Janruary 1964 to September 1964

January, 1964
The post undertook an oratorical contest this year and offered an $18.75 war Bond to the winner. the post also offered the same prize, an $18.75 war Bond, to the winner of its annual essay contest to be continued this year as in the past years. Contestants in these contests are seniors in the Shippensburg Senior High School.
A death benefit fund of $100.00 was paid to the beneficiary of life member Paul Van Allen a WW1 veteran.
February, 1964
The winner of the Essay Contest was Miss Brechbiel prize $18.75 War Bond. she also attained second place in the 19th district competition. The winner of the Essay Contest was James Moorehead prize $18.75 War Bond.
The post obtained a bronze plaque mounted on a hardwood back as a memorial to the past commanders of the post. It was placed on the wall of the lobby in the post home and the names of the commanders with years of service on individual name plates were affixed in sequence on the plaque. This hardwood tablet is large enough for the addition of individual name plates of future commanders. it was also planned to have the picture of Oscar M. Hykes, WW1 soldier after whom the post was named, placed on the wall with this plaque and have it flanked by American Legion emblems.
The post donated $5.00 to the American Red Cross Campaign.
March, 1964
Commander Michael Shaner was presented a gold life membership card at the post's annual Past Commanders' Night celebration. He received many compliments on the post's active and varied programs of patriotic and community service projects. a feature of the evening program 19 March was cutting the 45th anniversary cake by past Commander Howard Crownover.
The post again sponsored the American Legion Junior baseball team with Comrade Dannie Knox as team manager. The sum of $300.00 was appropriated to the team to finance uniforms, umpire fees and travel to out of town games. The VFW Post also appropriated $5.00 for this worthwhile sport for boys between 14 and 18 years of age. as an additional means of revenue, the team sponsored two tours to the New York World's fair and sold chances for the two drawings of winners. Chances were sold at five for a $1.00.
May, 1964
A death benefit of $100.00 was paid to the beneficiary of life member and WW1 Veteran George Geedy.
Commander Shaner negotiated the obtaining of a five foot high enlarged facsimile of the Declaration of Independence which he had mounted in a portable floor stand and frame. The post presented this historical document to the Shippensburg Public schools as a part of its Americanism Program.
The Minutemen of the post Participated in the annual Memorial day observances in Shippensburg and community and a contribution of $100.00 was made by the post to the Veterans Council to help defray the expenses.
June, 1964
Chairman Howard Crownover made arrangements for William Kauffman of 24 Cumberland Ave. to attend Keystone Boys' state with expenses paid by the post.
Commander Shaner presented the post's bronze medal to the outstanding senior student in the senior high school class of 1964.
Death benefit of $100.00 was paid to the beneficiary Harold Hammond.
Commander Shaner received a Community Service Award for the long record of service performed by the post in maintaining grave registration records and placing flags on veterans graves for each Memorial day observance. The history of this program, started in the years following the Civil War, approximately 1870, was prepared by Historian William Burkhart and documented by samples of the records and photographs. The paper on this program was submitted through County to the 19th District and to Department Headquarters. The Oscar M. Hykes Post assumed the responsibilities for this program in the early 1920's when it was turned over to former Commander George H. Stewart by the G.A.R. post.
September, 1964
Officers for the year were installed for the post as follows:
Commander--Berk Winters
First Vice Commander--Earl Beckenbaugh
Second Vice Commander--Ernest Heberlig
Sgt at Arms--frank Koontz
Service Officer--Charles Koontz
Historian--William Burkhart
Judge Advocate--Hilton Russell
Finance Officer--Ray Hoover
Chaplain--Mark Snoke