The 22nd annual convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Pennsylvania, took place in Scranton from June 26-28, 1941
Organizers reported there were 3,000 delegates registered for the convention and estimated an additional 10,000 guests would be in the city to attend.
With attendance that high, events were spread out across Scranton. Central High School was used as the home for large meetings, the Hotel Casey served as the delegates’ headquarters and the Hotel Jermyn housed the auxiliary headquarters.
Besides the meeting, the convention’s organizers made time for some fun for the delegates.
In the evening of June 26, the “Military Order of the Cootie” held a parade that went all around downtown Scranton. In the afternoon of June 27, a drum corps, marching bands and drill team competition was held at the Scranton-Dunmore Stadium on Monroe Avenue.
Here are images from our collection dealing with the VFW Convention –
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- The drum and bugle corps of the Forrest-Lodge Post No. 245 of Perkasie was one of the several muscial corps who performed on June 28, 1941 at the Scranton/ Dunmore Stadium. The performance was part of the festivies for the annual convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention take in Scranton. TIMES-TRIBUNE ARCHICES
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- The drum and bugle corps of the Sgt. Hamilton Fish Post No. 20 of Philadelphia was one of the several muscial corps who performed on June 28, 1941 at the Scranton/ Dunmore Stadium. The performance was part of the festivies for the annual convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention take in Scranton. TIMES-TRIBUNE ARCHICES
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- The drum and bugle corps of the Hattal-Taylor Post, No. 333, of Roxborough near Philadelphia was one of the several muscial corps who performed on June 28, 1941 at the Scranton/ Dunmore Stadium. The performance was part of the festivies for the annual convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention take in Scranton. TIMES-TRIBUNE ARCHICES
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- A parking meter in the 100 block of Washington Avenue was used as an improvised microphone by this trio of delegates to the 22nd annual convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars on June 28, 1941. From left: A.E. Appleby, Dick Schooley and A.J. Bartholomew, all of Post 47, Uniontown. TIMES-TRIBUNE ARCHIVES
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- Pictured are five of the leaders of the Veterans of Foreign Wars here for the 22nd annual convention of the Department of Pennsylvania. The Times cameramen captured the men walking down Lackawanna Avenue in front of the Hotel Casey on June 27, 1941. From left: Col. Robert Woodside, of Pittsburgh, past national commander and Allegheny County controller; Carl B. Shelley, Harrisburg, Dauphin County District Attorney; Col. J.H. Shearer, Altoona, retired commander of Post No. 3 Altoona; Benjamin Ralsky, Bradford, past state department commander; and O.W. Graham, Pittsburgh, national Sergeant at Arms. TIMES-TRIBUNE ARCHIVES
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- Greetings were exchanged many times on June 27, 1941 as delegates to the 22nd state convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Pennsylvania were out on the streets of Scranton. In this photo, from left, snapped out front of the Hotel Casey A.R. Hayden, Lansdale, president of the veterans’ home association, who first enlisted in 1889, J.G. Allen, Scotland, superintendent of the orphans’ school of the veterans’ association; is shaking hands with David Eisenhower, of Lansdale. Also in the photo are Mrs. L. Harvey, Bridgeport; R.R. Knapp, Tuttle Creek; H.E. Harvey, Downington; Wiilliam Banon, Lansdale; and C.J. Wideman, Philadelphia. TIMES-TRIBUNE ARCHIVES
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- Here are few of the early arivals for the 22nd annual convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Pennsylvania standing out front of the Hotel Casey on June 25, 1941. Front row from left: Clif A. Gnau, Wolfe Rosenburg, Anna Belle Taylor, John W. Rankin, Edna Weader, Jeanne Mitchel, Ben Friedman and Albert F. Ceres. Second row: Wylie David, Dick Bregler, Mildred Wimer and Owen Kelly. Third row: C.E. Masten, Oliver W. Graham and William Winton. TIMES-TRIBUNE ARCHIVES
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- Ranking members of the Department of Pennsylvania, Veterans of Foreign Wars, were caught chatting before the start of the opening meeting at Central High School on June 26, 1941. From left Harry G. Small, of Brookfield, senior vice commander of the state department; the Rev. Darlington Kulp, of Reading, state department chaplin; and John W. Rankin, of Uniontown, commander of the state department. TIMES-TRIBUNE ARCHIVES
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- John W. Rankin, of Uniontown, commander of the Department of Pennsylvania, Veterans of Foreign Wars, declared the 22nd annual convention of the VFWs of Pennsylvania opened at the welcome meeting held at Central High School auditorium on June 26, 1941. Seated behind Rankin on the stage are ranking members of the VFW and its auxiliary units from across the state. TIMES-TRIBUNE ARCHIVES
Brian Fulton has been the librarian at The Times-Tribune for the past 15 years. On his blog, Historically Hip, he writes about the great concerts, plays/musicals and celebrity happenings that have taken place throughout NEPA. He is also the co-host of the local history podcast, Historically Hip. He competed and was crowned grand champion on an episode of NPR quiz show “Ask Me Another.” Contact: bfulton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9140; or @TTPagesPast
