In October when Woodrow Wilson was still president, Millis had a population of about twelve hundred. It was an agrarian town on West bank of the
Charles River, which had only thirty-five years earlier separated itself from Medway. In October of that year, American legion Post 208 was chartered with a
membership of fifty-three, led by Millard B. LaCroix, the first commander. Department Commander General John C, Logan former commander of the famed Yankee Division, signed the charter, which hangs in an honored place at Post Headquarters on Curve Street.
In the early years, our Legionnaires were veterans of the Spanish American, War, and the Great War (WWI), since our Civil War veterans
belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic Camp in Medway. In 1925, upon completion of the building at 34 Curve Street the veterans had a building of
their own. They have continued to meet there until the present time, for a total of about 750 monthly meetings over the years, our WWI veterans were active in
civic affairs, contributing in many ways to the welfare of the community. Each year they conducted impressive services on Decoration Day and Armistice Day. In
the late 1930’s they became sponsors of Boy Scout Troop #15, a tradition which continues to this day. Many Millis boys who served in WWII had been members of Troop #15. Civic groups met at the Legion Building free of charge in those days. Legion Post 208 played a leading role in the Celebration of the 50th anniversary
of the incorporation of the Town in 1935. A square downtown was dedicated to Raymond J. Curry, who died while serving during WWI, and Green Street was
re-named Himmelfarb Street in honor of Harry M. Himmelfarb who was killed in a truck accident while serving in General Pershing's headquarters in Charlemont,
France in 1919. (An impressive plaque, honoring each of these men was dedicated on Memorial Day, l998). On Thursday, May 30, 1935, the
War Memorial Stone was dedicated in Memorial Square. Rev. Moses Richardson Lovell, a Millis boy who had served in WWI, delivered the dedication oration.
In 1925, upon the completion of the Legion Building on Curve Street, the veterans had a building of their own for meetings. They have continued to meet there until the present time, for a total of about 750 monthly meetings.
The Millis Junior Legion Drum and Bugle Corps, sponsored by Post 208, was organized in 1950, under the direction of Earl Merkle assisted by Anthony Bando. In 1960, Charles Grant became the director. This well-known group, consisting of 20 boys, drew many compliments locally and in parades at State Legion Conventions. It will have a reunion this year.
ln 1992, Post #208, led the project of honoring the two Medal of Honor recipients buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery. After extensive research was done by John Sheehan and Vincent Gannon, a committee was formed to place the bronze markers on granite stones and to conduct a rededication ceremony in April
of that year. With the aid of Millis Amvets Post#495, Medway VFW Post 1526, Medway Post # 67, American Legion, a large crowd gathered at Prospect Hill to witness an impressive ceremony honoring William Davenport Newland Medal of Honor recipient for heroism above and beyond the call of duty at the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1862, while serving aboard the USS Oneida, and Charles Church Roberts, Medal of Honor recipient for heroism above and beyond the call of duty at Hampton Rhodes, Virginia in 1910 while serving on the USS North Dakota.
The Legion motto, "For God and Country'', tells us what Legionnaires have lived for and died for. With camaraderie second to none in the community, these wartime veterans have supported their churches and synagogues and the democratic institutions bequeathed to them by their forefathers. They,
better than most citizens, know that freedom is not free, and that it must be guarded by each generation in its turn.
Closing: And so we come to this day and this place in the year 2000, the celebration of the 80s anniversary of Millis American Legion Post # 208. Let us remember the charge given to us in our Charter by General Logan, that the Post pledge itself "through its members, to uphold, protect and defend
the constitution of The United States, and the principles of true Americanism, for the common welfare of the living, and in solemn commemoration of those who
died that liberty might not perish from the earth." We have kept that pledge for eighty years. We keep it now. Let us strive to keep it until the last Legionnaire joins his comrades in the Post Everlasting.
