American Legion Archie McCord Post

In the spring of 1927, seven veterans of World War I met in an old house on the corner of Broadway and Railroad Avenue. They formed a committee and decided to apply to American Legion Headquaters in Indiananopolis for a Charter to form a post in Central Park. The rules for granting a charter required that a name, for the new post submitted, must be one of a veteran who had served in WWI and died while in service.

In the course of the meeting with the seven veterans, two names of men that qualified was submitted. Their names were Archie McCord and George Benkert and they were to be voted on.

Archie McCord was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth McCord. Thomas was a builder of homes, by trade, and owned a tract of land in Central Park that extended from a wooded area westward along Central Avenue and south and east to Hicksville Road. It was known as McCordville. Archie was born in Central Park on August 2, 1895 and died in service October 5, 1918.

George Benkert was born in Central Park, the eldest son of George Benkert who emigrated from Germany. George Benkert Jr. entered by "draft" in June of 1918. He was inducted in the 49th Infantry and died shortly after being shipped overseas.

The vote for the name of Archie McCord was unanimous and approved by Charter from Indianopolis on March 24, 1927.

The name of George Benkert was approved for the V.F.W. Post in Farmingdale, New York.

Submitted by Historian, Post 86, Charles Schwarz

PAST COMMANDERS:	Years served
Laumann, Fred	1927-1929
Dingavin, James	1929-1931
Ellinger, Joseph	1931-1933
Amendola, Ralph	1933-1935
Butehorn, Henry	1935-1936
Nelson, Albin	1936-1937
Wengrad, Charles	1937-1938
Norman, James	1938-1940
Belsha, Harry	1940-1942
Schwarz, Charles	1942-1943
Sturgeon, Milton	1943-1945
Ellinger, Joseph	1945-1946
Payne Sr, Walter	1946-1947
Strong, Jack	1947-1948
Erickson, Frank	1948-1949
Reshinko, Joseph	1949-1950
Warhane, Ray	1950-1951
Daley, Clifford	1951-1952
Teverna, James	1952-1953
Purcell, Robert	1953-1954
Garruba, Albert	1954-1955
McMackin, Frank	1955-1957
Kelly, Harry	1957-1958
Drew, Vincent	1958-1959
Mazzie, John	1959-1961
King, Robert	1961-1963
Blazek, Joseph	1963-1964
Busuttil, Vincent	1964-1965
Catalano, Vincent	1965-1966
Ryan, Patrick	1966-1967
Blades, Hugh	1967-1968
Crisei, Arthur	1968-1969
Fruauff, Arthur	1969-1970
King, Robert	1970-1971
Catalano, Vincent	1971-1972
Fruauff, Arthur	1972-1973
Blades Hugh	1973-1974
Darmanio, Anthony	1974-1975
Ryan, J. Terry	1975-1977
King, Robert	1977-1978
Hutzel, John	1978-1980
Gangemi, John	1980-1981
King, Robert	1981-1982
Carpentiere, Enrico	1982-1984
Granberg, Herbert	1984-1987
Ahearn, Edward	1987-1989
Warnken, Ernest	1989-1994
Aultta, Salvatore	1994-1995
Ryan, J. Terry	1995-1996
J Mc Donough, Kenneth	1996-1997
Ryan, Terry	1997-1998
Auletta, Sal	1998-2001
Coinicelli, Robert	2000-2001
Lewis, Herb	2002-2003