Monday, May 26, will be celebrated as Memorial Day for many communities around the area and Savannah will be included in these special moments of honor and respect for our service men and women.
This year the Arthur T. Meehan American Legion Post 1343 will hold a special dedication along with its Memorial Day recognition. The post will be dedicating the Memorial Sign, which is located in the Veteran's Memorial Park in the center of Main Street in Savannah. The sign has been refurbished and painted and will be dedicated to the Meehan Brothers: James, Arthur and John (Jack) Meehan.
These three boys were the three sons of Edward and Mary Curran Meehan of Savannah and all three sons served during World War II. Today this is not allowed, but such was the case for many families during World War II, when the call for soldiers was given and many sons responded to that call. Their dad, Edward, ran the Coal Business in Savannah for many years. He also shipped fruits and vegetables to New York City from the many farms in this area. Mary had been a nurse for Dr. Allen in Clyde before marrying Edward and having the three boys. Edward had been a very successful businessman until the depression when he graciously gave coal to many local families who could no longer afford the coal to keep their homes warm. I believe it was that same spirit that caused his three sons to willing give up their lives to serve in their country for those four years.
Arthur was the last son to join the Army, but he was determined to join his brothers in the war effort. Arthur was better known as “Dutch.” After graduating from Savannah High School, he went to New Jersey for special diesel training and was employed by Seneca Falls Machine Co. before joining the army. Arthur married Arline Colvin in 1940 and had one daughter. Dutch was a Private First Class and Assistant Squad Commander in Co. F of the18th Infantry. Dutch served only seven months before being killed in action on March 19, 1945 in the vicinity of Endenback, Germany. The Savannah American Legion Post is named after Arthur for his bravery and sacrifice in that war.
John E. Meehan served in England and he was in the 8th Air Force Division in Chemical Warfare. He served in the 365 Bomb Squadron of the 305 Bomb Group. His complete years of service was from 1941-1945. John or “Jack” had graduated from the Savannah High School in 1931 and graduated from Colgate University in 1936. He was working at Niagara Mohawk Plant in Oswego when he was drafted. He was the first to become a part of the United States Forces in World War II. After the war, he returned to Oswego and his job at Niagara Mohawk. Jack had married Helen Deviney from Geneva in July 1948, and they had three sons and one daughter.
James C. Meehan was drafted in 1942 when he had been a student at State University College at Cortland, after graduating from Savannah High School. He became a member of the 3rd Army T/5 from 1942-1945. He served in the 243 rd Field Artillery Battalion “A” Battery which served in England, France, Belgium and Germany.
James was a crane operator, who was responsible for placing the gun into position. This gun had been in a battle ship so it was a very heavy gun and it was quite a task to position it for use. James returned after the war. He attended Mechanics Institute in Rochester and worked as the manager for the farms of Thomas Ross and Tony DiSanto, until they retired around 1965. In 1948, Jim married Betty Ross, and together they had five boys. In 1965, he joined the Savannah Post Office, where he served as a postal carrier for the Town of Savannah until 1989. He was a favorite post carrier for many families in Savannah.
Many members of the Meehan family will be traveling to Savannah to join in this event along with several members of Jim's Army friends from Maine who will be present as well.
Bill Ross, a brother-in-law and member of the Savannah American Legion will also be present for this dedication. Bill enlisted in the National Guard in 1941 where he served as a Master Gunner in Africa, Italy, France and Germany. He currently is 90 years old and lives in Kenmore, N.Y.
The Memorial Day parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 26, with the service in the park immediately following the parade. There has been a drive to have many of the members of the American Legion Post 1343 to march in the parade.
So I would highly encourage many to be in Savannah to pay tribute to all these men and women who have served in the armed services from the town of Savannah.
Carol Spellman proudly lives and writes from her home in Savannah. You can reach her at spellmanjc@tds.net
These three boys were the three sons of Edward and Mary Curran Meehan of Savannah and all three sons served during World War II. Today this is not allowed, but such was the case for many families during World War II, when the call for soldiers was given and many sons responded to that call. Their dad, Edward, ran the Coal Business in Savannah for many years. He also shipped fruits and vegetables to New York City from the many farms in this area. Mary had been a nurse for Dr. Allen in Clyde before marrying Edward and having the three boys. Edward had been a very successful businessman until the depression when he graciously gave coal to many local families who could no longer afford the coal to keep their homes warm. I believe it was that same spirit that caused his three sons to willing give up their lives to serve in their country for those four years.
Arthur was the last son to join the Army, but he was determined to join his brothers in the war effort. Arthur was better known as “Dutch.” After graduating from Savannah High School, he went to New Jersey for special diesel training and was employed by Seneca Falls Machine Co. before joining the army. Arthur married Arline Colvin in 1940 and had one daughter. Dutch was a Private First Class and Assistant Squad Commander in Co. F of the18th Infantry. Dutch served only seven months before being killed in action on March 19, 1945 in the vicinity of Endenback, Germany. The Savannah American Legion Post is named after Arthur for his bravery and sacrifice in that war.
John E. Meehan served in England and he was in the 8th Air Force Division in Chemical Warfare. He served in the 365 Bomb Squadron of the 305 Bomb Group. His complete years of service was from 1941-1945. John or “Jack” had graduated from the Savannah High School in 1931 and graduated from Colgate University in 1936. He was working at Niagara Mohawk Plant in Oswego when he was drafted. He was the first to become a part of the United States Forces in World War II. After the war, he returned to Oswego and his job at Niagara Mohawk. Jack had married Helen Deviney from Geneva in July 1948, and they had three sons and one daughter.
James C. Meehan was drafted in 1942 when he had been a student at State University College at Cortland, after graduating from Savannah High School. He became a member of the 3rd Army T/5 from 1942-1945. He served in the 243 rd Field Artillery Battalion “A” Battery which served in England, France, Belgium and Germany.
James was a crane operator, who was responsible for placing the gun into position. This gun had been in a battle ship so it was a very heavy gun and it was quite a task to position it for use. James returned after the war. He attended Mechanics Institute in Rochester and worked as the manager for the farms of Thomas Ross and Tony DiSanto, until they retired around 1965. In 1948, Jim married Betty Ross, and together they had five boys. In 1965, he joined the Savannah Post Office, where he served as a postal carrier for the Town of Savannah until 1989. He was a favorite post carrier for many families in Savannah.
Many members of the Meehan family will be traveling to Savannah to join in this event along with several members of Jim's Army friends from Maine who will be present as well.
Bill Ross, a brother-in-law and member of the Savannah American Legion will also be present for this dedication. Bill enlisted in the National Guard in 1941 where he served as a Master Gunner in Africa, Italy, France and Germany. He currently is 90 years old and lives in Kenmore, N.Y.
The Memorial Day parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 26, with the service in the park immediately following the parade. There has been a drive to have many of the members of the American Legion Post 1343 to march in the parade.
So I would highly encourage many to be in Savannah to pay tribute to all these men and women who have served in the armed services from the town of Savannah.
Carol Spellman proudly lives and writes from her home in Savannah. You can reach her at spellmanjc@tds.net
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