POST 24 HISTORY

Post History

American Legion Post 24 Donnerson/Hawkins

The American Legion Post 24 was formed in October of 1919 in New Bern, North Carolina. The present headquarters which is on Glenburnie Road was built in 1958 by Post 24. It is the third headquarters for Post 24 and has been the Post’s headquarters since 1958. The addition, next to the headquarters was built a few years later and is currently leased and generates income to support the Post’s mission.

American Legion Posts are dedicated to various deceased war veterans. Post 24 is dedicated to Willie V. Donnerson, US Army, who was killed in 1918 in World War One. He was born in Dover, North Carolina in 1894. His body was returned to the U.S. in 1921 and is buried in Bethany Church Cemetery near Dover, North Carolina. Post 24 is also dedicated to Raymond W. Hawkins, a U.S. Army veteran who was also killed in World War One. He is buried in France, in the Meuse Argonne American Cemetery. He was born in Cove City, North Carolina, in 1894. He has a Memorial Marker in the White Cemetery in Cove City, North Carolina. These two men are among the first soldiers from Craven County to die in World War One.

The American Legion was founded in March 1919 in Paris, France. In July 1919 veterans met in Raleigh, North Carolina, to form the American Legion of North Carolina. The American Legion is the oldest veterans organization in the United States. Post 24 was formed in October of 1919 and is one of the oldest Posts in North Carolina and the United States.

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