Veterans of Post 140, are you interested in your family history? Have you ever wondered what it would have been like if you could have actually seen and heard one of your ancestors tell you about their experiences during the Civil War or World War One? Think what a wonderful experience that would have been if you had been able to set down across the table from them and actual hear them recount some stories of their military service.

Well, hundred years or more from now your great, great, great grandkids would be thrilled to hear your story as part of their family history. So how about doing something one afternoon that will archive your story as a military veteran for generations to come?   It will cost you nothing to be interviewed before a video camera and have your story recorded as a military veteran for preservation in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.  so that future generations may hear your story long after you have passed away.

Our local Greenville High School (GHS) has a project teaching students how to do videos, studio recordings, editing, computer and archival work. We are also working with the local VFW on this project as it is a national program to archive stories of veterans and their service. If you are interested in participating please call Larry Rammel at 937-670-1207. Request to have your name and phone number placed on the Veteran’s Archive Schedule List. You may also call Lorinda Hoover the teacher at (GHS) who teaches the students career technology and how to record and archive veteran stories.

Now don’t expect to be scheduled for your interview for awhile. This project includes many military service veterans from around Darke Co. and it may be later in 2024 before you receive a scheduling date and time to show up at the GHS for your recording session. However; take comfort in knowing that hundreds of years from now your descendants will be quite pleased to see you and hear your story.

Richard E. Martin, Post Historian

NOTE: If you would like to review and see one of the Archived Veteran Stories you can go to the link below for the one done by your Post Historian.

Titled: Never Stop Serving #25: Richard Martin, USAF, Cold War Era https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSHaw63aRL0

If you would like to review some other Archived Veteran Stories from around Darke Co. go to the link below and check out the list, Veterans Memorial Park and Digital Library. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn1-1-xmZG9NpoV3dcbnGQA

                                                                  A Veterans History Project

If you are interested in creating your own Veterans History Project and story then go to the Library of Congress, at: https://www.loc.gov/vets   then create and record your own Veterans Story with the VHP Field Kit and Individual Forms at: https://www.loc.gov/vets/kitmenu.html

The Greenville Hometown Heroes Banner Program

This program is a living tribute created for the community to recognize and honor Greenville residents and their family members who are serving, or are veterans who have served, or have given their life to our country in the United States Armed Forces. Veterans and family members please check the web site link below to be honored. https://www.mainstreetgreenville.org/hometown-heroes-banner-program 

Affiliated Organizations

A Women's Auxiliary of American Legion Post 140 was also formed. The Legion has every reason to be proud of it's Auxiliary.  Auxiliary members are always anxious and willing to co-operate in every Legion activity.

A Sons of the Legion for American  Legion Post 140 was also formed.  The Legion has every reason to be proud of it's Sons of Legion unit, which gained statewide recognition because of it's programs of service. 

                                                                         Patriotic Days

MEMORIAL DAY has always been an outstanding occasion in this community. In addition to memorial events throughout the Greenville, Ohio community, the  goal of every Veteran to it's last man is to keep MEMORIAL DAY sacred to the memory of our war dead of all wars; and all graves are decorated on this National Holiday.

ARMISTICE DAY, now called VETERANS' DAY, originally marked the end of fighting in World War I. It is an important holiday on the calendar of Legionnaires everywhere and in the hearts of all Veterans. It has been in effect since Nov. 11, 1918.  Annually the Post sponsored the Armistice Day Parade. An important tradition was established when the Post led in the memorial exercises at 11 o'clock on the morning of November 11, marking the exact hour of the cessation of hostility on the war fronts.

Registration Of Graves

Since it's inception American Legion Post 140 has been a leader in this community in the area of graves registration; which has been incorporated by all the American Legion Posts in Darke County. Grave Registration enables all interested parties to locate the site of the grave of each Veteran. American Legion Post 140 provides a Military Honor Guard for the burial of any Veteran in Darke County, Ohio. The family of any Veteran may request a Military Honor Guard to attend and honor the funeral and burial services of their departed veteran. Simply call the American Legion, Erk Cottrell Post 140 in Greenville, Ohio to request and make arrangements for the services. If you are aware of a burial service for any veteran who has no kin please notify us. Each year, active post members place a flag on each Veteran's grave and you may join us in honoring those who served.

Scholarships and Community Projects

American Legion Post 140 sponsors various scholarships for the further education of our children. We also sponsor and financially assist many worthy community projects and programs initiated by the National American Legion.

Remember if you are a Veteran Never Stop Serving

Join Us and Keep this History Alive

Click The "Next Page" Link Down Below:

Read about Dr. Albert Franklin Sarver who was Commander of the Erk Cottrell American Legion Post 140 in 1932. He served during WW1 as a First Lieutenant in the American Expedition Force (AEF) in France. You will find his history as a WW1 Veteran, Medical Doctor from Greenville very interesting.

So Join Us and Keep His History Alive Also