Sept 17-22, 2024
As part of The American Legion "Be The One" mission to end veteran suicide, we have joined forces with Columbia University to develop training for those who want to learn more about interacting and responding with veterans who may be in crisis. We encourage EVERYONE to take this training, which will be available virtually, and share the training with their communities.
Memorial Day is a national holiday set aside to honor military service members who died fighting in a war. This year was no exception!
May 26, 2025
Unfortunately the weather was an issue again in 2025 and the ceremonies had to be moved from the Greenville Town Common to River Park North.
Michael House was our Master of Ceremonies and started the festivities off with the D.H Conley Jr ROTC presenting a flag folding ceremony along with an explanation of each of the 13 folds and their meaning.
Our 1st speaker was MR. JIM HOOKER, Commander, US Navy (retired) from the Pitt County Veterans Council..
The keynote speaker was the renouned BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES GORHAM (retired) who mesmerized his audience with a RESOUNDING presentation of what Memorial Day is all about...if his talk was on YouTube it would go viral!!
MEMORIAL DAY is not just a history lesson --- it's a personal remnder of the sacrafice. It's about the empty chairs at family tables, the folded flags handed to grieving loved ones and the quiet strength of military families. As we gather, we remember not only the past but also the price of freedom that continues to be paid by brave Americans.
May 27, 2024
Unfortunately the weather was an issue in 2024 and the ceremonies had to be moved from the Greenville Town Common to River Park North.
The festivities began under the direction of Master of Ceremony Scott Barker.
ALL RISE !!
for the presentation of the colors by the Ayden-Grifton H.S. Jr ROTC unit lead by Master Sargeant Thomas Moore.
An annual opportunity for Post 289 is placing flags on all the Veteran graves at the Ayden Town and Northeast Cemeteries.
May 23, 2025
Master Sgt Thomas Moore, assisted by 1st Sgt Carlos Melvin who drove the activity bus, and 21 of the Ayden-Grifton High School Jr. ROTC cadets were an ENORMOUS help to the "aging" Post 289 in the placement of flags for Memorial Day on Veterans graves at the 2 Ayden cemeteries. This pix is at the Town/Blount Street Cemetery.
This is the AFTER pix at the North Eastern Cemetery in Ayden. Everyone is thirsty and ready for lunch!
Master Sgt Moore - the cadet's fearless leader!
1st Sgt Carlos Melvin - from driving the bus to lending a hand to one of the cadets.
Legion Post 289's Chaplain, Keon Brock USMC, and diligent cadet.
A little bit of the "teamwork" --- cadets helping cadets.
A Pitt County LEARNING & SHARING opportunity!
On Tuesday, May 20th 2025, Commander Taylor and 20 other military support organizations from the Greenville area met to discuss and share details of each organization's services that they provide to our active & reserve military personnel.
The opportunity presented itself to allow promotion of our "Be The One" program!
FINALLY, Our New Flagpole is in Place!
On Tuesday, March 25th 2025 our "long awaited" flagpole was erected!
On Saturday, March 15th 2025, Commander Taylor and 1st Vice Commander Roberson met at the new Post location to dig, mix and install the pole "sleeve" for our new flagpole.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN !!!
WELL DESERVED NEARLY $4,000 PAYDAY FOR "SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!"
As a result of our successful ANNUAL FUNDRAISING CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT on the 8th of March, 2025, we were able to "surprise" Barbara Whitehead and Support Our Troops (SOT) on March 19th with a check for $3,786 to defray the postage costs associated with the thousands of care packages that they send to our deployed soldiers.
On Saturday, March 8th 2025 @ 10am our ANNUAL FUNDRAISING CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT began with a prayer by our "interim" Chaplain, Greg Roberson, followed by the National Anthem, Pledge to the Flag and some "housekeeping" announcements.
After that all heck broke loose and THE FUN BEGAN! All the Post 289 vounteers gathered for a pix after the trophy presentation.
PUBLICITY FOR THE ANNUAL FUNDRAISING CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT:
On Tuesday, February 18th 2025, WITN TV channel 7's ECU @ Three program provided us visability to promote our "Support Our Trooops" fundraising Cornhole Tournament coming up on March 8th. Thank you to the station and especially Baileigh Bockover for hosting - she is FANTASTIC!.
Here's a link ( https://www.witn.com/.../ayden-american-legion-
May 11, 2024
Post 289's 8 + Volunteers - Ernest Silver, Angie Picton, Mark Teel, Kevin Hathaway, Coach Daniels, Jerry Taylor (Cmdr), Richard Hathaway, Jerry Cox (Adj), Dan Sellars, Marshall Tripp, Greg Roberson (1st Vice Cmdr), Buddy Blake, Tommy Stephenson
1st Sgt Sadler & Her Jr ROTC Cadet Color Guard from So Cntrl H.S.
June 26, 2024
What a pleasure it was to meet with and present a check for $1,136 from the Post's Cornhole Tournament fundraising efforts at SOT facility on Lee St n Ayden. Pictured from left to right: Jerry Cox - Adjutant/Finance, Jerry "JT" Taylor - Commander, Barbara Whitehead, Greg Roberson - 1st Vice Commander.
S&D Gun Show with Its Many Generous Patrons
Ed Briones, our Events Chairman and "RAFFLE CZAR", mans the table for SOT!
Attendees at the Gun Show are SUPER GENEROUS!!
Ed Briones (right), our Events Chairman and "RAFFLE CZAR" along with fellow AL Member & sidekick John Urton, man the table to raise scholarship money for a deserving graduating senior whose a Jr ROTC Cadet at the Ayden-Grifton H.S.!
P.S. The "nifty" poster was the creation of John's wite, Kathy, who we thank profusely!
Support Our Troops (SOT) Ayden, NC Distribution
September 5, 2024
Barbara Whitehead was recognized & presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Alice Keene, Pitt County Recreation Projects Coordinator for Governor Cooper. Alice worked with a committee of county staff and non-profit leaders to select citizens nominated for the award, which is bestowed upon North Carolina's most dedicated servant citizens, businesses and organizations.
After the award ceremony, everyone enjoyed the generosity of Mission BBQ who provided lunch for everyone!
JT & Summer, new catering manager for Mission BBQ
FOOD FRENZY!
8 soldiers from Fort Bragg's 8th psychoiogical group whose job is to infiltrate & introduce propaganda into enemy lines AND 10 or so volunteers gather for group photo before the troops head back to the base.
P.S. Only the Chaplain was in uniform because the unit came "dressed" to WORK for SOT.
One of our BEST vendor partners is Sam's Club in Winterville...member response is PROOF!
July 4, 2025
ONCE AGAIN!! The AWESOME and gererous members of our local Winterville Sam's Club came through for us - THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!! 
Along with me , Jerry "JT" Taylor (Commander), Ed Briones (Sgt-at-Arms), Chris Cruz (Be the One Committee Chair), Brian Westcott and Tommy Stephenson (Post Service Officer, not pictured 
) [L2R --> Brian, Chris, JT and Mr. Ed] braved the heat
July 4, 2024
The Post had a "donation" table set up outside the entrance on the 4th of July 
; yes, in the HEAT!. Hundreds of members came by, stopped, talked and, yes, GENEROUSLY donated (see next pix) to our cause for Support our Troops of Ayden.
https://www.facebook.com/NCP4P/
Sam's Club members are SUPER GENEROUS!!