Westwood AL Post 320
Westwood AL Post 320
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    • Home
    • Who Are We
    • Officers
    • Meetings
    • Eligibility
    • Photos
    • Baseball
    • Programs
    • Post 320 Links
    • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Who Are We
  • Officers
  • Meetings
  • Eligibility
  • Photos
  • Baseball
  • Programs
  • Post 320 Links
  • Contact Us

Post Home, 90 Deerfield Ave, Westwood, MA 02090

Baseball Team to Begin Tryouts

Westwood Post 320 will begin tryouts for their U17 Baseball team beginning on Saturday, May 3, 2025, 4:00 pm at Westwood High School. Tryouts will continue each Saturday through May 24, 2025, when the team will be announced. The regular season begins June 6, 2025 and continues through July 21, 2025. To register or for more information, email Coach Paster at rpaster@prclawoffic.com.

2023 Oratorical Contest Winner

Sam Gonser represented Post 320 at the 2023 Department and National Oratorical Contest. As Department Champion he received a $2000 scholarship from National, which can be used at any college or university in the United States.

Shown from left to right are Post Commander, Richard Paster, Sam Gonser and Finance Officer Ken Foscaldo.

Oratorical a Constitutional Speech Contest

The American Legion Oratorical Contest exists to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students. Since 1938, the program has presented participants with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation’s laws, the ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship. The program has featured numerous politicians and prominent contestants over the years, including former presidential candidate Alan Keyes, national television commentator and talk radio host Lou Dobbs, and former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.


Young orators earn some of the most generous college scholarships available to high school students. Over $203,500 in scholarships can be awarded each year. The overall national contest winner gets a $25,000 scholarship. Second place takes home $22,500, and third gets $20,000.

Post Meetings

While the Town of Westwood renovates the Post Home, meetings will be held at the Westwood Senior Center on Nahatan Street beginning with the February, 2023 Business Meeting.

Westwood Post No. 320 The American Legion

Permanent Charter Issued 7/26/1940

     The first meeting was held on January 22, 1940, in the upstairs of the Westwood Town Hall where the Post continued to meet until May, 1944, when meetings were moved for a time to the hall in the High Street Fire Station. In early 1946, new and permanent quarters were established in the basement of the Town Hall with the Post having almost exclusive use of this area.

     In late 1961, the Post obtained the old post office building from A. Lestor Pitchford and had it moved to its present location. The next five years were taken up in expanding and renovating the structure to fit the needs of the Post. Much of the work was volunteered by Post members. The first meeting was held in the Post Home in June, 1966, at which time the Town Hall quarters were abandoned. The new Post Home was formally dedicated on November 10, 1968.

On November 21, 2022, the Post Home was sold to the Town of Westwood, reserving the right to continue to hold meetings in the Post Home. As the Post embarks on the next chapter of its life, Post 320 will continue its service to the community, state and nation right here in Westwood. The sale of the Post Home to the Town of Westwood will permanently preserve the history of Post 320 and insure its ability to continue all American Legion programs indefinitely. 

Photo Gallery

Welcome to Westwood Post 320

Post 320 Baseball

Dick Paster Receives Old Friends Award

Dick Paster received the Old Friends Award at the 2018 Department of Massachusetts Convention in recognition of his many years of service to the American Legion Baseball Program. Depicted are from left to right Paster, Department Commander Charles Towers and Past National Commander Jake Comer.

President Trump Signs Legion Act

President Donald J. Trump signs S. 504, the Let Everyone Get Involved in Opportunities for National

 The American Legion sought the declaration as a way to honor approximately 1,600 U.S. servicemembers who were killed or wounded during previously undeclared periods of war.


The LEGION Act (Let Everyone Get Involved In Opportunities for National Service Act) also opens the door for approximately 6 million veterans to access American Legion programs and benefits for which they previously had not been eligible.


“Recognizing the service of these wartime veterans is the right thing do and it is long overdue,” National Commander Brett Reistad said. “The families of those who were killed or wounded during these wartime acts should take pride in knowing that we recognize their sacrifice and service. 


Moreover, we are proud to welcome any of the six million living veterans from the previously unrecognized periods into our organization and call them ‘Legionnaires.’”

Now that the legislation has been signed, The American Legion’s eligibility criteria immediately changes from seven war eras to two: April 6, 1917, to Nov. 11, 1918, and Dec. 7, 1941 to a time later determined by the federal government. No other restrictions to American Legion membership are changed.


The law’s journey began on Feb. 14 when Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., introduced S. 504, along with Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. A companion measure, H.R. 1641, was introduced in the House by Reps. Lou Correa, D-Calif., and Ben Cline, R-Va.


Reistad expressed gratitude to the bipartisan members of Congress for passing the legislation.

“We are grateful that President Trump fully acknowledges the importance of The American Legion by signing the LEGION Act in the White House today – just one week after it passed the House of Representatives,” Reistad said. “In an era of partisan gridlock, Republicans and Democrats in Congress overwhelmingly recognized the importance of allowing thousands of honorable but previously ineligible veterans the right to join the largest and most influential veterans organization in the country.”


Reistad pointed out that existing American Legion membership applications are in the process of being updated but can still be used. “In the meantime, I recommend that prospective Legionnaires and recruiters write ‘LEGION Act’ in the eligibility date section of American Legion membership applications if they fall outside the previous war eras,” Reistad said. “The larger pool of veterans now eligible for The American Legion will also open their family members to eligibility in the Sons of the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary as well.”

