POST HISTORY P2

POST HISTORY(continued)

Affiliated Organizations

A Women's Auxiliary of Batavia Post 504 was formed on November 10, 1921. The Legion has every reason to be proud of its Auxiliary, which gained statewide recognition because of its programs of service. Auxiliary members are always anxious and willing to cooperate in every Legion activity.

PATRIOTIC DAYS

MEMORIAL DAY has always been an outstanding occasion in this community. In addition to memorial events throughout the Batavia the grave of every veteran of any of the wars of the country are decorated on this National Holiday. Today, jointly with Batavia's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1197 this tradition is being carried on. If one might attempt to prophecy, in an historical account, Batavia's veteran organizations will carry on this tradition to its last man to keep MEMORIAL DAY sacred to the memory of our war dead.

ARMISTICE DAY, now called VETERANS' DAY, originally marked the end of fighting in World War One. It is an important holiday on the calendar of Legionnaires everywhere and in the hearts of all veterans. It has been in Batavia. Annually the Post sponsored the Armistice Day Parade. An important tradition was established when the Post led in the memorial exercises at 11 o'clock on the morning of November 11, marking the exact hour of the cessation of hostility on the war fronts. Today, together with VFW Post 1197, Batavia's Post 504 solemnly observes this tradition.

REGISTRATION OF GRAVES

Since its inception Batavia Post 504 has been a leader in this County in the area of graves registration, which has been incorporated by all the American Legion Posts in Kane County. Grave Registration enables all interested parties to locate the site of the grave of each veteran. Batavia Post 504 acquired a burial lot in West Batavia Cemetery and this has been marked by the erection of a massive monument marking it as the burial lot for service men without kin. Each year, together with the VFW, active members of both organizations place a flag on each veteran's grave.

BATAVIA CARES

During the Vietnam War Batavia Post 504 initiated a program called "BATAVIA CARES" Four times a year we sent packages to our fighting men in Vietnam containing man supplies, plus money to each veteran. Many legion posts began to use our program as a model and we were cited by the National Headquarters.

Today, spearheaded by Batavia's VFW Post 1197, the BATAVIA CARES programs is reaching our active men and women. Its success has been guaranteed by the overwhelming participation of the entire Batavia community.

SCHOLARSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Batavia Post 504 Sponsors various scholarships for the further education of our children. We also sponsor and financially assist many worthy community projects and programs initiated by the National American Legion.

JOIN US AND KEEP THIS HISTORY ALIVE.