American Legion Bower-Decker Post No. 251

American Legion Bower-Decker Post No. 251. . , world war one and Freeman Bower , The American Legion Post 251 was organized by sixteen Montgomery veterans on August 11, 1919. The members named the post after the first local man (and in fact the first Lycoming County man) to be killed in action in the First World War, Private Freeman Bower. Bower was a native of Elimsport. He was a member of Company B, 6th U.S. Engineers, 3rd Infantry Division. He was killed on March 30th, 1918 near the River Somme while helping to rebuild a bridge. Although he has a tombstone in Fairview Cemetery, he is buried in the American cemetery in Bony, France., At the beginning, the legion met above the W. E. Frey hardware store on Main Street. In the 1960s, the Legion moved to the old Sechler House at 185 Broad Street, which was eventually demolished when the present building was constructed. It stood where the pavilion is now., Many citizens of the Montgomery area have served their country in the Armed Forces. Some have made the supreme sacrifice. Those who returned home, often joined veterans' organizations, beginning with the men who served in the Civil War, who organized the Colonel David Mongtomery [sic] Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. The town also boasted Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 743, which closed in 2016. However, the most enduring organization has been the American Legion., world war two and Aaron Decker , After World War II the Legon honored the first Montgomery man killed in action during that conflict by adding his name to the Post title. Aaron Noll Decker, born in Montgomery January 16, 1915, the eldest son of Ruth and Paul Decker, volunteered for the Army August 29th, 1941. He was a Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. He was killed while leading his company in defense of a hill in North Africa on March 29th, 1943., Aaron's brother Delmar was also killed in action- shot down over Holland in February 1944. Their remains were transferred to Montgomery together, where they were buried at Fairview cemetery. The example of service and sacrifice set by Freeman Bower, the Decker brothers, and all the other Montgomery area veterans continue to serve as an inspiration to the community they fought to defend., Dedicated to all Montgomery Area veterans, the American Legion Bower-Decker Post No. 251 and the Marion (Decker) McCormick family., [Photo captions, counterclockwise from top left, read] , . An undated Legion picnic. The Legion moved to it's current location in 1968., . Private Freeman Bower, . Lieutenant Aaron Decker, . Starting in 1925, the Legion took over management of the town band.