Printer Friendly Version - Legion Post 76 Elects New Officers for Centennial Year

From left to right: Assistant Adjutant Nick Mastroianni, Assistant Adjutant Vanessa Rutledge, First Vice Commander Tom Smith, Commander Charlie Burk, Second Vice Commander Bob Maturo, and Finance Officer Phil Brown

Post 76 of the American Legion met June 21 to hold elections for the legion’s centennial year as well as measure out its past accomplishments and plan for the future. For 100 years, the American Legion has continued the work of America’s service men and women, joining veterans together in both service and camaraderie. North Haven’s Post 76 continues to serve the community as membership grows to 546 members from its start of just 343 veterans.

Newly-elected First Vice Commander Tom Smith, in charge of membership, hopes to see numbers grow to 600 this year, making 76 the second-largest post in the state. Today, it rests as the third largest American Legion Post in Connecticut.

Of the reinstitution of the post’s Executive Committee, made up of all past commanders as well as newly elected officers, Commander Charlie Morrissey said, “We’ve been doing it this way for 20 years. Well, this year, we’re going to make some changes.”

Plans for this summer include completing the memorial plaques honoring North Haven’s past, present, and future veterans. Plans for next year include bringing a POW vigil to the North Haven Green.

This year, Post 76 will be overseen by a new group of officers sworn to protect the mission of the American Legion. Charlie Morrissey passed the torch to Commander Charles Burk with Tom Smith serving as the new first vice commander and Robert Maturo taking the position of second vice commander. Post 76 also welcomed four new veterans into the organization on Thursday ahead of the official start of their year in July.

In past months, Post 76 has earned more than $5,000 from its Charlie Flanagan Memorial dinner for a North Haven youth scholarship. The post remains active in the community with its support of local boy scout troops and youth baseball. In addition, some 37 veterans attended the Flag Day ceremony at Montowese Elementary School where Post 76 hopes to hold Veterans’ Day programs this November. It will continue its efforts this summer with its annual tag sale benefit for the Hartford Children’s Hospital and West Haven’s Fisher House, a comfort home for the families of hospitalized veterans.

But the American Legion is about camaraderie as much as it is about service. During a brief break in the June 21 meeting, one veteran turned to a newcomer and asked, “so where were you in ‘69?”

Tom Smith recounted that while canvassing for new members, he met not just another Navy sailor but a veteran of his same destroyer. Post 76 is a place for veterans to remember their service as well as continue it.

“Nine out 10 veterans aren’t combat veterans,” Morrissey said. “But they all paid their dues. Their sacrifices affect the individual and the community.”

The American Legion is a place that recognizes and celebrates military service in all its forms.