during May for memorial Day.
May, 1950
Kenneth Coleman served as chairman of the Memorial day and the post participated in Memorial services in Middle Spring, Newburg, Orrstown, Shippensburg and Cleversburg. Total cost of memorial day for the post was approximately $500.00.
The Drum and Bugle Corps purchased new bugles at a total cost of $275.00.
The post purchased and presented an American Flag to the colored Girl scout Troop in the Orange St. Methodist Church with appropriate ceremony and explanation of the respect to the flag. Commander Brechbiel made the presentation and William Burkhart gave a talk on the flag's history.
June, 1950
The post participated in preparing for the dedication of the Veterans memorial Park and athletic field. Commander B.W. Brechbiel by other post representatives of town to be chairman of this dedication service scheduled for September, 1950
The post approved the making of blueprints by an architect for the building of an extension to the post home at an approximate cost of $180,00.00, but no definite action was taken to start the project this year.
The Minutemen and the 40 & 8 members of the post participated in the dedication of the outdoor amphitheater at the Pennsylvania Soldiers Orphan School at Scotland. This impressive memorial, useful in the education of soldiers' orphaned children, was the gift of the Pennsylvania Department of the American Legion.
June, 1950
The following officers were elected to serve the post for this year:
Commander- Lawrence Goodhart, First Vice- Kenneth Coleman, Second Vice -Charles Koontz, Finance Officer- Fred Squires, Chaplain- Mark Snoke, Historian -William H. Burkhart, Service Officer -George Bailey, Sgt at Arms- Edgar Shoemaker, and Judge advocate Richard Wolfrom.
July, 1950
The post sponsored and paid expenses of two local boys, Thomas Jakson and William warren, at the Keystone Boys State held at Indiantown Gap Military Reservation.
Both youths gave a clear report of their participation in the model state government that was set up at the camp to teach the boys from Pennsylvania how their government is administered.
August, 1950
American Legion Post 223 members attended the Pennsylvania Convention of the American Legion held in Philadelphia.
main topics of the convention were to control the activities of Communists, the importance of passing the long advocated Universal Training Bill, the provisions of the G.I. Bill benefits for korean Veterans and measures to bring about a speedy and victorious end to the Korean War.
September, 1950
Comrade William Burkhart announced that his compilation of the complete history of the Oscar M. Hykes American Legion Post, completed for the first time in July, 1950, and entered in the National Legion Historian's Contest of 1950 won fourth place.
The placement of the history warranted the Honorable Mention Citation by National Commander George N. Craig.
The post donated an American flag and staff to Brownie Troop #8, the presentation was made by B.W. Brechbiel.
The Minutemen of the post, as well as members of the post, participated in the ceremonies held at the Memorial park and Field on Route 11 West of town. The Veterans memorial Park as it is known is a public project in honor of the 1485 veterans from Shippensburg and community who served in World War 11. The dedication ceremony was held on the field on the evening of Labor day with Judge Dale Shughart making the dedicatory address.
October, 1950
The members of the post with Mark Snoke as Chairman helped sponsor the Keystone Frolic night of the Pennsylvania Week celebration. Comrade Snoke's committee worked with the Lions Club and Purple Heart Chapter in the arrangement of the evening parade and street dance. In an effort to point up the military angle of Pennsylvania Week, Comrade Burkhart, comrade Brechbiel and Comrade Snoke trimmed a store window in honor of Pennsylvania's 28th National Guard Division of the Infantry recently activated and sent to Camp Atterbury. Pictures of the local soldiers serving in the division were on display in the window. The float entered in the main parade by the American Legion Minutemen won first prize of $35.00
November, 1950
An expense fund of $100.00 was set up for the service Officer to be used as needed.
A fund of $100.00 was set aside for the expense of the weight lifting project and given the use of space in rear of building.
The remodeling and the restoration of the Legion's forst floor social rooms was started in November and the interior of the main room given a complete refinishing including acoustic ceiling and paneling. An amplifying system was installed in the social room for use by entertainers and employees.
Two Comrades, Mark snoke and William Burkhart, attended the Armistice Day Memorial day Service held in the St Andrews Episcopal Church.
A contribution of $50.00 was made to the Community Chest campaign via the United Clubs by the Legion Post.
December, 1950
The post sponsored a Christmas basket project at a total cost of $100.00 and appropriated $70.00 for the Christmas gift fund for the children of the Scotland School.
The post also appropriated $50.00 toward the Legion's Christmas Package fund for gifts for veterans in VA and Army hospitals.
Jerry Hummel directed the giving of a local play in the High School auditorium, "GOING PLACES," the proceeds of the play benefited the Minutemen of the legion.
The post was saddened by the news that Comrade Allen A. Dubbs, a Past Commander of the post had passed away.