THE LADIES AUXILIARY OF THE AMERICAN LEGION
A helping hand to the Post, the Legion Auxiliary was formed on October 30, 1924. Not only did the members help out with Post activities, but they also undertook projects, which contributed to ttre common welfare. During the war years, they met regularly to fold bandages for the American Red Cross. They also visited wounded veterans at the Cushing Hospital in Framingham and the Veterans Hospital in West Roxbury. For many years, they gave parties to the children at the Wrentham State School, and raised money to send a Millis High School junior to Girls State. They were roundly applauded as they marched by, led by our Gold Star Mothers, in the Decoration Day Parade. A list of Auxiliary Presidents, although incomplete, would include Marion (Babe) Wilson Riley, Lena Allen, Janet Dupuis, Cecelia McFetridge, Lillian Mott, Jeanette Bowie, Barbara Breen, Helen Cushman, Helen Brown, Dorothy Clark Hoar, and Lorraine Cushman Consoletti, who was President for many years and held the group together. As time went on, the ranks thinning and no new members taking over, the ladies combined with Beckwith Post 110 Auxiliary in Medfield, where several still belong. We remember them all and the hard work they did with great affection.
Post 208 is keyed to to community and youth support programs. The list of activities includes, but is not limited to the following:
1. Sponsoring Troop 15, Boy Scouts of America ( for the 6lst year).
2. Sending boys and girls to Boy's State and Girl's State.
3. Sponsoring a candidate for the State Trooper Program.
4. Leading the Millis Town Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs.
5. Conducting our Veterans fifty-year program.
6. Conducting Past Commanders night every two or three years.
7. Holding our annual Flag Day Service with the Boy Scouts.
8. Donating American flags to churches and other groups.
9. Making our Post home available free of charge to many non-profit community groups.
10. Holding a monthly meeting every year since 1920.
11. In l997, Post # 208 led the extensive project of honoring the Millis Veterans of WWI and WWII who were killed in action or died of wounds or disease
resulting from their service. The Veterans Town Committee, first established in 1946, was updated and with the blessing of the Millis Board of Selectmen research and development were begun. As a result of what became a major project monuments to the eleven honored veterans were placed on suitable squares in town. Thus, Joseph Bayramshian, Edward Kearney, Harold Hall. Ernest and Thomas Clewes, Allan and George Russell, Benedict Veiner, Joseph Tamuleviz, Harry Himelfarb and Raymond J. Curry are forever honored for giving their young lives to our town, our state, and our country. An impressive ceremony was held on
Memorial Day,1998, in front of the newly renovated Veterans Town Building, with Henry Doyle, former vice-principal of Millis High School and a highly
decorated Purple Heart veteran of the 26th lnfantry Regiment in WWII as main speaker.
Charles River, which had only thirty-five years earlier separated itself from Medway. In October of that year, American legion Post 208 was chartered with a
membership of fifty-three, led by Millard B. LaCroix, the first commander. Department Commander General John C, Logan former commander of the famed Yankee Division, signed the charter, which hangs in an honored place at Post Headquarters on Curve Street.
In the early years, our Legionnaires were veterans of the Spanish American, War, and the Great War (WWI), since our Civil War veterans
belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic Camp in Medway. In 1925, upon completion of the building at 34 Curve Street the veterans had a building of
their own. They have continued to meet there until the present time, for a total of about 750 monthly meetings over the years, our WWI veterans were active in
civic affairs, contributing in many ways to the welfare of the community. Each year they conducted impressive services on Decoration Day and Armistice Day. In
the late 1930’s they became sponsors of Boy Scout Troop #15, a tradition which continues to this day. Many Millis boys who served in WWII had been members of Troop #15. Civic groups met at the Legion Building free of charge in those days. Legion Post 208 played a leading role in the Celebration of the 50th anniversary
of the incorporation of the Town in 1935. A square downtown was dedicated to Raymond J. Curry, who died while serving during WWI, and Green Street was
re-named Himmelfarb Street in honor of Harry M. Himmelfarb who was killed in a truck accident while serving in General Pershing's headquarters in Charlemont,
France in 1919. (An impressive plaque, honoring each of these men was dedicated on Memorial Day, l998). On Thursday, May 30, 1935, the
War Memorial Stone was dedicated in Memorial Square. Rev. Moses Richardson Lovell, a Millis boy who had served in WWI, delivered the dedication oration.
In 1925, upon the completion of the Legion Building on Curve Street, the veterans had a building of their own for meetings. They have continued to meet there until the present time, for a total of about 750 monthly meetings.
