Post 9488 History
History On 6 January 1979, Post 9488 received its Charter from National Headquarters and officially began functioning as an independent post. There were 77 original members (27 life members) who began meeting across the street from our current post home in a former 7-11 store. During those initial meetings the abandoned coolers and display cases of the 7-11 were still present. For socializing after scheduled meetings, beer was served from ice chests. You might not get your favorite brand, but you could lift a cold one to toast your comrades. Don Dunlap was an early leader in Post 9488. Don had served as Post Commander of Post 1160 where most of the original charter members came from. Don mortgaged his home to provide the initial capital funds needed to build the current building in November 1987. Each year our Post honors his commitment and service by hosting a golf tournament in his memory/honor. Originally the canteen for the post was the side of the building now used as our banquet hall. The original building extended away from The Plaza to just beyond the “horseshoe” in the current canteen. The new section of the building was added in 1991. The Ladies Auxiliary was chartered 8 March 1979. There were 41 original members on that charter. Comrades and Auxiliary members have served our community in numerous ways throughout the years. Bingo was a key to the early generation of funds to support post activities. The post has supported many youth sports teams over the years as is evidenced by the trophy case. In the 1990’s the Post was packed every weekend with entertainers and dances. This was also a time when the post played a major role in Community support. During a major ice storm the post served hot meals three times per day to assist members of the community who without power. Again in 2003 another ice storm impacted the community and the post again served three hot meals per day to the local area. Today the post relies on canteen revenue and the proceeds from Barbeque and Fish-fry sales to support our community activities. The post plays host to veterans from the home in Salisbury and The Bryan Center and Charlotte Town Manner once a month, we sponsor JRTOC scholarships at Garinger High School, we participate in the Veterans’ Day Parade, we participate in the National scholarship programs of Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen, and we are active with the Buddy Poppy programs. The post continues to sponsor two pool teams and collects food and clothing donations to support the efforts of a local ministry. The Honor Guard of the post with their supporters have hosted fundraising events and collected donations from area businesses to support their mission of supporting the children of deployed troops. Our very own James C. “Jim” Goins, served as State Department Commander from 2006 – 2007. Of our original chartered members Comrades Fred Feimster, Alvin A. Jones (life), John D. Lee, Kenneth G. Lee (life) and Billy D. Long are still active. Charter Ladies Auxiliary Members still active include B J Rapé, Mary Rapé and Yvonne Hawes.
Post 9488 Past Commanders |
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| Latta P. Mosteller† | 6/82 – 6/83 |
| Robert McCall† | 6/92 – 6/95 |
| Robert Lawing† | 6/83 – 3/84 |
| Grady Williams | 6/97 – 6/98 |
| Kenneth G. Lee | 3/84 – 6/84 |
| Ken Kinze | 6/98 – 12/99 |
| F. W. Williams | 6/84 – 6/85 |
| Jack W. Kerns | 12/99 – 6/01 |
| Shirley M. Brumfield | 6/85 – 6/87 |
| E. J. Hicks† | 6/01 – 6/02 |
| Sam Samuels† | 6/87 – 6/88 |
| Elmo Langley | 6/02 – 6/03 |
| Jarvis King† | 6/88 – 6/91 |
| James C. Goins | 6/03 – 6/04 |
| Sam Samuels† | 6/91 – 6/92 |
| Ernest Allis | 6/04 – 6/05 |
| Jack W. Kerns | 6/92 – 6/93 |
| James Hopkins | 6/05 – 6/08 |
| Robert McCall† | 6/92 – 6/95 |
| Elmo Langley | 6/08 – 6/09 |
Post 9488 Past Auxiliary Presidents |
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| Mary Benzie | 1/79 – 6/80 |
| Kitty Samuels | 6/91 – 6/93 |
| Lela Fry | 6/80 – 6/81 |
| Ann Hicks | 6/92 – 6/94 |
| Shirley Smith | 6/81 – 6/82 |
| Barbara Thrower | 6/94 – 6/95 |
| Yvonne Hawes | 6/82 – 6/83 |
| Shirley Smith | 6/95 – 6/96 |
| Mary Benzie | 6/83 – 6/84 |
| Betty Fisher | 6/96 – 6/98 |
| Sandy Coyle | 6/84 – 6/85 |
| Mary Ann Richardson | 6/98 – 6/00 |
| June C. Brumfield | 6/85 – 6/87 |
| Brenda Livingston† | 6/00 – 6/01 |
| Kitty Samuels | 6/87 – 6/88 |
| Carol Ritch | 6/01 – 6/03 |
| Marie Kish | 6/88 – 6/89 |
| Betty Morris | 6/03 – 6/08 |
| Shirley Smith | 6/89 – 6/90 |
| Colleen Sakala | 6/08 – 6/09 |
| Yvonne Hawes | 6/90 – 6/91 |