History

Augusta-Staunton VFW Post 2216 was organized June 10, 1931 and was sponsored by Rion-Bowman post 632 of Harrisonburg, Virginia. The following nineteen names appear on the original Post charter: Hugh C. Braxton, J. Paul Murphey, J. Earl Jones, Charles J. Sutler, Rey Lee Farley, Anthony Senell, Chester W. Talley, Jennings B. Harris, William B. Brown, Charles N. Landes, Harry H. Tucker, Allen H. Caldwell, George M. Chaplin, 0. D. Mace, Vander C. Rolen, Frank Cacciapaglia, Alger Hann, George R. Green, and Jethro Manley.

J. Earl Jones did much of the organization of the post, and later served five years as Post Commander. To date there have been 43 Post commanders and are listed in the order they served:

Augusta—Staunton Post has had four members who served as Department Commander. They are: J. Earl Jones, W.I. Wooddell, H.D. Shaver and Herman R. Fitzgerald.

The Post has met at several different locations since it was organized in 1931. Earlier meetings were held in the YMCA, The Woodmen’ s Hall, The Veteran’s Hall at the entrance to Gypsy Hill Park. During the first term of office of Commander H.R. Fitzgerald, property was purchased at 17 South Lewis Street, Staunton. This building was formerly the Church of the Brethren and was the Post home for several years until the city desired to build a parking garage on the property. At this time the Post meetings were held in the Naval Reserve Center on Nelson Street.

In July of 1978, land was purchased on Route 644 (now Frontier Drive) between U.S. Route 11 and Route 250. A 50ft by 120 ft steel building with a brick front was constructed on the site. Department Adjutant/Quartermaster James Booth, also a member of Post 2216, and Commander Fitzgerald were instrumental in getting this project underway and completed.

In June of 1988 an additional 0.333 acre tract was purchased between the existing property and Dice’s Inn giving the Post additional frontage on Frontier Drive. In June of 1996, during the term of Commander Earl Harris and Quartermaster Fitzgerald, an addition of 20ft by 50ft. by l2ft was completed. Today we have an accessible Post home on this property consisting of two meeting rooms, a recreational (club) room, an office, storage rooms, two accessible rest rooms, and kitchen. The Post has grown considerable over the years and has a membership of over 429.

The Ladies Auxiliary to the Post was organized April 21, 1932 with 15 charter members. The Post was instituted by Mrs. Nora Toppin, President at that time of Auxiliary 632, Harrisonburg. The Auxiliary has been one of the finest in the State of Virginia since its inception. The Auxiliary has also grown and now has a membership of over 136.

We have continued through the years to promote our programs in this community, sponsoring many youth programs, such as the Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy essay programs, Lite-A-Bike Safety Program, Child I.D; Drug Abuse etc. We also sponsor many sports programs, Americanism, Legislative issues, Rehabilitation issues and Veteran’s in the Classroom Programs. The Buddy Poppy programs and numerous other projects are done on a continuous basis.