By Gene Sinclair, Historian



I have inspected, perused and collated certain documents that Al Reynoso,
historian, has shared with me to determine and prepare the history of The
American Legion’s Orland Park Post 526 and Orland Memorial Post 111. Now
this is an incomplete report.  I will attempt to provide the missing links to this
story in a later HISTORY CORNER report.

The application for the first Post 111 was issued in the name of N. C. O. T. C.,
Chicago, Illinois was approved on September 2, 1919 with 27 members. The first
Commander in 1920 was L. H. Greenwood, 4410 Milwaukee Ave, Chicago.
Adjutant was H. Sable who was not one of the original charter members. It’s
reported 1920 membership was 208.

By January 1925 there were only 98 members and the Post appears to have
been transferred from 3rd District to 4th District. The name was also changed to
Eaton-Priddy Post 111. At that time the Commander was Saul B. Kramer and
Adjutant Irvine M. Levy.

I am not sure just when Orland Park Post 526 received their charter, but in 1932
Herman Kruspe was Commander and Harold J. Ferrin was Adjutant. Mr. Ferrin
telephone number was Worth 18W2. The annual dues were an overbearing
$2.00.

On May 16, 1939 the address of the Eaton-Priddy Post 111 of Chatham was
7936 Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago, Illinois. This is an old bank building from the
20’s that has housed two failed banks. It is now is the home of Independence
Bank of Chicago. Its Commander was George J. Murphy of 7825 Ingleside Ave.,
Chicago, Ill. Adjutant was Leo N. McGlinn. The address of the high school I
attended is 7740 Ingleside Ave.

On August 2nd 1974 articles of consolidation were approved, wherein Eaton-
Priddy Post 111 of Chatham and Orland Park Post 526 were consolidated into
Orland Memorial Post 111, in Orland Park Illinois. Just before the merger John
Hudak was Commander of Eaton-Priddy Post 111 and Robert G. Johnson
was the Commander of Orland Park Post 526 and became the first Commander
of the new approved Orland Memorial Post 111.

Orland Memorial Post 111 now meets in the George Brown Veterans Center,
Orland Park, Illinois Jerry Junkas is the Commander and the Adjutant is Pat
Rafferty.

Orland Memorial Post 111 has been active for many years in distributing the
American Legion Citizenship medals. They are given to the outstanding boy and
girl for citizenship at the end of the school year in any primary or secondary
school in our area that requests them. We have a continuing record in
helping veterans in need, especially in the support of Veterans Homes both
political, financial and many other ways.


Originally written:
October 2008

Updated September 2011
HISTORY
of Orland Memorial Post 111