WWII veteran recognized for more than 70 years with American Legion

“We’re pretty proud of this man here,” American Legion Post 25 Commander Richard Cross said. To McQuaid he said, “We’re proud to have you as one of our members. We appreciate you and all the time you’ve been with (the American Legion.)”

The members gave McQuaid a signed card, two certificates and a commemorative United States Army coin.

The two certificates separately recognized his 70th and 71st year as a member. Adjutant Terry Grim said the organization missed a year, so they brought a certificate for both years.

“It’s a special recognition as far as I’m concerned,” Cross said. “I don’t think anybody else has been around that long in the American Legion.”

McQuaid said he started his service in 1943 when he joined the 20th Armor Division and took his basic training in that service for two months. He said he transferred to the Air Cadets in the United States Air Force, but was discharged when he became disabled.

Immediately after he was discharged, McQuaid joined the American Legion and kept up with his membership since.

“These guys should be getting the award,” he said, later adding, “It’s people like you that need to be getting this award. What you do for the veterans, I’m just sitting back taking what you do for me.”

Cross, Vice Commander Rex Zickefoose and Grim all told McQuaid that he earned the honor.

“You’re the one that served that long in our post in the American Legion,” Cross said. “We’re proud to have you as one of our members.”

Zickefoose said it was an honor to be able to come to recognize McQuaid.

“I hope we do bring some awareness of people who may be behind the scene,” Zickefoose said.

After serving in the war, McQuaid said he ran a bowling alley in Salem for three years and also operated an insurance business there.

McQuaid said if it wasn’t for service organizations like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, some may not even know how to spell the word “veteran.”

Zickefoose said while it’s important to recognize the younger men and women who are currently serving, it’s also important not to forget those who already served.

“Right now in the light of what’s really visible is the younger generation going overseas and fighting our war on terrorism and everything, but you have to keep in mind that in our past too,” he said.

“We had service personnel, our military, that was protecting the United States, and they still deserve the respect and honor that they had back then, as well as the ones that are serving now.”

Cross said it was also important to be able to recognize someone for the longevity of their membership.

“I think it’s important because they deserve what we just did, and they can stay in around that many years, we need to recognize them wholeheartedly,” he said.