Leadership, Volunteers, a Birthday Party & Post 7
As warmer weather returns to the Pacific Northwest, spring and summer activities appear on the horizon. Spring also brings forth opportunities to actively participate in guiding the Bellingham American Legion into the future. The Albert J Hamilton Legion elections are right around the corner and nominations for Post 7 Officer positions are currently being accepted.
Becoming a Post 7 Eboard member means continuing your service to the United States military community of which we all once served. Your volunteerism helps fellow veterans find a home at the Bellingham American Legion. Active member participation also helps ensure that the Albert J Hamilton American Legion Post 7 continues to thrive well into the new century.
American Legion roots run deep in Whatcom County. Post 7’s namesake, Albert J Hamilton, was born in Whatcom County. Albert worked as a logger before he was sent to France during World War 1. Unfortunately, Corporal Hamilton lost his life in the final month of that horrible conflict. However, Corporal Hamilton’s sacrifice was neither in vain nor forgotten.
Upon their release from military service, World War 1 Whatcom County Doughboys recognized that Veterans and their families needed a place to gather. A place where Veterans could continue their service long after their military enlistments had ended. A place that Veterans could call their own. Those early Whatcom County American Legion members built the foundation for our 21st century Post 7 community. Today, we enjoy the many volunteer hours and efforts of those men and their families.
Service for the greater good is what we, as Veterans, are intimately familiar. As young women and men, we signed our names, raised our right hand and swore an oath. In doing so we joined a truly exclusive community. According to the Pew Research Center, as of November 2023 only 6% of Americans are Veterans. Looking at the 2023 United States Census Bureau statistics, between 2018 and 2022, the Veteran community in Whatcom County numbered 13,011. We, at Post 7, need to be there for our military sisters and brothers who, like us, swore fidelity to those who chose to wear our nation’s uniform.
This year the American Legion celebrated our 105th birthday. 105 years of service to our nation. 105 years of advocating for every American service member. 105 years of supporting Veterans and their families. 105 years of honoring a young Whatcom County man who lost his life in a distant land.
As the American Legion advances into the twenty first century the Bellingham Post will need volunteers to lead the way. A few hours a month is not much to ask and volunteering at Post 7 is time well spent.
Robert W Meyers
Post 7 Historian
March 23, 2024
