American Legion, 71 N Salem Rd, Ridgefield, CT 06877, US

The American Legion is one of the largest service organizations in America. It fights for the benefits of every active duty service member and veteran. Some of the negotiations for its members have been in health insurance, pharmaceutical discounts, travel discounts and credit cards. Each October, members conduct an annual Food Pantry Collection to support the VA Montrose Food Pantry. The American Legion also participates in the Yorktown Memorial Day Parade and Veteran's Day Parade. The Yorktown American Legion Post #1009 was formed and organized in the 1920s, but the American Legion National Headquarters did not issue the Post's Charter until May 1, 1931. The Post's Ladies Auxiliary Unit was chartered in 1926. In the 1920s and early 1930s, meeting were held in a room above Dunning's Garage, which was located on Commerce Street. When the Town Hall was built in 1935, meetings moved to the basement there. Yorktown's first Chief of Police, Earl Hawke, was one of the Post's Charter Members and Commanders. Another notable Post charter member was a former Town Supervisor, John Downing, who has left a permanent mark on the town. The present Post Legion Hall was built in 1957. Membership dues at the American Legion Post #1009 are $35 per year. To be eligible, you need to either be serving in the armed forces, or you need to have been Honorably Discharged and served during the following WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Lebanon/Grenada, Panama, Gulf War or the War on Terrorism.