NEC Amends Preamble to American Legion Constitution

The Preamble was amended by substituting the words "in all wars" for "the Great Wars"

The Preamble now reads:

For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for

the following purposes:

  • To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of

America;

  • To maintain law and order;
  • To foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent

Americanism;

  • To preserve the memories and incidents of our associations

in all wars;

  • To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the

community, state and nation;

  • To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses;
  • To make right the master of might;
  • To promote peace and goodwill on earth;
  • To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of
  • justice, freedom and democracy;
  • To consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion

to mutual helpfulness.

Memorial Day - 2019

Post Everlasting - 2017 to 2024

DEPARTED COMRADES

Robert F Creesy

Kevin T Fitzpatrick

Kevin T Fitzpatrick

Viet Nam

17 Years of Membership  

1938 - 2023


Kevin T Fitzpatrick

Kevin T Fitzpatrick

Kevin T Fitzpatrick

Korea

49 Years of Membership  

1935 - 2024


Lester F Boyd

Kevin T Fitzpatrick

Herbert J. Anderson

Korea

49 Years of Membership  

1931 - 2024


Herbert J. Anderson

Herbert J. Anderson

Herbert J. Anderson

WWII

72 Years of Membership  

Longest tenured member

1922 - 2023

Christopher C Henes

Herbert J. Anderson

Christopher C Henes

Viet Nam

33 Years of Membership  

Past Post Commander & Adjutant

Manuel Deandrade

Herbert J. Anderson

Christopher C Henes

Vietnam

13 Years of Membership

Jose Jacin Marmol

Jose Jacin Marmol

Jose Jacin Marmol

Vietnam

21 Years of Membership

James J Quinn

Jose Jacin Marmol

Jose Jacin Marmol

WWII

16 Years of Membership

James M Sullivan

Jose Jacin Marmol

Ronald W Stapleton

Korea

46 Years of Membership

Past Post Commander

Ronald W Stapleton

Sidney A. Tratenberg

Ronald W Stapleton

Korea

46 Years of Membership  


Sidney A. Tratenberg

Sidney A. Tratenberg

Sidney A. Tratenberg

WWII

5 Years of Membership

Grand Marshal 2019 Memorial Day 

Thomas T. Pond

Sidney A. Tratenberg

Sidney A. Tratenberg

Vietnam

15 Years of Membership

Color Guard

Howard L. Millard

Howard L. Millard

Howard L. Millard

WWII

63 Years of Membership

Ronald Newton

Howard L. Millard

Howard L. Millard

Vietnam

19 Years of Membership

John Lyons

Howard L. Millard

Robert F Flavin

Korea

32 Years of Membership

Robert F Flavin

Robert F Flavin

Robert F Flavin

WWII

8 Years of Membership

Harry Aaron

Robert F Flavin

James W King

Other

2 Years of Membership

James W King

Robert F Flavin

James W King

WWII

26 Years of Membership

John H Nixon Jr

Robert Fallavollita

Robert Fallavollita

WWII

6 Years of Membership

Robert Fallavollita

Robert Fallavollita

Robert Fallavollita

WWII

46 Years of Membership

Thomas F Kerrigan

Robert Fallavollita

Thomas F Kerrigan

Korea

45 Years of Membership

Walter J Kalnin

Lawrence J Fitzgerald

Thomas F Kerrigan

Korea

36Years of Membership

Lawrence J Fitzgerald

Lawrence J Fitzgerald

Lawrence J Fitzgerald

Vietnam

15 Years of Membership

William W. Marsh

William W. Marsh

William W. Marsh

Korea 

25 years of membership

Edward C. Mealy

William W. Marsh

William W. Marsh

WWII

60 years of membership

Joseph D. Clancy

William W. Marsh

Joseph D. Clancy

WWII

42 years of membership

Douglas E. Simon

Felix C. Moschella

Joseph D. Clancy

Lebanon

12 years of membership

Felix C. Moschella

Felix C. Moschella

Felix C. Moschella

WWII

42 years of membership

Stiles F. Stevens

Felix C. Moschella

Felix C. Moschella

Korea

2 years of membership

John M. Turner

Paul S. Hodgkins

Paul S. Hodgkins

Korea 

2 years of membership

Paul S. Hodgkins

Paul S. Hodgkins

Paul S. Hodgkins

WWII 

38 years of membership

Past Post Adjutant

Herbt Whitley

Paul S. Hodgkins

Pasquale J. Danna

WWII

60 years of membership

Pasquale J. Danna

Pasquale J. Danna

Pasquale J. Danna

Korea

43 years of membership

Walter J. Kalnin

Pasquale J. Danna

Walter J. Kalnin

Korea

35 years of membership

Lawrence B Roche

Pasquale J. Danna

Walter J. Kalnin

Korea

36 years of membership

2014 District 6 Champions

2014 Westwood Post 320 Senior Baseball team

Congratulations to the Westwood Post 320 Senior Baseball team on winning the 2014 District 6 Championship.  Team photo taken at the 2014 Senior Department Championship Tournament with Department Commander Charlie Towers.


National American Legion News

Copyright © 2025 Westwood AL Post 320 - All Rights Reserved.

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