90th Celebration - December 6, 2014

The Fort Hill American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) commemorated their ninetieth year on December 6, 2014, in a special ceremony that included cake and champagne. ALA members and guests gathered at Post 376 to mark the milestone with an honorary NYS Senate citation and a tribute, reflecting on the 1924 national president, past unit presidents, and the organization’s achievements over the years. A special guest shed light on a forgotten ALA children’s camp from the 1950s.

Unit 376 Auxiliary members; Teri Webb-van Almen, Jeanie Petersen, Sylvia Witchella, Audrey Johnson, (in back) Desseray Wallace, Louise Spicer, Nancy Timperlake, and Christine Gregoire, gather to blow out the candles. (Photo by Robert van Almen)

Several of the Oxford Unit’s presidents were recognized. The late past president, Sarah "Sally" Finch started a book fund in 2000 with proceeds from the annual Harvest Dinner, which is continued today. The late Barb Bogie, who held every officer position, was a past president and a continuous ALA member for 61 years.

Shirley Sykora is a past president who was living at the time in Ohio, and has been a continuous member since 1969. Shirley could not attend but sent her best wishes and said [she was], “…delighted to hear about the current activities, knowing that those services continue.”

Living Past Presidents [in 2014] for Unit 376 were: Judy Estelow (1973-77), Shirley Sykora (1977-78), Connie (Finch) Rowlison, Teresa Witchella (2001-02), Phyllis Webb, Roberta Knoll (2006-08), Jeanne Turner (McDonough president), Louzetta "Lou" Page (2009-10), Sylvia Witchella (2012-2013) and Cindy Hubschmitt (2011-2012).

Audrey Johnson was a special guest as she grew up in an American Legion family. LeRoy and Elma Spencer, Audrey’s parents, were both members of Post 376, and her mother was Unit president in the 1950’s. When Audrey was sixteen, she was a camp counselor at American Legion summer “health camp” in Sherburne. Today, the camp is a memory for only a few people, but with the help of Rose Wellman, the Sherburne Town Historian, Audrey was able to give an in-depth account with photos. For about forty years, starting in 1936, Chenango County Legion Auxiliaries each sent a limited number of disadvantaged children to camp. The Oxford ALA sent their kids off with new clothing and pjs, and for one week, they slept in cabins, ate together in a dining hall, had a medical staff available, and more amenities. Counselors like Audrey organized games and trips to the pool. There was once a tuberculosis sanitarium there as well. Audrey ended by saying how proud she was to have her son Gregg following in her parent’s footsteps as a Legionnaire officer of Post 376.

2013-2015 ALA President Petersen ended the ceremony with a champagne toast, “To my ALA sisters: We are constant and will continue to burn! Here’s to the next 90 years!”

For ALA info: 607-843-2121; Events@OxfordNY.com, or visit: http://oxford-ala.chenango.org To reach Post 376 call 607-843-8166.