The Farmville American Legion “Jack Garland” Post 32 held a Centennial Celebration on Sept. 19 from 4-6 p.m. at the Farmville Train Station.

During the event a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action ceremony was held in honor of POW’s and MIA from all wars.

During the celebration a new portrait of Jack Garland was dedicated.

Post 32 is named after Private John “Jack” Garland who was a member of the Farmville Guard Unit and served with the Army AEF in France in World War I.

Garland was killed in action on Oct. 8, 1918, during the Battle of the Meuse-Argonne.

“On Sept. 4, 1919, The Farmville American Legion was first organized, and the Town shut down that day at 4 p.m. and celebrated the hometown men who had served during the war,” said Ed Dunn, vice commander of Post 32.

According to Dunn, during this past year, Post 32 was the driving force in having a World War I Memorial placed on the Prince Edward County Courthouse lawn which was dedicated in 2018 on the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended WWI.

Dunn also noted that the Legion plans to continue to grow and has plans to establish another organization.

“We have great ambitions to continue revitalizing our Post and to serving our community and its veterans and hope to establish a Squadron of the Sons of the American Legion in Farmville,” added Dunn.