American Legion Archie McCord Post

In the spring of 1927, seven veterans of World War I met in an old house on the corner of Broadway and Railroad Avenue. They formed a committee and decided to apply to American Legion Headquaters in Indiananopolis for a Charter to form a post in Central Park. The rules for granting a charter required that a name, for the new post submitted, must be one of a veteran who had served in WWI and died while in service.

In the course of the meeting with the seven veterans, two names of men that qualified was submitted. Their names were Archie McCord and George Benkert and they were to be voted on.

Archie McCord was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth McCord. Thomas was a builder of homes, by trade, and owned a tract of land in Central Park that extended from a wooded area westward along Central Avenue and south and east to Hicksville Road. It was known as McCordville. Archie was born in Central Park on August 2, 1895 and died in service October 5, 1918.

George Benkert was born in Central Park, the eldest son of George Benkert who emigrated from Germany. George Benkert Jr. entered by "draft" in June of 1918. He was inducted in the 49th Infantry and died shortly after being shipped overseas.

The vote for the name of Archie McCord was unanimous and approved by Charter from Indianopolis on March 24, 1927.

The name of George Benkert was approved for the V.F.W. Post in Farmingdale, New York.

Submitted by Historian, Post 86, Charles Schwarz