May Post Do’ins

The veteran soldiers met at the Town Hall at 9 oclock AM accompanied by Torrent Engine Company, Sabath schools of the different churches and led by the Mechanics Cornet Band marched through the principal streets to Granitville Cemetery. Prayer was offered by Reverend Polk after which the returned soldiers decorated the graves of their departed comrades. The line was reformed and returned to the Hall and listened to speeches from Reverend Polk and Reverend Coult also a very fine poem by Mrs. S.E. Blodgett. A vote of thanks was passed for the kindness rendered by the M. C. Band, Reverend Polk, Reverend Coalt and to Mrs. Blodgett. The Band and returned soldiers marched to H. A. Powers Drugstore and many thanks ever expressed for the kindness of Mrs. Powers and we wish we had many more citizens of the same stamp that have not forgot who it was that fought their battles and saved their homes retained one of the best governments there ever was an unbroken chain. Adjourned to meet at the call of the President.”

Secretary George Gilden

Veteran Soldiers of Marlboro

May 30th 1880

The Veteran Soldiers of Marlboro was an organization of local Civil War veterans. In 1919, members of this organization, by unanimous vote, became a post in the newly formed American Legion. As illustrated by the excerpt from the Secretary Record of Veteran Soldiers, our town began recognizing Memorial Day (Decoration Day) annually since at least 1880. The name “Memorial Day”, which was was first attested in 1882, gradually became more common than “Decoration Day” after World War II but was not declared the official name by federal law until 1967.

Croteau-Coutts-Ford Post 24 will continue this annual tradition this year with a ceremony on Sunday, the 30th of May at the Pine Grove Cemetery beginning at 10 AM. Unfortunately, the Post has again decided to forgo a parade in deference to current COVID protocols. We look forward to resuming this aspect of our Memorial Day festivities in 2022.

Don’t forget that the Post is currently collecting worn, tattered, unserviceable flags for proper disposal. The flags can be given to any Post member or dropped off at Main Crust Company. The flags will be disposed of at a proper ceremony on Flag Day. More information will be published in the June bulletin.

In the March Bulletin, the Post published the Resolution to change the name of our Post from Croteau-Coutts Post 24 to Croteau-Coutts-Ford Post 24. On 15 February 2021, a new Charter was presented to the Post formalizing the name change. Over the next couple of months, Post officers will be planning an appropriate rededication ceremony to be held toward the end of the summer. We plan to make this a community event so watch this space in the coming months for more information!

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March Post Do’ins

Resolution No. 1: Post Name Change to Croteau-Coutts-Ford Post 24

Origin: Executive Committee

Submitted by: Adjutant Croteau-Coutts Post 24

At a regularly scheduled meeting of the American Legion Croteau-Coutts Post 24, Marlborough, New Hampshire held on 8 December 2020, on a motion made by Charlie Seaver, seconded by John Fletcher, the following resolution was adopted by a vote of

7 to 0:

WHEREAS, each Post of the American Legion is authorized to adopt a name for the Post in honor of a deceased veteran; and

WHEREAS, the Marlborough Veterans at a meeting in 1919 voted to join the American Legion and agreed to form a local post. Members voted to name the post in honor of a local resident, Private Clarence J. Croteau who enlisted in the Army in 1917 and deployed to France as part of the American Expeditionary Force during the First World War. He was a member of Company D, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division and participated in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. Clarence J. Croteau died in France on 26 September 1918 at the age of 22; and

WHEREAS, the town of Marlborough lost another young man during World War II, 2nd Lieutenant Charles Beverly Coutts. Second Lieutenant Coutts, an Army Air Corps Bombardier, died in the line of duty in the Pacific Theatre of Operations. Charles was a member of the 61st Bomber Squadron, 39th Bomber Group, Very Heavy and was reported missing on 28 April 1945. Members of Clarence J. Croteau Post 24 voted unanimously to change the name of the Post to Croteau-Coutts Post 24 in 1947 to honor another fallen hero.

WHEREAS, during yet another foreign war in Southeast Asia, Marlborough lost another fine, young man who is still remembered fondly by members of the community as well as several Post members. Warrant Officer Marshall H. Ford, 22, was reported as missing in action on 7 January 1968 in Vietnam. Ford was attached to the Army’s 1st Air Cavalry Division as a helicopter pilot. The helicopter he was piloting was shot down by enemy fire on 7 January while providing command and control for a unit of the 12th Cavalry. Because of the heavy hostile fire in the vicinity of the aircraft, search and recovery operations were delayed until 16 January. On that date, elements of the 12th Cavalry reached the crash site and found the helicopter had burned. WO Ford was officially listed as killed in action on 17 March 1968.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Croteau-Coutts Post 24, Marlborough, New Hampshire supports this application to honor all three “sons” of the town who lost their lives in action against enemies of the country in three separate wars.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the name of the Marlborough, New Hampshire American Legion Post from this date be renamed and designated:

Croteau-Coutts-Ford Post 24.

ADOPTED this 30th day of December 2020.

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