BANGOR — War Memorial Post 30, Camden American Legion, took their color guard to Bangor along with banners and flags to march in the American Legion 100th Centennial Parade June 16. The parade was an integral part of the American Legion Summer conference and was the official kick off of the Legion’s 100th Anniversary. 

Color Guards, flag bearers and members of over 40 American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, Riders and Sons of the American Legion posts and detachments throughout Maine marched in the parade.
 
The parade kicked off at 11 a.m. and was led by members of the American Legion Riders. Congressman Bruce Poliquin was seen riding in a side car of one of the Riders and was out in support of the Legion and the day. The parade terminated at the USS Maine Memorial where a reviewing stand with Legion dignitaries watched the entire event unfold.
 
Rosey Gerry, a past Commander of Post 30, oversees the Post 30 Color Guard. Gerry along with all the members who comprise the color guard, take great pride when marching in parades to ensure that the American Legion, Post 30 and the communities of Camden, Rockport, Lincolnville, Hope and Appleton are portrayed with the utmost respect and professionalism. Post 30’s color guard is one of the few, if not the only Legion color guard in Maine, where their members all wear the uniforms of their respective services.  
 
According Jeff Sukeforth, Post 30 Adjutant, the color guard has grown from just four or five members to the current number under Gerry’s watchful eye. The color guard outfits itself and now has enough members to carry a brand new banner identifying the post and home town, a flag of every branch of the services, the United States Flag, State of Maine Flag, and the MIA/POW Flag. There are also members who, depending on the event, carry M-1 rifles or .45 caliber pistols. 
 
At the parade in Bangor, Gerry also sought the help of Bradley Watts, a drummer from Camden Hills Regional High School band, to help with keeping the proper cadence while marching. This little addition did not go unnoticed by the dignitaries on the reviewing stand at the end of the parade.
 
Legion members and guests marching in the parade were United States Air Force veterans Rosey Gerry, Rob Stewart, Gerry Grover, Geof Chapman and Jeff Sukeforth. United States Navy veterans were Rev. Dave Franclemont, Mary Hewett, Gary Henry and Everett Fizer. Owen Casas represented the United States Marine Corps and Sandy Lyle and US Army John Hyssong, Norman Carver, Mark Thurlow, Ray Lewis, Paul Satkowski and Allison Pierce represented the United States Court Guard.

Sukeforth said that the American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veteran’s organization. Focusing on service to veterans, service members and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Membership swiftly grew to over 1 million, and local posts sprang up across the country.

Today, membership stands at over 2 million in more than 13,000 posts worldwide. The posts are organized into 55 departments, one each for the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines.

He added that Post 30 would like to have any veteran, especially Post 9-11 veterans, seek them out for membership because as with any organization, younger members are needed to keep it strong and vibrant. Sukeforth said all veterans are always invited to come by the Post on the first Thursday of every month and join them at their meeting at 7 p.m.

“A lot of veterans miss the camaraderie that the military gave them and have not been able to replace that sense of belonging with other things since getting out of the service, but I can guarantee they will find it again at Post 30,” said Sukeforth.

Veterans are encouraged to call Sukeforth at 691-2270 or Frank Carr, Post Commander, at 236-3310 for more information.