Post 28 History

American Legion Post 28 was formed in 1925 and chartered in 1926.  The Post derives it’s name from Charles R. ‘Buck’ Keyes, a WWI Veteran.  Charles R. Keyes was born on May 2, 1893 to Mr. & Mrs. Charles Keyes in Quantico Virginia.   ‘Buck’, as he was familiarly known among friends, served as a Top Sergeant in Company K, 318th. Infantry, 80th. Division. The 80th. Division was constituted August 5, 1917 and was made up primarily of draftees from Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania and was nicknamed the “Blue Ridge Division.”  The 80th. sailed for France, landing June 8, 1918 and by mid-August they joined forces with the British Third Army on the front lines, where it took part in the Somme and the Meuse-Agronne offensives.  ‘Buck’ Keyes served with distinction through the principal battles and was badly gassed in the battle of Argonne Forest.

‘Buck’ Keyes died one day before his 29th. Birthday, on May 1, 1922 in Mary Washington Hospital, Fredericksburg Virginia, following an illness of three weeks with Brights disease.  He was buried on May 5, 1922 in the family burying ground in Chamberlain Village Cemetery, located on the Quantico Marine Corps Base.

Post 28 members originally met at a church in Quantico, which was purchased by the Masonic Lodge of Quantico in later years.  Around 1932 the Post purchased property on Fuller Heights Road but sold it shortly thereafter to purchase property next to the Town Hall in Quantico.  The building on that property was occupied by the Marine Corps Association after Post 28 vacated the building.  The building at that time was a garage with living quarters on the second floor.  To make the purchase and have money to renovate, twelve members purchased a lifetime membership for one hundred dollars each.  The Post home consisted of a meeting room and small bar.  In 1944 a cinder block addition was built with much of the material coming from the Marine Base at Quantico.  The construction included a complete walk-in refrigerator. In 1945, because of a paymaster who handed out applications as he paid the Marines their salary, membership soared to over 1000 members.

In 1965 the original Post Home was sold and property was purchased from C. G. Paris, our first commander and a charter member of the Post.  The property contained a three story building, which was gutted by a fire in 1969 which began in one of the apartments located in the building.  The property was then sold for its original purchase price.

The Post members then began meeting at various eating places in Quantico until early 1971 when the Post purchased property in Dumfries from Vern Accord.  The property had a building which served as Mr. Accord’s residence, and that portion remained standing until the Post was sold in 1994 to the Boys and Girls Club of Dumfries.  A large addition was added to the building with a hall that would seat 200 people.  At the time of the sale, there were plans to renovate the downstairs to have meeting, game and club rooms.  In 1995 the Post purchased the property and buildings where the Post now sits, on Liming Lane in Triangle.

The motto of the post is “The sun never sets on Quantico/Buck Keyes Post No. 28” and is derived from the fact that as the sun sets in our beloved land, there is a member somewhere in the world where the sun is rising.  A number of members have been stationed in Okinawa, Japan, or on the oceans every year.  The Post in Okinawa was formed due to the influence of Past Post Commander Bob Wolford and, ironically, carries the number 28.

Quantico was added to the name of the Post in 1976 to keep a continuity of our original charter, location, and association with the history of the Quantico Marine Base and town of Quantico.  Today the Post continues to have strong ties to Quantico, Dumfries, and Triangle, remaining active in those communities.

Now we would like to tell you a little about what we do.  The American Legion and Post 28’s success depends entirely on active membership, participation and volunteerism. The organization belongs to the people it serves and the communities in which it thrives.

Our activities and participation are based solely on the desire and participation of the members.  This year, as in past years there are certain programs that we host all the time.  In May we will host a four day event in support of those who ride in Rolling Thunder and you will find information in other pages on the web site.  In December there is always a Children’s Christmas party where we gather names from local schools and other organizations for those who are most needy in our community.  Many families of service members and veterans are assisted on a regular basis with assistance in obtain funds so that they can pay their rent, utilities and buy food for their children.  Our newly formed Legion Riders are becoming a very active entity in our fund raising efforts and we expect that their efforts will be echoed by others in the Post as time goes on.

If you are a Veteran that resides in the area — or you are stationed at one of the bases close to Post 28 — we would like to extend an invitation to you to become a member of the Post 28 family. 

There are a number of ways you can join The American Legion – you can do it on-line by going to the National Web Page at www.legion.org and clicking on the join button — or you can fill out the form and return it to the Post.  The yearly dues for Post 28 are $35.00.