We regret to announce the death of Orin Sircey (former Commander & longtime Secretary) on Dec. 6, 2023.

ABOUT US (cont'd.)

 

    BECAUSE THE AREA SURROUNDING THE VET HOSPITAL AND OUR POST

WAS KNOWN FOR ITS AZALEA FARMS, OUR POST WAS REFERRED TO AS

"THE AZALEA POST."  JUST PRIOR TO THE GREAT DEPRESSION, AZALEA

POST #70 WAS MOST FORTUNATE  TO BE NAMED AS ONE OF SEVERAL

BENEFICIARIES OF THE ESTATE OF MRS. MATTIE B. JAMES OF NEW YORK

CITY.  ALTHOUGH MRS. JAMES WAS NOT FROM THE SOUTH, HER LATE

HUSBAND WAS.  IT WAS THE DESIRE OF THIS GENTLEMAN THAT, UPON

HIS DEATH, CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS FROM HIS BELOVED HOME STATE

OF NORTH CAROLINA RECEIVE THE BULK OF HIS WEALTH.  MRS. JAMES 

MADE HER HUSBAND'S WISH BECOME REALITY.  

 

   AFTER A SERIES OF INADEQUATE FACILITIES, POST 70 TOOK THE GIANT

STEPS OF OBTAINING ITS OWN LOT AND ERECTING A NEW BUILDING,

WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN THE AUTUMN OF 1937.  THE SITE WAS CHOSEN

DUE TO ITS PROXIMITY TO THE ASHEVILLE, NC VETERANS HOSPITAL (KNOWN TODAY AS THE CHARLES GEORGE VA MEDICAL CENTER).  [FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE INSPIRING STORY OF CHARLES GEORGE, CLICK HERE.] TO PAY OFF THE LOAN, THE POST HAD TO MAINTAIN A VERY STRICT BUDGET FOR MANY YEARS.  MEMBERS WERE, NEVERTHELESS, ABLE TO MAINTAIN ALL PHASES OF LEGION WORK.  BY 11 NOVEMBER 2001,  POST #70 MOVED TO ITS CURRENT SPACIOUS LOCATION.

 

    THE SECOND PART OF OUR POST'S NAME REFERS TO SGT. CLARENCE HENRY BURDETT.  ARMY SFC BURDETT WAS BORN IN MARIETTA, SC ON 6 MAY 1929.  HE  LATER BECAME A RESIDENT OF ASHEVILLE, NC.  A KOREAN WAR VETERAN, SGT. BURDETT WAS KILLED BY HOSTILE ARTILLERY FIRE IN LONG AN PROVINCE, SOUTH VIETNAM ON 28 FEB. 1968.  HIS MOS WAS MEDICAL NCO.  HE SERVED IN C CO, 9TH MED BN, 9TH INF DIV "OLD RELIABLES", USARV.  HIS NAME IS ON PANEL 41E, LINE 064 OF THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON, DC.  SGT. BURDETT WAS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR MEDAL FOR VALOR, THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, THE COMBAT MEDICAL BADGE, THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL, THE NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, THE VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, THE VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND THE VIETNAMESE GALLANTRY CROSS UNIT CITATION.  HE IS BURIED IN BEREA BAPTIST CHURCH CEMETERY IN ASHEVILLE, NC.

 

   CURRENTLY, NORTH CAROLINA POST 70 AMERICAN LEGION IS INVOLVED IN TWO MAJOR PROJECTS.  BINGO IS OFFERED EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT AT 7 P.M. IN OUR FINE FACILITY AT 103 REDDICK ROAD IN ASHEVILLE.  TURN AT THE "ANIMAL HOSPITAL EAST" SIGN.  BINGO PROCEEDS HELP FUND IMPORTANT POST CHARITABLE PROJECTS.  POST 70 IS ALSO SPONSORING A FULL SCHEDULE OF AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL GAMES FOR LATE MAY AND JUNE.