THE AMERICAN LEGION
DISNEY-BELL POST 66
BOWIE, MD
Serving our Veterans, our Nation, and our Community since 1932
OUR HISTORY
On February 20th, 1932, The American Legion granted a temporary charter to Bowie Post #66. It was the 66th Post formed in Maryland.
The first meetings were held in the members' homes, then the I.O.O.F. Hall, then Aaron's Lunch Room and then the Bowie School (which is now Huntington Community Center).
In 1948, Post 66 was granted 7.6. acres of land from the Department of Interior by an act of Congress - last bill passed and sponsored by Senator Butler.
Day rooms from Ft. Belvoir were dismantled, moved to the site on Bowie-Laurel Road and reassembled. Over the years these buildings were replaced by what is now being used.
The name of the Post was changed after WWII, naming it after the first man killed from the Bowie area in WWI, William Aubrey Disney, and the first killed from the Bowie area in WWII, Sylvester Bell, - thus the name Disney-Bell.
In December 1941 a meeting was held at the home of Ora Overholser for the formation of an Auxiliary Unit to Post 66. Due to the wartime rationing, this was put on hold. The ladies continued to assist the Post in all their activities however, and Disney-Bell Unit #66, American Legion Auxiliary was finally chartered in June 1944.
After a earlier failed attempt at organizing, the Sons of the American Legion, Squadron 66, was reactivated in 1988 and has been a steadily growing and successful squadron ever since.
All three Legion organizations have continued to grow in membership and are leaders in the Southern Maryland District and the Department of Maryland
CHARTER MEMBERS
Joseph H. Baumann
Jerome E. Charters
William W. Everett
Fred E. Field
Harry A. Gunning
Hans Axel Hanson
Aaron A. Horwitz
Joseph G. Kline, Jr.
Dr. George E. Lancaster
John W. Lancaster
John D. Larson
John E. Luers
Frank A. Riden
Dr. James H. Truitt
Noah F. Wright
FIRST OFFICERS ELECTED
Commander - Dr. George E. Lancaster
1st Vice Commander - Noah F. Wright
2nd Vice Commander - Joseph H. Baumann
3rd Vice Commander - Frank A. Riden
Adjutant - Harry A. Gunning
Finance Officer - William E. Everett
Sgt. at Arms - John D. Larson
Executive Committee
- John D. Larson
- Dr. James H. Truitt
- John E. Luers
- Hans Axel Hansen
WILMER AUBREY DISNEY
Private Disney, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Disney, of Bowie, Prince George's county, died in France on 20 November 1918, of wounds received in action.
He was a member of the First Maryland Ambulance Corps. later known as the One Hundred and Thirteenth Ambulance Corps, on which he enlisted in June of 1917
SYLVESTER CARROLL BELL JR.
Sylvester Carroll Bell, Jr., from Bowie, died at sea on 7 May 1942.
He served as a Radioman Third Class aboard USS Sims (DD-409). He was lost in the Battle of the Coral Sea Battle on 7 May 1942.
