POST HISTORY
Bedford veterans of WWI chartered the Post in 1933. The decision to organize an American Legion post resulted from the conclusion of these veterans that the American Legion was the representative veterans' organization in this country. That conclusion has been proven true as today the American Legion is the largest wartime veterans' organization with nearly 15,000 local Posts throughout America and over 3 million members who care about America, veterans, their families and our nation's youth.Most of the founding members names can be found on the monument stone in front of town hall. The post is named after two Bedford residents who died while on active duty during the First World War – Willis A. Stevens and Frank A. Buswell
Following WWII the post saw a major expansion in membership. It was this increase that allowed the Post to start programs such as American Legion Baseball, and other youth oriented programs. Unfortunately, as this cadre of WWII veterans have moved on, the Post was forced to drop many of these programs in the 1980’s due to limited membership numbers.
Fortunately, since 2000 membership in the Post has grown in membership and is once again participating in activities in town. American Legion Baseball was reintroduced in 2008 with a Junior Legion team and a Senior Legion to take the field in 2009. For the last several years Stevens-Buswell Post 54 has sent young men and women to Boys and/or Girls State, and we continue to participate in honoring outstanding students annually at the middle school awards program.
