October 2019 One Dollar American Legion Post Celebrates Centennial by BARBARA DOLENSEK
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Periodicals Paid at Bronx, N.Y. USPS 114-590 Volume 48 Number 8 October 2019 One Dollar American Legion Post Celebrates Centennial By BARBARA DOLENSEK Photos by RENA HANSEN, RICK DeWITT and courtesy of the LEGION The American Legion Leonard H. Hawkins Post 156 celebrates its 100th birthday in 2019, having been formed shortly after the American Legion itself was chartered by Congress. The first post on City Island, named for a City Islander who died during World War I, was located at 55 Centre Street by the first commander, Edgar Hearle (top photos, right), and it moved to several other locations, finally settling at 550 City Island Avenue, formerly a private house (above). Since its formation, Post 156 has sponsored many wonderful events on City Island, including a summer bazaar, a Little League team, the famous pumpkin sale, the annual Memorial Day Parade, and much more. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Edgar Hearle, the Post’s first commander, the American Legion and also of the Leonard Later the Post moved to the Handkerchief H. Hawkins Post 156 on City Island, which Factory, which was located on the east side will hold a celebration at a Serviceman’s of Bay Street and then to Brown’s Hotel on Dinner Dance to be held at Scavello’s on the Fordham Street, now an apartment building. Island on Nov. 23. As the date approaches, it Its next move was to a storefront attached to seems appropriate to take a look at the his- the Nickelette Theater at the corner of City tory of the American Legion as an organiza- Island Avenue and Tier Street, now the lo- tion but an even closer look at the history of cation of the Crab Shanty. Finally, in 1948, City Island’s Post. the Post moved once again, this time to its The American Legion was chartered by current location at 550 City Island Avenue, Congress in March 1919 as a patriotic vet- where it remains, a thriving and respected erans’ organization. It has evolved from a organization in the community. group of veterans of World War I into one of One of the responsibilities of the Ameri- the most influential nonprofit groups in the can Legion is to protect the U.S. flag from country, focusing on service to veterans, ser- physical desecration, a code drafted during vicemembers and communities. Local posts a Legion conference in Washington, D.C. were quickly opened throughout the coun- and adopted by Congress in 1942. Post 156 try, and today membership is nearly 2 mil- is responsible for putting up flags along City lion with more than 13,000 posts throughout Island Avenue for Memorial Day each year the world. There is a post for each of the 50 and removing them later. There is also a spe- states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto cial box at the Post where Islanders can de- it protected American interests in Mexico ard H. Hawkins Post was named for “a local Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines. posit old or damaged flags. during 1914 and 1915, and later when it man- World War I soldier . and is a reminder Over the years, the Legion has won hundreds In July 1925, the American Legion aged to evade torpedoes during two subma- of the island’s military role as a builder of of benefits for veterans and produced many Baseball program was created, and today rine attacks as it escorted merchant vessels minesweepers, PT boats and landing craft important programs for young people. over 50 percent of Major League Baseball to Norway in February 1918. The Delaware and as a supplier of men.” The Leonard H. Hawkins Post 156 on players are graduates of the program, and protected two more convoys during March Peter Del-Debbio, the current command- City Island was chartered four months later, about 82,000 youths play on Legion-spon- and April of that year, but during the trip er of the City Island Post, told The Current: on July 23, 1919, and named for the first sored teams each year, including of course a home Hawkins died of cerebrospinal fever “The American Legion is the foundation of soldier from City Island to die in World War team on City Island. (spinal meningitis) on July 26, 1918. Four support for posts like ours, and for the past I. Over the past hundred years, the Post has It will not surprise Islanders to learn that days later, the Delaware arrived at Hampton 100 years we have supported our returning been active in the City Island community City Island has a strong tradition of military Roads in Virginia. veterans and honored those who have gone and dedicated to the aid of veterans and their service. According to Allen Flood, author of A granite monument with a bronze before us. The Legion family has accepted families. The Post once sponsored the