Happy 99^th Birthday American Legion Post 288

In 1919, the American Legion was created by American veterans of “The Great War.” As the servicemen returned home they enthusiastically embraced the concept of the American Legion, and American Legion Posts sprang up across the nation.

Here in the Crescenta Valley we had a fair number of WWI veterans. In late 1923, those veterans began plans to start their own post.

La Crescenta veterans of World War 1, living in what was then a sparsely settled Valley, applied for a charter in 1923, just four years after the 1919 Paris meeting that conceived of a veterans’ organization. The Valley was growing fast with new folks arriving every day with a need for a sense of community. The American Legion could provide that.

The Post charter was formally presented in 1924. Community leaders who were veterans immediately stepped up to positions of leadership in the new organization.

The initial meeting was held in the Sparr Heights Community Building. The first of what was to become the annual “Mess Call” dinners was held at the La Crescenta Elementary School that same year. The earliest roll call showed 47 members in the first year.

One of its first goals was to build a hall in La Crescenta, which it achieved in just one year at a cost of only $3,000, entirely through volunteer labor. Another early goal they achieved was to sponsor Montrose Boy Scout Troop No. 1. That was followed by a second sponsorship of Boy Scout Troop No. 2. That sense of community desired by new residents was growing quickly.

Post 288 in its early days presented many awards of merit to local students. Safety signs for local kids were erected by Post 288 members. Local Legion members were a driving force behind the Crescenta Valley Rose Parade float. Yes, La Crescenta had a float in the Rose Parade back in the ’20s.

Early on, Post 288 was dedicated to an improved environment here in the Valley. In cooperation with the LA County Forestry Dept., thousands of pine tree seedlings were distributed to local school kids and were planted on the slopes of the mountains above us, in vacant lots and on street parkways. Thanks to Post 288, the Valley was transforming from a barren rocky landscape to the tree-covered suburb it is today.

In both the big fire of 1933 and the subsequent flood of New Year’s 1934, Post 288 provided a command center in its Legion Hall and a refuge place for families affected by the disasters. At midnight of New Year’s Eve 1934 the Legion Hall, usually a place of celebration and joy, became the focal point of the Valley’s biggest tragedy. The Legion Hall, filled with refugees and disaster workers, was hit by the flood, killing 12 people inside and washing the rest into the maelstrom. Particularly sad was the death of a Legion auxiliary member, Myrtle Adams, who was coordinating relief efforts there that night.

But Post 288 rallied after the hit the Hall took. Within a year, the Legion members physically picked up the remains of the damaged Hall and moved the building to where it is today, on land donated by Legion Commander Tom Bonetto. It was patched up by Legion members and rededicated as a Memorial Hall in honor of the sacrifice of Legion members and others in the Valley who died that night.

For 99 years, the roll call of Legion Post 288 has been a Who’s Who listing of community leaders in La Crescenta. The Post has served as a disaster headquarters, a sponsor of youth activities, a relief agency and place for good fellowship for veterans. The Hall is rented out for parties, wedding receptions and church services.

The American Legion Memorial Hall on La Crescenta Avenue today remains the home of Post 288. Here the members continue the community service they have performed since the Post’s beginning, almost a century ago, still building that sense of community. The proud legacy of Post 288 has been of those who served their country, and who returned to continue providing that service, but now to their community.