With music in the air from the Challenged Accepted rock and roll band and the Durning String Band, youngsters and adults alike enjoyed Brooklawn Memorial American Legion Post 72’s celebration honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States of America on a warm, humid Saturday afternoon July 11.
Children made a big splash and yelled happily as they went down the waterslide outside of the post building, while adults mingled and enjoyed a cold beverage in the adjacent beer garden as the musicians played classic tunes on the temporary stage.
The brainchild of the legion post officers, including Past Commander Ted Howarth, members of Post 72 and the Ladies Auxiliary were out in full force to celebrate the founding of the nation. Selling tickets for the dunk tank were April DiRocco, Jean Flannagan and Rileigh Lutz, who also sang the National Anthem.
Gary Rinear Sr., Joanne O’Brien, and Tom and Carol Cummings had a great time selling chances for prizes. Joining the celebration were Brooklawn Police officers Joe Mason, Ray McKenney and Logan DePoder.
A dozen post members wearing identical patriotic shirts gathered for a group photo near the beer garden. Behind them in the parking lot were the food trucks serving hot dogs, hamburgers and water ice.
Post 72 has been a fixture on Railroad Avenue Brooklawn for many years, and also sponsors one of the best legion baseball teams that has won numerous state championships and four American Legion World series titles in 1991, 2001, 2013 and 2014.
The post home is a community gathering place, hosting a Christmas party every year for residents and renting out the banquet hall for weddings, Rotary bingo nights and other events. The hall is currently undergoing renovations that should be finished by September.
Every year Post 72 sponsors the Memorial Day and Veterans Day commemorations in Brooklawn, honoring the soldiers for have fought for the nation. And on July 11, members celebrated the 250th anniversary of the United States with a big party. They highlighted the ideals of freedom and liberty – thanks to those soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect those ideals.
