A tour of American history

For the past eight months, I have traveled throughout the country to visit American Legion posts, conduct Walk for Veterans events in Legion communities and more. During my recent visit to Massachusetts, American Legion Post 86 of Braintree had a surprise for me as a former history teacher and West Point graduate.

Called the "birthplace of presidents" – John Adams and John Quincy Adams were born there – Braintree is the home of Brig. Gen. Sylvanus Thayer, an early superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy.

Post 86 arranged for me to tour Thayer’s birthplace and Thayer Academy, a private college preparatory school established by a bequest from the general in 1871.

Born in Braintree on June 9, 1785, Thayer – often called the "Father of West Point" – is best known for his work reorganizing the U.S. Military Academy, where he established a curriculum and traditions still in use today. It certainly brought back memories of my time at West Point. I sometimes joke that Thayer made my life pretty miserable for four years. He was big into engineering and discipline. At times I associate him with a great deal of pain, but also a great deal of reverence and honor.

At the Braintree Town Hall, I met with Mayor Joseph Sullivan and Town Clerk James Casey, an Army Reserve veteran and Post 86 member. Officials also brought out the birth records of the nation’s second and sixth presidents – John Adams, born 1735, and John Quincy Adams, born 1767 – as well as John Hancock (born 1737) and Thayer. As the president of the Second Continental Congress, Hancock signed George Washington’s commission as "general and commander in chief of the army of the united colonies."

During my visit, I also had a photograph taken with Thayer’s portrait at the town library and walked to the general’s restored home. There, I helped raise a new U.S. flag donated by Post 86 to the Braintree Historical Society, which owns and operates the site.

My visit to Massachusetts was a great reminder that Legion posts reside in communities that have had an impact on America’s history, as Braintree has ties to the founding fathers and establishment of the U.S. Army.