Mar 14, 2016 3 min read

JEFFERSON – The memories built over the past seven decades by John Stagon and Lewis Hughes, both original members of the Filer-Sadlek American Legion in Jefferson, easily flow back when they think about the camaraderie they’ve built since the post first opened 70 years ago.

The two U.S. Army veterans, who served in World War II, will be recognized for their lifetime membership during the post’s 70th anniversary dinner Saturday night.

“All of us who were in the service, we would go down there and have a few beers,” Stagon said. “I met a lot of nice guys in the American Legion, and most of them were veterans and we had a lot to talk about.”

Stagon, 94, of North Huntingdon, was stationed in Germany until 1946. When he returned he joined the post.

He said he is thankful to be a part of Saturday’s celebration for Post 954.

“I’m very fortunate that I can still move around,” he said. “I do a little bit of dancing. I can’t Polka anymore, it’s too fast for me, but I can do a slow Polka.”

Hughes, of Fayette County, said at 91 years old, he “takes one day at a time.”

He joined the post when it first opened and served on the firing squad for decades. He attended many veteran funerals during his years.

“When we first came home, I was only 21 years old,” he said.

Hughes was in the U.S. Army, and was at Normandy five days after D-Day.

“Half of those guys didn’t get out of the water,” he said. “I was only 18 years old then and now that I’m older it scares the hell out of you to know what you went through back then.”

He said he always appreciated the American Legion as a place for veterans to go.

Tom Shumaker, adjutant for Post 954, said the post now has about 180 members. But he’s been with the Post for 31 years, and said there was a time when they had more than 500.

“I wish we’d get some younger guys to be as interested in the American legion as these two men, but it’s a different generation,” he said. “If people don’t step up, you wonder what’s going to happen to the American Legion.”

The national American Legion organization is celebrating its 97th anniversary this year.

The 6 p.m. celebration, which is invitation only, also will recognize Harley “Hal” Jones, a member for 55 years, and Martin J. Doney and John Szopo, both 50-year members.

Shumaker organizes a dinner every year, but for this milestone, retired Greene County Judge H. Terry Grimes will be the special speaker. The Post also will recognize Jefferson-Morgan students who won awards for essay competitions related to veterans.

“It will be exciting to see people we haven’t seen for a while,” he said. “The community’s been super supportive over the years.”