MADISON — Legion member Raymond Soucy, of Madison, recently was presented a certificate for being a member of the American Legion for 70 continuous years, all of which have been with the Madison Post 39. He was presented the certificate by Post Commander H. Ralph Withee and Department of Maine Adjutant Paul L’Heureux. When Soucy joined in 1945, the Post was named Emile Tardiff Post 39 after the first Madison resident veteran killed in action during World War I, according to a news release from Post 39. During World War II, another Madison resident veteran, Maurice Belanger, was killed in action. Shortly after Soucy joined the American Legion, the Madison Post wanted to honor both men, so they voted to change the name. Over the course of several months, they went through a process by Department of Maine and National to get the first charter, which was issued in 1920 or 1921 to be canceled. Then, on Jan. 19, 1946, the Post received the new charter, Tardiff-Belanger Post 39, to honor both Tardiff and Belanger. Soucy was elected commander in 1948. The day following the certificate presentation, Soucy celebrated his 90th birthday.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