The Millis Junior Legion Drum and Bugle Corps, sponsored by Post 208, was organized in 1950, under the direction of Earl Merkle assisted by Anthony Bando. In 1960, Charles Grant became the director. This well-known group, consisting of 20 boys, drew many compliments locally and in parades at State Legion Conventions. It will have a reunion this year.
ln 1992, Post #208, led the project of honoring the two Medal of Honor recipients buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery. After extensive research was done by John Sheehan and Vincent Gannon, a committee was formed to place the bronze markers on granite stones and to conduct a rededication ceremony in April
of that year. With the aid of Millis Amvets Post#495, Medway VFW Post 1526, Medway Post # 67, American Legion, a large crowd gathered at Prospect Hill to witness an impressive ceremony honoring William Davenport Newland Medal of Honor recipient for heroism above and beyond the call of duty at the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1862, while serving aboard the USS Oneida, and Charles Church Roberts, Medal of Honor recipient for heroism above and beyond the call of duty at Hampton Rhodes, Virginia in 1910 while serving on the USS North Dakota.
The Legion motto, "For God and Country'', tells us what Legionnaires have lived for and died for. With camaraderie second to none in the community, these wartime veterans have supported their churches and synagogues and the democratic institutions bequeathed to them by their forefathers. They,
better than most citizens, know that freedom is not free, and that it must be guarded by each generation in its turn.
Closing: And so we come to this day and this place in the year 2000, the celebration of the 80s anniversary of Millis American Legion Post # 208. Let us remember the charge given to us in our Charter by General Logan, that the Post pledge itself "through its members, to uphold, protect and defend
the constitution of The United States, and the principles of true Americanism, for the common welfare of the living, and in solemn commemoration of those who
died that liberty might not perish from the earth." We have kept that pledge for eighty years. We keep it now. Let us strive to keep it until the last Legionnaire joins his comrades in the Post Everlasting.
THE LADIES AUXILIARY OF THE AMERICAN LEGION
A helping hand to the Post, the Legion Auxiliary was formed on October 30, 1924. Not only did the members help out with Post activities, but they also undertook projects, which contributed to ttre common welfare. During the war years, they met regularly to fold bandages for the American Red Cross. They also visited wounded veterans at the Cushing Hospital in Framingham and the Veterans Hospital in West Roxbury. For many years, they gave parties to the children at the Wrentham State School, and raised money to send a Millis High School junior to Girls State. They were roundly applauded as they marched by, led by our Gold Star Mothers, in the Decoration Day Parade. A list of Auxiliary Presidents, although incomplete, would include Marion (Babe) Wilson Riley, Lena Allen, Janet Dupuis, Cecelia McFetridge, Lillian Mott, Jeanette Bowie, Barbara Breen, Helen Cushman, Helen Brown, Dorothy Clark Hoar, and Lorraine Cushman Consoletti, who was President for many years and held the group together. As time went on, the ranks thinning and no new members taking over, the ladies combined with Beckwith Post 110 Auxiliary in Medfield, where several still belong. We remember them all and the hard work they did with great affection.
Post 208 is keyed to to community and youth support programs. The list of activities includes, but is not limited to the following:
1. Sponsoring Troop 15, Boy Scouts of America ( for the 6lst year).
2. Sending boys and girls to Boy's State and Girl's State.
3. Sponsoring a candidate for the State Trooper Program.
4. Leading the Millis Town Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs.
5. Conducting our Veterans fifty-year program.
6. Conducting Past Commanders night every two or three years.
7. Holding our annual Flag Day Service with the Boy Scouts.
8. Donating American flags to churches and other groups.
9. Making our Post home available free of charge to many non-profit community groups.
10. Holding a monthly meeting every year since 1920.
11. In l997, Post # 208 led the extensive project of honoring the Millis Veterans of WWI and WWII who were killed in action or died of wounds or disease
resulting from their service. The Veterans Town Committee, first established in 1946, was updated and with the blessing of the Millis Board of Selectmen research and development were begun. As a result of what became a major project monuments to the eleven honored veterans were placed on suitable squares in town. Thus, Joseph Bayramshian, Edward Kearney, Harold Hall. Ernest and Thomas Clewes, Allan and George Russell, Benedict Veiner, Joseph Tamuleviz, Harry Himelfarb and Raymond J. Curry are forever honored for giving their young lives to our town, our state, and our country. An impressive ceremony was held on
Memorial Day,1998, in front of the newly renovated Veterans Town Building, with Henry Doyle, former vice-principal of Millis High School and a highly
decorated Purple Heart veteran of the 26th lnfantry Regiment in WWII as main speaker.
