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<p>We would be remiss if we didn&#8217;t use this space at some point this year to congratulate the American Legion.</p><p>The organization celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.</p><p>We would be even more remiss if we didn&#8217;t take the time to single out the Kingston American Legion Post 395, which celebrated its own centennial anniversary last week.</p><p>Mike Ayers, commander of Black Diamond Post 395, told staff reporter Bill O&#8217;Boyle that the national organization was chartered in March 1919.</p><p>The Kingston post applied for its charter in October of the same year.</p><p>The first post home was on Market Street, according to O&#8217;Boyle&#8217;s story. But the post has called its current location at 386 Wyoming Ave., near the corner of Pringle Street, home since 1937.</p><p>The post is much more than a place for veterans to gather and share stories, although we realize that role is a vital one.</p><p>Ayers said the post works with the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Plains Township, hosting breakfasts and offering help with navigating the VA system.</p><p>&#8220;We help cut through the red tape,&#8221; Ayers told O&#8217;B0yle.</p><p>It is also extremely active in the community.</p><p>&#8220;We are here for our veterans primarily,&#8221; Ayers told about 60 who were in attendance at last week&#8217;s ceremony. &#8220;We also help out in our community, especially to help organizations that serve children, and we promote Americanism.&#8221;</p><p>Here are some facts about the American Legion from staff reporter O&#8217;Boyle&#8217;s story in Sunday&#8217;s Times Leader:</p><p>&#8226; Established by an act of Congress in 1919, the American Legion was instrumental in getting the original GI Bill passed and helped push for the creation of the Department of Veterans Affairs.</p><p>&#8226; It is the largest wartime veterans service organization with 2 million members and 12,000 posts in communities throughout the country.</p><p>We are thankful for the Kingston American Legion and every other single post in Northeastern Pennsylvania.</p><p>These organizations make our communities betters places to live for veterans and non-veterans alike.</p><p>So as we take time to thank veterans for their service, also stop to thank the American Legion for its service to veterans and all the rest of us.</p><p style="text-align: right;"><em>&#8211; Times Leader</em></p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Silver Star recipient John Richards, left, and Kingston American Legion Post 395 past commander Rich Pries were recognized at a celebration of the post&#8217;s 100th anniversary last week. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_Am.-Leg-100th-anniversary-2.cmyk_.jpg</photo0><caption0>Silver Star recipient John Richards, left, and Kingston American Legion Post 395 past commander Rich Pries were recognized at a celebration of the post&#8217;s 100th anniversary last week. </caption0><photoCredit0>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>

Our View: Congratulations to American Legion on 100 years of service to us all