Honor on the move

On Aug. 4, Westchester County, N.Y., rededicated a set of World War I memorial trees and plaques at the county center in White Plains. The memorial has been moved around in its century-plus history, but the local American Legion post has stood up for it every step of the way.

According to Post 135 Commander Dan Griffin, the rededication came three years after the memorial’s most recent move, when it was uprooted by the State of New York in 2020 so the center and parking lot – which the memorial rings – could be used for temporary medical facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The post played an important role in getting the memorial restored, partially through Griffin’s other role as service officer at the county Veterans Service Agency.

The whole histories of Post 135 and the memorial are commingled. According to a report by WRRV, post founder and first commander Frederick Gross “spearheaded” the creation of the memorial. It was dedicated on Armistice Day 1921 (the post received its initial charter in July 1919), with a parade featuring World War I, Spanish-American War and Civil War veterans. A box of Belleau Wood soil was mixed with the soil at the memorial.

In 1931, the memorial was rededicated after its first move, to make way for the new county center; Post 135 assisted with that as well. The 2023 rededication included the reading of the 49 names included on the 49 plaques, some by Griffin. An additional historical project of his has been helping restore a cannon from USS Maine for display. “People are trying to eliminate history,” he said, “and I’m trying to keep it out.”