Roderick-Crosby Post 28 Formation
The American Legion in Farmington was established during the evening of July 24,1919 when approximately 50 veterans from Farmington and Wilton met in the Grand Army Hall in Farmington.
The idea of a veterans organization among the members of the armed forces who served in World War I was in the minds of these fighters in France before the Armistice was signed on November 11, 2018. After the Armistice was signed there was morale problem brewing in France due to a shortage of transport ships available to return American servicemembers home. It was in France where the American Legion was born. The first American Legion caucus was held in St. Louis in May 1919. At the charter convention in November 1919, The American Legion became a permanent organization. The American Legion is chartered and incorporated by the U.S. Congress.
The Farmington American Legion post was forming months before the official charter of The American Legion itself. During the July 1919 meeting in Farmington, those in attendance voted to petition the Maine State Chairman of the American Legion for a charter. Fifteen local veterans signed the charter application – Robert F. White, George L. Pratt, Donald W. Greenwood, Harold S. Pratt, Luthier G. Whittier, True E. Makepeace, Harold G. Newell, Alfred J. Fortier, Freeland H. Starbird, Dan T. Adams, Linwood F. Adams, Linscott A. Nickerson, Hervey B. Jennings, J. Lawrence Derby and Raymond O. Stewart.
Roderick-Crosby Post 28 Namesakes
A vote was taken this same evening to name the post after Lt Thaddeus L. Roderick, the only Farmington casualty of World War I.
Thaddeus L. Roderick was the son of Joseph and Mary Rodrigue. Thaddeus graduated Farmington High School in 1912 and attended the Farmington State Normal School now known as the University of Maine at Farmington. Thaddeus enlisted in the U.S. Army on May 29, 1917. He married Dorothy McKeen on June 21, 1917. During the Great War, Thaddeus advanced in rank from enlisted to officer. Lieutenant Roderick died in France on September 18, 1918, from wounds received during battle. Lieutenant Roderick is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Farmington, Maine. His name is commemorated on the tablet inside a church in Belleau, France and ranked as a Sergeant.
The following 22 years witnessed the growth in membership and community service of the Thaddeus Roderick American Legion Post 28. The Great War was not the “war to end all wars” and America entered World War II when the Greatest Generation served and sacrificed for our nation.
On March 5, 1946, a resolution was presented to members of the Thaddeus Roderick American Legion Post 28. The resolution proposed the Post name change to Roderick-Crosby American Legion Post 28 to honor Corporal George E. Crosby, the first Farmington casualty of World War II. The resolution was unanimously adopted by Post 28 membership on March 19, 1946.
It was in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands where Farmington native, Corporal George E. Crosby, fought and died on October 1, 1942. George was the adopted son of Frank and Helen Crosby. George graduated Farmington High School in 1937. He was an outstanding athlete and member of the basketball teams which participated in the Bates tournaments of 1936 and 1937. George enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on his 20th birthday, December 4, 1939. He married Eloise G. True on May 16, 1941. Corporal Crosby is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Farmington, Maine.