Community Corner
This Day in History: Amid World War, Suffolk County American Legion Met in Port Jeff
Earl L. Vandermeulen helped oversee an abbreviated agenda.
On Saturday, July 11 the annual convention of the Suffolk County American Legion met in Port Jefferson for a one-day conference instead of the usual two back in 1942. According to a news report in The County Review, the abbreviated conference was because of the ongoing military activities connected to the U.S. involvement in World War Two.
“There will be little of the lighter side that is often found at affairs of this kind,” said the report. “No bugle corps competition has been planned, and no free refreshment stands.”
Earl L. Vandermeulen who served as principal of the Port Jefferson High School from 1923 to 1960 and for whom the school is currently named, was involved in the main committee. Vandermeulen had also served as county commander of the American Legion, president of the local Rotary club and was selected to be chairman of the Selective Service office of Suffolk County when the individual offices were centralized in 1946.
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