American Legion, Department of Maryland, Southern Maryland District Six

American Legion Post 170 was originally approved for a charter on January 28, 1946 under the name of Ralph Gonza Wade, during the leadership of Department Commanders Joseph A. Conteel and Martin F. Iverson. The Department issued (15) members a charter for the formation of a Post in Pomonkey, Maryland.

On issuance of the Charter, the following Comrades agreed to organize and maintain a post under the above name, with a minimum membership designated by the Department Executive Committee.

Walter M. Woodland

James M. Harley

Calvert L. Banks

Frank Butler

William J. Young

James T. Harper

McKinley Greenfield

James F. Washington

John S. Hill

Harry Adams

Gilbert Hart

William Leo Briscoe

James Bond

Joseph R. Hawkins

It was learned some years later that Mr. Wade, who was a community leader and Post Master in Waldorf, Maryland, was never a member of the Armed Forces and therefore was ineligible to be a member of The American Legion.

Roy A. Farrar served as the first Post Commander who earned his eligibility through his service in the United States Army. He served as Commander through the end of The American Legion administrative year, 1951. The above members served in the military or naval forces of the United States between April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918, or between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946.

Randolph Furey

Mr. Randolph Furey, who served in the United States Navy, and for whom the Post is named, was elected Post Commander in 1951, and served until 1955. Mr. Furey served twenty years in the Navy and retired as a Navy Chief. He died December 15, 1960 and is buried in the Metropolitan United Methodist Church cemetery in Pomonkey, Maryland. Each Memorial Day, the Post and Auxiliary perform a Wreath Laying Ceremony at his grave site and return to The Post to fellowship and have a delicious breakfast.

In 1961 the Post was re-chartered under the name of Randolph Furey Post No. 170.

James S. Chesley became the next Post Commander. The meetings were held at the home of Frank Leroy Datcher. William J. Thomas became the next Post Commander and meetings moved to the Elk's Lodge, on a temporary basis.

In 1974, under the leadership of Joseph H. Morton, as Post Commander, The Post acquired the Post home, 4345 Livingston Road; Indian Head, Maryland; 20640. Mr. Thomas Gray was the current owner of the property and the Post had to pay $50.00 per week, as a rental fee. The property consisted of the present building and a 14 acre site. The Post membership started to decline and in jeopardy of losing its charter and had to combine with Post 233, Indian Head, Maryland, in order to maintain its charter. The meetings were changed to once a month.

In 1976, the membership increased and the Post was able to purchase its present location with a first and second mortgage from a local bank.

The Post and Auxiliary currently sponsor several American Legion Programs under National Security/Foreign Relation and Homeland Security, Veteran's Rehabilitations, Americanism and Child Welfare. The members of the Randolph Furey Post No. 170 and Auxiliary sponsor many activities during the course of a year. The activities most beneficial and cherished are the "Boys State" sponsored by the Post and the "Girls State" sponsored by the Auxiliary. The purpose of these programs are to provide citizenship training for boys and girls of high school age, in which they gain a valid concept of the operations, ideals, functions and goals of the State Government. The Post and Auxiliary sponsors two boys and two girls each year. The Post has been participating in these worthwhile programs since 1995. These programs are by far not the only youth programs in which Randolph Furey Post No. 170 are involved, but the ones we are most proud.

Our major Post and Auxiliary programs are Scholarship and Children & Youth. The Post contributes annually to Children Miracle Network and Epilepsy Association. The Post sponsors patriotic community projects, recreational, educational, and charitable programs, to include Easter Egg Hunt and Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets. The Post believes in serving the surrounding communities by offering the Post facility for weddings, Repast, birthday celebrations, youth activities, and fundraising activities for Pomonkey High School Alumni Association.

The all time high membership is 261 members. Since 1990, the Post has earned 4-star status, three times.

Affiliated Organizations

The Auxiliary Unit 170 was initially chartered on January 20, 1955 and re-chartered on March 16, 1962 under the name American Legion Auxiliary Randolph Furey Unit 170. The first Auxiliary Unit 170 President was Mrs. Dorothy Brown.

The Randolph Furey Auxiliary Unit 170 members are always anxious and willing to cooperate in every Legion activity.

PATRIOTIC DAYS

MEMORIAL DAY originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died while serving in the United States of America armed forces. The holiday, which is currently observed every year on the last Monday of May. The holiday was held on May 30 from 1868 to 1970.

POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY is observed across the nation on the third Friday of September each year. It honors those who were prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action.

ARMISTICE DAY, now called VETERANS' DAY, originally marked the end of fighting in World War One. It is an important holiday on the calendar of Legionnaires everywhere and in the hearts of all veterans. VETERANS DAY is observed on the eleventh Month, eleventh Day at the eleventh Hour.

SCHOLARSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Randolph Furey Post 170 Sponsors various scholarships for the further education of our children. We also sponsor and financially assist many worthy community projects and programs initiated by the National American Legion.

JOIN US AND KEEP THIS HISTORY ALIVE.