Veterans memorial dedicated at East Bend American Legion

A new veterans memorial in front of American Legion Post 336 is dedicated during a ceremony held Sunday in East Bend.

EAST BEND — Ahead of Memorial Day a new veterans memorial was dedicated at the Joseph E. Martin Jr. American Legion Post 336 in East Bend on Sunday.

Wayne Johnson shared a brief history of the post which was considered officially established in the year 1947.

“A significant date in our post was September 6, 1946, the [American Legion year] 1947 had just begun two months earlier. Thirty-one veterans of WWII and WWI paid their dues of three bucks and became charter members of American Legion Post 336,” Johnson said. “In the year 2022 we find ourselves here, 75 years later, gathered to dedicate this memorial in honor of all those who honorably served our nation.”

Johnson said the post has grown significantly over the years from 31 charter members to more than 300 now on its roster.

Johnson said the new memorial, which includes stone monuments surrounded by flag poles, was estimated to cost $25,000, what seemed like an astronomical amount at the start of the project. He said, however, thanks to the generosity of donors no money had to be spent from the post’s treasury. He went on to recognize names of the donors which included American Legion members, families, friends and local businesses.

As part of the ceremony, flags for each branch of service, including the newest addition the Space Force, were raised by veterans representing each branch.

Post 336 Commander David Shore introduced the day’s guest speaker State American Legion Commander Jim Quinlan.

“It’s a beautiful monument,” Quinlan said of the memorial. He said it was honor for him to be asked to be a part of the dedication ceremony.

“Today we’re going to dedicate this beautiful monument built by the citizens of this town and this county. The project was headed up by Legionnaires of Post 336 but it was financially supported by a lot more citizens throughout the city and throughout the county,” said Quinlan.