American Legion Asks for Community's Support in Effort to Honor Local Veterans

​“Never forget.”

It’s a simple but powerful call to action that has been ingrained in American culture for decades.

Adhering to that admonishment requires not only determination, but often a tangible, visual reminder.

Fifteen years ago, the Hampton Bays American Legion Hand Aldrich Post 924 on Ponquogue Avenue did just that for the community, erecting a curved, black granite wall of remembrance in 2008. Over the years, the names of local veterans who served in wars from the Revolutionary War to World War II have been engraved on the wall, which is easily visible, situated at the Legion Post on Ponquogue Avenue, a stone’s throw from the Hampton Bays Middle School.

Construction on the wall began in 2007, and it was officially dedicated in May 2008. Since then, Legion members have spent a lot of time doing the diligent and often painstaking work of identifying and verifying the names of all Hampton Bays veterans who served in the country’s wars. The Legion recently achieved another big milestone, finishing the engravings of all the World War II veterans on the wall. There are 490 in total from the area, and those who died in the line of duty in the war have a gold star etched next to their names.

It is important and valuable work, but it is not cheap, explained David Agtsteribbe, the finance officer for the Legion, who said it costs the Legion $50 to engrave each name.

The Legion has more blank space on the wall and eventually wants to add the names of those who served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars, an effort that will likely require erecting another wall. They’ve already begun the work of sourcing those names and verifying their service, but are seeking more financial support from the community so they can finish paying the bill for the World War II engravings and then move on to ordering a new round of engravings for the local Korean and Vietnam veterans who have died.

When asked to put into words why this work is so important for the community, Agtsteribbe said it’s simple: “Because people can’t forget.”

Agtsteribbe said it’s particularly important that younger generations have a visual reminder of the sacrifices local veterans made because, soon, there won’t be any of them left. Already, younger people don’t have as many opportunities as Agtsteribbe and his peers had to meet and interact with veterans who served in those wars, and even more recent events like the September 11 attacks hold a different and more detached kind of space in the consciousness of the younger generation.

“When I was a kid growing up, people still remembered the Vietnam War and it was common to run into somebody that had been in Vietnam,” he said. “There’s no kid in the Hampton Bays School District that was alive during 9/11.”

Agtsteribbe added that Hampton Bays Superintendent Lars Clemensen does a great job adding programs and initiatives to teach the children in a dynamic way about important events like the September 11 attacks, and he knows they learn about the wars in history class. But the importance and value of a monument like the Legion’s Wall of Remembrance, in a place of high visibility in the community, can’t be understated, he said. Agtsteribbe also pointed out that the wall is in an area outdoors with picnic tables, where community members can gather, look at the wall, and take in all it represents.

The completion of the engravings for the World War II veterans was significant, Agtsteribbe added, because very soon there will no longer be any living veterans from that war.

Time marches on, and that fate will soon come for the veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars as well, which is why the Legion members are eager to get to work on adding those engravings and making the wall complete.

The best way for community members to support the Legion and its efforts to honor and remember those who served the country is to participate in the various fundraising events that Legion has on tap.

Mean Gene and the Flamethrowers will play a fundraising event at the American Legion from 7 to 10 p.m. on October 21. Information on other fundraisers is visible on the computerized screen located outside the Legion post on Ponquogue Avenue.

For more information or to make a donation, email info@hbamericanlegion.com.