The Belfast American Legion is located across from the Town Park on Main Street.
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veteran's organization. Focusing on service to veterans, servicemembers and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Membership swiftly grew to over 1 million, and local posts sprang up across the country. Today, membership stands at nearly 2 million in more than 13,000 posts worldwide. The posts are organized into 55 departments: one each for the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines.
Over the years, the Legion has influenced considerable social change in America, won hundreds of benefits for veterans and produced many important programs for children and youth.
The Belfast American Legion Post had obtained its Temporary Charter from the American Legion on the 18th Day of May 1946 with 37 Chartered members. When the Post was officially chartered, it had 66 members. In 1984 it had officially changed its name to the Robert W. Howden Post 1504 of the American Legion. It's one of very few posts in the United States today to be named after a Vietnam War Veteran. Robert Howden, a Belfast native, served as an Armor Recon Specialist with the rank of Corporal and died in the Tet Offensive in 1968.
Around 2019, a large mural featuring an eagle and American Flag was painted on the outside of the building by Cuba artist Carrol Shaffer. Today, the American Legion and Belfast Lion’s Club hold their meetings here.
The American Legion isn't just a Veteran’s organization. It's a family dedicated to the preservation of heroes and heroines who dedicated their lives, and at times sacrificed themselves in the pursuit of ensuring that not just Americans, but ALL people across the globe would be able to live their lives as they saw fit. We honor those lives, and the lives of the Veterans we still have with us today.
-by Kyle McCumiskey, Belfast Central School Class of 2024