In the latter part of 1918, Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. proposed an organization of veterans to improve troop morale. Afterward, The American Legion was founded in Paris, and the first meeting of the American Legion was held there on March 15 - 17, 1919, by members of The American Expeditionary Force at the close of World War I with about one thousand officers and enlisted men in attendance.
Eight months later, the Franklinton Post was chartered on November 20, 1919, by the National Temporary Headquarters in New York City, N. Y., and was designated as Post No. 52. The fifteen charter members on record at the North Carolina Department Headquarters in Raleigh are George L. Cooke, Hugh S. Daniels, John Henry Harris, Jr., Armstead E. Henderson, James Sydney Joyner, Durward B. Kearney, Henry Crawford Kearney, Claude L. McGhee, Eddie W. McGhee, Hugh A. McGhee, J. Raymond Mitchiner, Jr., Robert J. Rose, Robert R. Speed, Earl B. Sykes, and George D. Williams. J. Raymond Mitchiner, Jr. was the Post's first commander.
In 1927, Commander H. Crawford Kearney started the poppy program in Franklinton. Commander Kearney purchased the poppies with his own money and gave them away on the streets of Franklinton to bring forth a way for people to show gratitude to disabled veterans.
On December 31, 1955, the State of North Carolina chartered Post 52 Department of the American Legion while Paul H. Robertson was State Commander. William J. Gupton was Post 52 Commander during this time.
In 1961, H. Crawford Kearney gave a piece of land to Post 52, and with the labor of its members, the Post built its first and only permanent home. Before that time, the Post met monthly in Franklinton's Community House.
The Franklinton post has been active on the state level, with seven men serving as District Commanders. Rupert B. Pearce, Jr. (1952-1953), John Hedrick (1960-1961), Garland Goswick (1962-1963), Bruce W. Honeycutt (1968-1969), Douglas N. Hoyle (1970-1971), George G. Tracy (2011-2015), and Michael C. Donnelly (2016-2017). Post 52 has provided two Division Commander, John Hedrick (1967-1968) and Michael C. Donnelly (2017-2018). Bruce W. Honeycutt of Post 52 served as the State Department Commander (1973-1974) and Michael C. Donnelly (2022-2023). In the 1970s, three men, Douglas N. Hoyle, A. J. Perkinson, and J. Larry Kearney, were named North Carolina Legionnaire of the Year, an honor bestowed annually upon an outstanding member from one of the many posts throughout the state. This honor was bestowed upon Harvey Satterwhite in 2009. Steve Ijames was recognized as North Carolina Adjutant of the Year in 2008.
On October 7, 1993, the Post organized The Sons of the American Legion Squadron #52 under Post Commander Lonnie G. House, and it received its charter on October 7, 1993, while Garnett G. Shropshire was the Sons of the Legion State Commander.
The Post actively supports The Tar Heel Boys State Program, The Student State Trooper Program, School Medals Program, and The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program.
Post 52 now has a membership totaling 221 and is one of the largest organizations in Franklin County. It continues to meet on the last Tuesday of each month at its home on 40 American Legion Road, Franklinton. It still actively serves veterans, the Community of Franklinton, and the surrounding area.
Submitted by: William C. Hagwood, Past Post Historian
Maintained by: George G. Tracy, Post Historian
Source: Organization Records