Drum “City Island: History, Legend and Tradition,” plaque in the Park honors Leonard Hawkins the task for supporting veterans’ affairs and Bell and Bugle Corps and is still an active a high proportion of servicemen from the Is- and 104 young men from City Island who rehabilitation, national security, children, supporter of a Little League team and other land served in World War II, and 18 Islanders served in World War I. The Bronx Ameri- youth and Americanism. Our members have functions for City Island children, including died in the war. can Legion Post number 156 is also named directly supported the Bronx VA Medical trips to big league ball games, a Christmas History of Hawkins Park for Hawkins, and its women’s auxiliary was Center and its mission to care for veterans, party, an annual clambake, a pig roast, the In 1933, New York City eliminated a responsible for the monument’s construc- their families and survivors. Our members all-important pumpkin sale, and of course police station that had been at the corner of tion in the park. In 1950, Orchard Street was have opened our doors to those agencies in the Memorial Day Parade, which always Hawkins Street (then Orchard Street) and renamed Hawkins Street in recognition of support of all recovery efforts as we did dur- ends with beer and hot dogs at the Post. City Island Avenue since 1900 and created the Hawkins family, who had lived on City ing Hurricane Sandy. We have directly sup- History of the Hawkins Post a park that honors Leonard Hilton Hawkins, Island since 1784. The John P. Hawkins ported our children as future leaders through Since 1919, the Leonard H. Hawkins United States Navy Seaman Second Class Shipyard was once located at the east end our involvement with the City Island Little Post 156 has been located at various sites on and City Island native who died while serv- of Fordham Street, now the location of On League, and we will continue to support and City Island. The first was a garage located ing on the USS Delaware in World War I. the Sound condominiums. In 2002, the New sponsor the City Island Memorial Day Pa- at 55 Centre Street, probably the property of Hawkins was serving on the battleship while York Times noted that City Island’s Leon- rade.” Page Two The Island Current October 2019 stolen vehicle. BRIEFLY... 8/27 – An act of criminal mischief graf- 45 BLOTTER fiti was reported in the yard behind the “MAMMA MIA!” will be presented by the City Island Theater Group on Fridays school at 200 City Island Avenue. Unknown defendant(s) climbed over the fence and and Saturdays, Nov. 8, 9, 15, 22 and 23 at 8 p.m., as well as Sundays, Nov. 10, 17 and 24 Complaints reported from City Island spilled paint in the yard. According to school at 3 p.m. All performances will be at Grace Church Hall, 116 City Island Avenue, at Pilot to the 45th Precinct during August and administration, the NYPD has installed cam- Street. For tickets, please e-mail [email protected]. Tickets may also September 2019. Unfounded complaints eras in the schoolyard to help combat the on- be purchased on line by visiting our website www.cityislandtheatergroup.com. Please join are not included in the list. going vandalism. the City Island Theater Group at 282 City Island Avenue on Friday, Oct. 4, at 7:30 p.m. to 1 – GRAND LARCENY AUTO 9/10 – Police arrested an Island male, 16, celebrate the upcoming production of “Mamma Mia!” Champagne will be served and the 1 – CRIMINAL MISCHIEF and charged him with assault and possession “Mamma Mia!” themed window curated by NYC-based scenic designer Carl Tallent will 3 – DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED of a weapon at 7 a.m. The defendant alleg- be unveiled. (DWI) edly got into a physical dispute with another 1 – BURGLARY Island teen over sneakers and the victim was TOUR DE BRONX, which is an event produced by the Bronx Tourism Council 2 – ASSAULT stabbed with a kitchen knife on City Island Avenue near Earley Street. Parents reported and the Office of the Bronx Borough President to promote bicycling as an eco-friendly and 1 – DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE that school security and administration acted healthier form of transportation, will take place starting at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27, 1 – CRIMINAL OBSTRUCTION OF BREATHING quickly to get arriving students inside the 2019, starting at the Grand Concourse. The 40-mile route includes a visit to City Island 1 – CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF A building away from the incident. According to and concludes at the New York Botanical Garden, where riders receive a complimentary FORGED INSTRUMENT police, the victim was taken to the hospital for souvenir T-shirt and enjoy a live musical performance as they relax from the day’s fes- treatment of his injuries.