These two Long Beach groups are reaching patriotic milestones
The American Legion Victor Murtha Post 972 recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, marking a century of dedication to veterans and community service. This milestone comes as Long Beach’s VFW Post 1384 approaches its 100th anniversary as well, in 2025.
Victor Murtha, the Legion post’s namesake, was one of the first servicemen from the Long Beach area to be killed in World War I, on July 27, 1918. He was a member of C Company of the Fighting 69th, a military unit that is active to this day. The post was established a few years after Murtha’s death, in honor of his memory and service.
State and local officials celebrated the anniversary at a luncheon at Roc and Olive restaurant June 27. State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Nassau County Legislator Patrick Mullaney, City Council President Brendan Finn, City Manager Dan Creighton, Councilman John Bendo and others honored the post’s decades of contributions to the city.
“Each of those (officials) presented us with a proclamation for our accomplishments over the past 100 years,” Gerald Haber, Commander of American Legion Post 972, said. “And it was nice, because we had lots of our members show up,” Haber added. “Some of our members are Korean War, some Vietnam-era, some are Middle East. So, there’s a wide range of representations of what people did and when they did it.”
Post 972 has a longstanding tradition of taking part in local events such as the Memorial Day Parade, when they host and collaborate with the VFW. This year’s parade was especially memorable, with two Korean War veterans serving as grand marshals and a tribute to a recently deceased 98-year-old World War II veteran.
The post supports community groups such as the local Girl Scouts, participating in the organization’s nationwide effort to send cookies to active service members. It also holds an annual Flag Day celebration, which includes an essay contest for middle school students about what the American flag means to them.
The post is preparing to support the Long Beach Waterfront Warriors, a group dedicated to honoring and aiding ill and wounded veterans and their families, in its next event. The post’s auxiliary is busy preparing handmade red, white and blue blankets to distribute to these heroes.
“My wife and I were actually out this morning at one of the houses of one of the knitters, picking up blankets, because that’s going to happen in a couple of weeks,” Haber said. “So, members of our post and our auxiliary are always involved in the support of veterans.”
The celebrations have been a time of reflection and joy for members, many of whom have maintained their connection to the post even after moving out of the state. The sense of camaraderie and shared history keeps them bonded, according to Haber.
When the summer winds down, the post looks forward to the next major event, on Veterans Day. Alternating hosting duties with the VFW, it ensures that Long Beach continues to honor its veterans with the gratitude they deserve.
VFW Post 1384 was chartered in 1925, and named in honor of Lieutenant John F. O’Grady.
“Most of us don’t understand the extent of the mental and physical toll our veterans suffer after returning from war,” the president of Auxiliary Post 1348, Jackie Ervolina, said. “For 100 years, our VFW Post 1384 has provided the comfort and support our military men and women need as they transition back to civilian life. Likewise, the VFW Auxiliary 1384 assists in accomplishing these goals. Commander Dan MacPhee and I like to say that our members vow to ‘always remember and never forget’ the sacrifices our veterans made for us. But, truly, as American citizens, isn’t it everyone’s responsibility to respect and support our veterans?”
Long Beach declared May Poppy Month to honor veterans, with Girl Scout Troop 2178 taking part in the Poppy Power Project, “planting” metal poppies to commemorate every veteran, and every active member of the military from Long Beach. The poppy, a symbol rooted in post-war Europe and immortalized in Lt. Col. John McCrae’s poem, represents the blood shed during battle.
In partnership with the city, Post 1384 hosted its first Veterans Suicide Awareness and Prevention Walk last September on the boardwalk, aiming to inform the community about the growing crisis among military personnel, including socio-economic challenges, mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, service-related disabilities, and their difficulties finding employment.
As both posts reach their respective milestones, their continued commitment to supporting veterans and service members stands as a testament to their legacy in the community.
