Reese-Hyman American Legion Post #96 Celebrates 100 Years of Service

Members and guests gathered Saturday afternoon in Warrenton to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Reese-Hyman American Legion Post #96 at its current Main Street Location.  
According to Eric Wilkerson, who had served as the post's adjutant for 17 years, the Warrenton post was founded by returning World War I veterans of Warren and Glascock Counties in 1923, just a few short years after the overarching American Legion was founded in 1918. 
It was named after Cummings Reese and Samuel Mart Hyman, the only Warren County men to lose their lives in service to the United States during the World War.
"Warrenton was the main city in the area at that time.  They formed it up here and within a couple of months, they had more than 100 members, from World War I," he told The McDuffie Progress.  During the early years, the organization was very active in the community, running the annual three-to four-day Warren-Glascock County Fair. 
On Saturday, members and guest gathered to celebrate the post's history and install its latest slate of officers, including Post Commander Pat Hambsch, who is serving her sixth term in the position.  She said that, although she will remain very active after leaving the position next year, she will enjoy having more flexibility and see someone else take on the leadership role for the organization.
Hambsch joined Post #96 when she got out of the military.
"It was either six or seven years ago that Tom Brady, he was commander, said he was ready to retire, but he was only going to let it go under one condition- that I was commander," she remembers now." And you know, I tried to say no, but my mouth wouldn't let me."
Hambsch said the most important resource the post has is its people.

Photo courtesy/information source by Karen Fioretti (The McDuffie Progress)