Bernard L Tobin Post 128 History
An American Legion post was first established in Aberdeen shortly after World War I. Captain Harold G. Baker was the first Commander. The organization constructed a hall on Post Road about 1920, but because of the small size of the community and on its dependence on transient members, became defunct.
The present Post 128, Aberdeen’s oldest existing veterans organization, was established in the latter part of 1935 and first met in an old boiler room of the Academy Restaurant, then located in what is now Tom’s Barber Shop on Bel Air Avenue. Later meetings were held on the second floor of the old firehouse. The Colonial Inn owned by Commander William Delgar was the site of meetings during his tenure. The Rev. J. C. Moore, Pastor of St. Joan of Arc Church and a very active Legionnaire provided the next home for the American Legion, the parish hall of St Joan of Arc Church on Post Road and Bel Air Avenue. In 1950 the post was able to acquire the building, which formerly housed the old Forrest Greens Country Club, at a nominal sum. Later property was acquired on Parke Street in Aberdeen, on which a fine brick American Legion home was build in the mid 1950’s
The first person to sign up members of the new post in 1935 was Arthur L. Gilbert, one of 43 charter members. The first Commander was Phillip Kurtz. Other initial officers included William R. Delgar, Rev. J. C. Moore, William Cooper, Benjamin Halsted, Thomas Armstrong, John W. Mears, Joe Butler, Herman Berman, Lester Gallion and Howard Beachboard.
Aberdeen Post 128, with proceeds from the carnival, pooled it’s resources with those of the Aberdeen Volunteer Fire Department and Auxiliary and others to purchase the town’s first ambulance, for which there was a very pressing need. In 1946, an iron lung was purchased by the American Legion for the Harford Memorial Hospital. An infant’s iron lung was likewise acquired a little later. The Post has always been very active in community affairs and it continues in that spirit today. The Ladies Auxiliary, which was formed in the history of the Post, was very instrumental in assisting the American Legion in carrying out its activities.
The present Post 128, Aberdeen’s oldest existing veterans organization, was established in the latter part of 1935 and first met in an old boiler room of the Academy Restaurant, then located in what is now Tom’s Barber Shop on Bel Air Avenue. Later meetings were held on the second floor of the old firehouse. The Colonial Inn owned by Commander William Delgar was the site of meetings during his tenure. The Rev. J. C. Moore, Pastor of St. Joan of Arc Church and a very active Legionnaire provided the next home for the American Legion, the parish hall of St Joan of Arc Church on Post Road and Bel Air Avenue. In 1950 the post was able to acquire the building, which formerly housed the old Forrest Greens Country Club, at a nominal sum. Later property was acquired on Parke Street in Aberdeen, on which a fine brick American Legion home was build in the mid 1950’s
The first person to sign up members of the new post in 1935 was Arthur L. Gilbert, one of 43 charter members. The first Commander was Phillip Kurtz. Other initial officers included William R. Delgar, Rev. J. C. Moore, William Cooper, Benjamin Halsted, Thomas Armstrong, John W. Mears, Joe Butler, Herman Berman, Lester Gallion and Howard Beachboard.
Aberdeen Post 128, with proceeds from the carnival, pooled it’s resources with those of the Aberdeen Volunteer Fire Department and Auxiliary and others to purchase the town’s first ambulance, for which there was a very pressing need. In 1946, an iron lung was purchased by the American Legion for the Harford Memorial Hospital. An infant’s iron lung was likewise acquired a little later. The Post has always been very active in community affairs and it continues in that spirit today. The Ladies Auxiliary, which was formed in the history of the Post, was very instrumental in assisting the American Legion in carrying out its activities.
History of the Name Change
Early in the year 1967, Commander Jack Sheppard, at the post Executive Committee meeting, proposed changing the name of the post from Aberdeen Post 128 to the name of a deceased veteran. A committee was appointed to investigate the names of deceased veterans. After several weeks of investigation, the Committee recommended the name of Sergeant Bernard Leroy Tobin who was the first veteran to be killed in combat during World War II from the Aberdeen area.
This name was then submitted to the general membership at a regular post meeting in May 1967. The name change was approved by an overwhelming majority of over one hundred members voting at that meeting. Commander Sheppard stated at that time the name would be officially changed at the installation of the Post Officers in August 1967. Although the post was notified by the Department of Maryland that it would be impossible to get the change approved by National Headquarters that quickly. It was decided because of the illness of Mr. Alfred Tobin, who was the father of the deceased veteran, to go ahead with the name change at the August Installation. Past post and District Commander Joseph Tobin (Bernard's brother) was given the assignment to bring this about. Past Commander Joseph Tobin, with the help of several friends in the American Legion Department of Maryland, began to set up the following program, in which he was the master of ceremonies. H. Laird Roder, the Alternate National Executive Committeeman, was selected to officially make the change.
At the installation that year, Commander Sheppard was reinstalled as Post Commander. The installing officer was Frank Barrett, past Commander of Parkville Post 183. After the installation of officers, the ceremony continued with the formal changing of the name from Aberdeen Post 128 to Bernard L. Tobin Post 128. The presiding officer was Mr. H Laird Roeder. Mr. Alfred Tobin and his two sons, Lawrence and Joseph, represented the Tobin family. Representing the Department of Maryland was Commander Robert E. L. Eaton, Department Adjutant Dan Burkardt, and past Department Commander Chilcoate. Also present were five Aberdeen town commissioners, President of the County Commissioners Fred Baldwin, and representing the State of Maryland was Thomas Hatem. The official change was presented to the post on December 21,1967.
This name was then submitted to the general membership at a regular post meeting in May 1967. The name change was approved by an overwhelming majority of over one hundred members voting at that meeting. Commander Sheppard stated at that time the name would be officially changed at the installation of the Post Officers in August 1967. Although the post was notified by the Department of Maryland that it would be impossible to get the change approved by National Headquarters that quickly. It was decided because of the illness of Mr. Alfred Tobin, who was the father of the deceased veteran, to go ahead with the name change at the August Installation. Past post and District Commander Joseph Tobin (Bernard's brother) was given the assignment to bring this about. Past Commander Joseph Tobin, with the help of several friends in the American Legion Department of Maryland, began to set up the following program, in which he was the master of ceremonies. H. Laird Roder, the Alternate National Executive Committeeman, was selected to officially make the change.
At the installation that year, Commander Sheppard was reinstalled as Post Commander. The installing officer was Frank Barrett, past Commander of Parkville Post 183. After the installation of officers, the ceremony continued with the formal changing of the name from Aberdeen Post 128 to Bernard L. Tobin Post 128. The presiding officer was Mr. H Laird Roeder. Mr. Alfred Tobin and his two sons, Lawrence and Joseph, represented the Tobin family. Representing the Department of Maryland was Commander Robert E. L. Eaton, Department Adjutant Dan Burkardt, and past Department Commander Chilcoate. Also present were five Aberdeen town commissioners, President of the County Commissioners Fred Baldwin, and representing the State of Maryland was Thomas Hatem. The official change was presented to the post on December 21,1967.