Celebrate 60th Birthday of American Legion Building

The Chelberg-Battle Post of the American Legion in Sag Harbor celebrated its building’s 60th birthday on Monday night with a party, which included the dedication of a bench to a former member who helped the legion secure a home.

“Sag Harbor has a very unique military history dating all the way back to the Civil War, where 46 individuals from Sag Harbor died,” David Pharaoh, the current commander, who has been a member for 24 years, told an attentive crowd. During World War I, 11 men from the village were killed. The first to die were Corp. James Frederick Chelberg and Pvt. George F. Battle, both of whom served with the Army’s 77th Division in France.

In August 1919, a group of World War I veterans formed the legion. Fourteen of those charter members decided to name it for the two fallen men, and Chelberg-Battle Post #388 of the American Legion was born. Dr. J.H. McCourt, the first commander, held meetings where the village police station now stands.

By the late 1940s, the members wanted to find a home of their own. Fund-raising efforts included Bingo games and a Buy-a-Brick campaign, where legionnaires sold strips of papers in the shape of a brick for 25 cents. A car raffle, organized by Frank Santacroce, a car salesman and the post commander in 1949 and ’50, helped put the campaign over the top, and a drawing took place at the annual Main Street block party over Labor Day weekend. (Mr. Santacroce served during World War II in the Army’s 36th Infantry Division of the 111th Engineering Company.)

Using the money raised and with assistance from the Sag Harbor Savings Bank — “the only bank in town that would give the legion a loan,” Mr. Pharaoh said — the legion’s new headquarters at 26 Bay Street was built for $36,000. Despite not being a veteran, Charlie Labrozzi, a local mason, donated his time for its construction. “It was his way of saying thank you to the many veterans of Sag Harbor,” said Mr. Pharaoh.

On Sept. 22, 1954, Everett Diederiks, then post commander, presided over a dedication ceremony. The building quickly became a center for the community. “All village affairs large and small, from birthday parties, weddings, fire department dinner dances, Cub Scout Blue and Gold dinners, to baseball, basketball, and soccer sign-ups, have all been hosted at the legion,” Mr. Pharaoh said.

While many legion posts around the country are shutting their doors, the Chelberg-Battle post is thriving. Since 2003, $13,500 in scholarships has been given out annually and $1,000 donated to the Sag Harbor Food Pantry. The legion sponsors the Cub Scouts, the Pierson High School robotics team, and several other organizations, to the tune of a little over $18,000 this year alone. Members also send Girl Scout cookies to U.S. soldiers.

Mr. Pharaoh said that while times have changed, the legion still operates under the same principals established in 1919, long before mission statements and board goals. Quoting the legion preamble, it’s “Inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state, and nation,” he said. “The legion today stands as a testament to the commitment from the veterans of Sag Harbor to their country, and especially the Village of Sag Harbor. Built by the people for the people.”

Family members of deceased past commanders, together with past presidents of the legion’s Ladies Auxiliary, joined in the celebration. Robert Diederiks, a deacon at St. Andrew’s Church in Sag Harbor whose father was in charge when the post opened in 1954, gave the opening prayer. The oldest living past commander on hand was Jack Reidy, 88, who served from 1966 to 1967.

A bench in front of the legion building was dedicated to Mr. Santacroce and his wife, Anne Santacroce, who served as a member of the Army Nurse Corps on the front lines in Europe during World War II. Their son Michael Santacroce donated the bench.

Proclamations were presented by Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst and State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr.