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The American Legion post 257, Collegedale, Tennessee, was started by its first Commander Jan Haluska, he was approached by V.F.W. Commander David Turner in starting an American legion in Collegedale. To form a dual organization which would meet to increase the manpower for use of veteran’s programs in Collegedale. VFW post members hoping for a merged operation which would meet jointly once a month. Through research Jan discovered that due to charter restrictions this would not be possible, two veterans’ groups cannot operate together as one entity. The post in Ooltewah was approached and turned down the idea that they could work together with Collegedale veterans. The Ooltewah post a few years later gave up their Charter and disbanded.
But through the leadership of Jan Haluska, the Collegedale American Legion post 257 became a reality, he personally recruited over the next few months the charter members and excepted other veterans that had a membership in other post and organizations to join. On July 17, the first stand-alone assembly occurred. No minutes were kept, but the 10 or so people who met with the American Legion officers Third District Commander Jim Ratcliffe, East Tennessee Commander Jim king representing the active leaders in this area for starting a new post, Charter. At this time Jan Haluska was informally chosen as Interim Commander, with Al Mitchell as Interim Finance Officer, and recruiting continued.
The process culminated in a sign-up conference whereby everyone who met American Legion requirements was invited to write his or her name on the Charter Application Form. Following that evening, Jan recruited others until a total of thirty-one new and transferring members had been gathered. Official acceptance of the paperwork came on March 25, 2004.
At the post’s first official meeting on October 16, the following officers were chosen: Jan Haluska. Commander; Patty Parks, Adjutant; Mark Parks, First Vice Commander; Dennis Smith, Second Vice Commander; James Durichek, Service Officer; Dave Stevens, Chaplain; Gary Will, Sergeant-at-Arms; Mark and Gary, dual historians. Subsequently Dave declined, and in a later meeting Bill Twombly agreed to assume the Chaplaincy.
The post first official community act was to enter the Ooltewah-Collegedale annual parade on Sunday, December 7, 2003, When Jan, Patty, Mark, and James Durichek rode in a flag-flying, Navy band-blaring red 1968 Camaro convertible, proclaiming to the world that post 257 had arrived. The day before, an article in The Chattanooga Times-Free Press had announced the posts formation, with the results that Jan received several phone calls over that weekend from prospective recruits.
The post officer installation ceremony occurred on the evening of December 18, 2003. Visting dignitaries included Department Commander Buck Barrett, Department Adjutant Mike Hamer, Department Historian, Troy Atkins, Third District Commander Jim King, Soddy-Daisy Post Commander, Troy Atkins, Former Department Commander Carl Levi, Post Commander Chattanooga Post 14 Adjutant, Michael Crabtree.
This post history is supplied by Post 257 Executive board.
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