Date: Fri 30-Jun-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

pg1-C1-American-Legion-Powell

Full Text:

Newtown's New American Legion Post Is Formally Dedicated

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

State officials, veterans, family members, and friends came together this

weekend to receive a permanent charter and officially dedicate Newtown's

20-month-old American Legion Post No 202. They also gathered to honor the late

George A. Powell, Sr, for whom the post is named.

The American Legion, located at 18 Tinkerfield Road, off Route 25, in Newtown,

is housed in the same building as Veterans of Foreign Wars. The two

organizations both function as civic and social organizations but differ in

membership. "VFW and Legion members had to be in service during a conflict,"

said newly elected Post 202 Commander Tim Powell, the son of George A. Powell.

It was due to his initiative that the post was formed. "But for someone to

belong to the VFW they had to [serve] in the country where the conflict was;

members of the Legion could be in service [anywhere] during the conflict."

The post, the newest in the state, is the first to be organized in Fairfield

County within the past 20 years, according to Lewis Waller, Department

Commander of the State of Connecticut. It was formed to allow the many area

veterans to implement American Legion programs without having to travel long

distances, he said.

"I must say they have done one outstanding job in the short period of time

they've been organized," said Mr Waller who attended the ceremony on Saturday.

They are very dedicated to carrying out the programs of the American Legion,

he added.

When the membership was solicited for suggestions for post names, Tim Powell

submitted his father's name and all the members concurred through a vote.

George A. Powell, Sr, was a resident of Newtown for 40 years before he and his

wife, Ethel, moved to Florida. He was a butcher at different locations

including the A&G in Queen Street Shopping Center. Mr Powell, who died in

1987, was past commander of the VFW; a life member, service commissioner of,

and drum corps committee member for Sandy Hook Fire Department; one of the

town's first ambulance drivers; and member of St Rose parish. He was asked to

run for first selectman of Newtown, but declined due to family and other

obligations. "He was great person. He was loved - really loved by so many

people, especially by the ladies during war time when they couldn't get any

meat [elsewhere,]" said his wife of 51 years.

But the war interrupted his business and carried him to the Philippines where

he served as Yeoman 2nd Class on the aircraft carrier Independence from 1940

to 1945.

"He loved the town of Newtown and loved the people in it," said his daughter

Cecelia, who travelled from Florida with her mother for the dedication. Eleven

other direct descendants attended the ceremony. "We are all very proud that

the post would be named after him."

An Active Post

The Newtown post has already been very active raising funds for scholarship

awards and local organizations such as the food pantries. An American Legion

post can be very beneficial to a town with its outstanding programs, said Mr

Waller. These include the American Legion baseball, oratorical contest, Boy's

State, Girl's State, and boy scouts.

"The American Legion is an organization the works very closely with citizens

of town with performing memorial services for veterans, and helps to plan

Memorial and Veteran day parades,'' said Mr Waller. "And one of the most

important things of American Legion is the care of its fellow veterans."

The George A. Powell, Sr, American Legion Post 202 began with 15 members and

has grown to 35. After the first year, the post applied for its permanent

charter which was presented at the dedication. The charter for the recently

formed Unit 202 Auxiliary was also presented.

"It's an honor to get a permanent charter," said the first Post 202 commander

Boyd Saxton, who is now Senior Vice Commander of the District. "People in town

or the surrounding area can get together under the title American Legion and

work as a unit or team. It's something that Newtown never had. Being born and

raised in town, this means a lot to me. It's very honorable that I could help

get this going.

"We did work hard, we did earn what we have," said Mr Saxton. "Now the town

has an American Legion. It's like putting in a cement patio; it'll be here

forever."

The George A. Powell, Sr, American Legion Post 202 welcomes new members.

Meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm in the VFW

Hall, 18 Tinkerfield Road, Newtown. For more information, call Boyd Saxton at

426-7728.