April 15, 2014

By Yazmin Alvarez • March 21, 2014

“CQCQCQ… This is W6TAL–Redlands Post 106 of the American Legion. We’re celebrating the American Legion’s 95th birthday and we’re having a special event station–CQCQCQ and listening…”
That was the nation-wide call made out Saturday morning by the group’s amateur radio club as they kicked off a small ceremony recognizing members and the post’s longstanding history in Redlands.
Operators reached out to nearly a dozen people throughout the U.S., and some as far out as Croatia during the celebratory call, said Doug Macomber, club member and secretary of the radio club, as he continued call out on the ham radio.
And the reveling didn’t stop there.
To help mark the group’s milestone, the U.S. Postal Service approved a pictorial postmark–a cancellation stamp–for the American Legion’s anniversary.
The postmark is a black-and-white inked stamp of the American Flag with the words, “American Legion 95th Anniversary Station.”
Members of the American Legion Post 106 of Redlands received certificates of recognition along with a commemorative stamp celebrating the Legion’s 95th anniversary.
The process to obtain the stamp was in the works for several months, but with the help of Postmaster Liz George of the Redlands Post Office, the group was able to unveil the commemorative stamp during the anniversary Saturday.
Roger Baty, radio club president, said the stamp is a perfect way to mark any community celebration.
“The post is celebrating its 94th year,” said Baty, of Post 106.
“How many organizations in Redlands can say they have been here for 94 years.”
The commemorative cancellation stamp is available for 30 days–April 15– at the Redlands Post Office on New York Street and the American Legion’s Redlands Post 106 where they have pre-stamped envelopes available.
The stamp can be obtained by bringing in a first-class stamped envelope to the Redlands branch and asking any postal service employee at the service desk.
The American Legion Post 106 of Redlands is at 814 W. Colton Avenue in Redlands.
Members of The American Legion Post 106 of Redlands received certificates of recognition along with a commemorative stamp celebrating the Legion’s 95th anniversary.