Deceased American Legion members honored in Post Everlasting Ceremony

ALBANY — Each year American Legion posts across the country conduct a solemn, candlelight Post Everlasting Ceremony to honor Legion members who have passed away during the year.

Because of the COVID pandemic, Albany Post 30 was not able to conduct this ceremony for the past few years. This year, in order to give each member and his or her family the time they deserve, Albany Post 30 decided to hold two ceremonies. The first was held Sept. 14 and the second on Oct. 12 at the Post home on Gillionville Road.

These ceremonies covered the years 2019-2023 for Post 30 members from Albany, Leesburg and the surrounding area. American Legion Auxiliary Unit 30 members decorated the room and helped to light the memorial candles on each table. A touching power point presentation was shown with the names and pictures of each deceased member. Post Chaplain Doc Williamson gave a heartfelt message and then, as Post Commander Dan Brewer read the names of each departed Legionnaire, Post Adjutant Gary Fowler dropped the Legionnaire’s name into the sacred fire, sending the Legionnaire’s records to the Post Everlasting.

Paul Davis, A member of the American Legion Post 30 Honor Guard, played “Taps.” According to the American Legion, when a comrade passes, the moment is one of honor. Because of these members, our lives are free; because of them, our nation lives; because of them, our world is blessed.

Deceased members honored in the Sept. 14 ceremony were William C. Abell, John L. Arnold, Bobby G. Brinson, William F. “Billy” Brown, John A. Burns, Marvin Campbell, James R. Cates, Randall Wayne Craft, Horace Drew Jr., Ivy Joe Fender, Richard E. Gerfen, Richard A. Grebel Sr, Denzil H. Harrell, Michael P. Henderson, Dale C. Hoffman, James C. Ivey, John Paul Jones, Thomas “Barney” Knighton, Kenneth L. Krivos, William R. Kueker, Jerome H. McCabe, Lewis O. Metts, Reba Alexander Harrell Hill Moncus, Alan D. Orosz, James A. Parr, Roger M. Paulin, Jack H.. Powell, Ramsey W. Proctor, Charles “Charlie” Rose, Ira Rowe, Otis A. Sinquefield, Robert L. “Bob” Sowell, William A. “Billy” Sparling, Richard F. “Rick” Turner, Don L. West and Carl W. Wilcox.

Deceased members honored in the Oct. 12 ceremonies were: Dr. William H. Bates, Dr. Troy L. Bishop, William H. Burger, Wendel H. Clack, Eugene R. Clark Jr., Brian E. Claypool, James H. Creel, Robert Dennison, Edgar W. Duskin, Charles H. Findley Sr., Lawrence Fullerton, Donald L. Gray, Richard A. Hagelstein, Archie Holton Jr., James J. Johns, James C. Kirk, Thomas Lazenby, Joseph H. LePla, Jesse H. Middlebrooks, Emory Hays Middleton, William R. Moye Jr., Robert E. Owsley, Gordon Pannell, James Terry Parker, Henry M. Peckham, Frank Richardson, Vincent Rush Jr., Ralph D. Satterfield, Ronald M. Scarborough, James E. Sinyard, James T. Swette, Robert W. Tosh, Jack Tressler, Howard Ken Tyus, Gregory J. Welsh and David Williamson.

Special Photo: American Legion Post 30