Annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner a success for American Legion

By Ed Pierce

The annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner was held at the Windham Veterans Center on Saturday, March 18 and according to participants, it was a great success and afforded them an opportunity to meet old friends and enjoy a traditional Irish corned beef dinner with all the fixings.

Jerry Black, 94, left, and Carroll McDonald, 98, two of the
longest serving members of American Legion Field-Allen
Post 148, help cut the cake during the annual St. Patrick's
Day Dinner at the Windham Veterans Center on
Saturday, March 18. SUBMITTED PHOTO   

American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 in Windham uses the annual St. Patrick's Day dinner to recognize and celebrate the local legion and post anniversaries. This year the American Legion celebrated its 104th year of service in mid-March and the Field-Allen Post 148 observed its 85th year of service to veterans in the Windham community.

Windham’s American Legion Post was first chartered in 1938 by 24 local residents, and originally was called the Lt. Field Post after U.S. Army Lt. Charles W.W. Field, Windham’s first casualty of World War 1. He was killed in France leading a charge across a railroad bed against a German machine gun nest.

In 1950, the post was recharted as the Field-Allen Post to honor the memory of U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. James Allen, a cousin of Field who had been the first Windham resident killed in action during World War II. Allen had been an exceptional athlete and student at Windham High School and died during the American campaign against Japan in the Pacific Theater.

Post 148 Adjutant David Tanguay said that two of the post’s longtime members, World War II veteran Carroll McDonald, 98, and Korean War veteran Jerry Black, 94, attended the dinner and took part in the ceremonial cake-cutting event. The elaborate decorated cake was provided by Hannaford Supermarket in Windham.

The meal included corned beef and cabbage, ham, potatoes, carrots, rutabaga, and a variety of desserts.

Tanguay thanked the team of volunteers who worked preparing the meal for participants to enjoy.

“The traditional St. Patrick’s Day Dinner is an in-house prepared event covering approximately 10 hours of prep and cooking,” Tanguay said. “Thank you to all who made this happen.”

Legion members served the corned beef meals, and the event also included a special pie auction. Proceeds from the dinner will help the post sponsor local students attending this summer’s Dirigo State event and the ongoing care and maintenance for the Windham Veterans Center in North Windham.

“All in all, this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Dinner was a great Legion family and community event,” Tanguay said. <