ABOUT US

 

      THE FRANCY-BURDETT POST #70 OF THE AMERICN LEGION IN ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA HAS A LONG AND DISTINGUISHED HISTORY.  OUR POST (ORIGINALLY CALLED  AZALEA POST 70) WAS

ORGANIZED ON 28 JANUARY 1920.  POST 70 SENT SEVERAL DELEGATES TO AND PLAYED AN ACTIVE ROLE INTHE SECOND ANNUAL DEPARTMENT CONVENTION HELD IN WILMINGTON, NC IN SEPTEMBER OF 1920.  EDWARD C. FARRINGTON WAS ELECTED TO BE THE POST'S FIRST COMMANDER AND W. J. BLUM, THE FIRST ADJUTANT.

     

      EXISTING RECORDS ARE NOT CLEAR AS TO WHY THE POST WAS SUBSEQUENTLY NAMED IN HONOR OF C. W. FRANCY.  IT IS KNOWN THAT FRANCY ARRIVED AT NEARBY OTEEN HOSPITAL ON 16 OCTOBER 1920.  HE HAD SERVED AS FIRST LIEUTENANT, CO. B, 38TH ENGINEERS.  MANY ASSUME FRANCY RECEIVED THIS HONOR BECAUSE HE WAS PERHAPS THE FIRST TO DIE (ON 6 MAY 1921) AMONG THE MEMBERS OF THE NEWLY FORMED POST.  Click for more Francy

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     IN THE EARLY DAYS NEARLY ALL OF THE POST'S ACTIVITIES PERTAINED TO THE LOCAL OTEEN HOSPITAL, ITS PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.  IT WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND APPROPRIATE SPACE FOR POST ACTIVITIES.  NEVERTHELESS, THE POST PERSEVERED IN ASSISTING VETERANS WITH CLAIMS, PROMOTING LEGISLATION FOR BETTER HOSPITALS, AND SECURING COMPENSATION FOR THE DISABLED.  IT ESTABLISHED A CHILD WELFARE CLINIC AT OTEEN.  POST 70 SPONSORED MANY SHOWS THAT WERE SHOWN IN THE RED CROSS BUILDING.  IT PURCHASED EQUIPMENT SO THAT PATIENTS COULD HEAR BASEBALL GAMES OF THE SALLEY LEAGUE.  IT ALSO STARTED A COMMUNITY CHEST FUND.

    

     IN BLEAK YEARS WHEN MONEY WAS AT A PREMIUM, MEMBERS OF POST 70 INITIATED SERVICE WORK TO HELP VETERANS WITH CLAIMS WITH THE VETERANS BUREAU.  IN THOSE DAYS ABOUT 80% OF THE HOSPITAL VETERANS WERE NON-COMPENSATED.  THIS VITAL SERVICE WAS LATER ASSUMED BY THE AMERICAN LEGION DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA.