American Legion post to be renamed
Published 7:05 pm Tuesday, August 3, 2021
Smithfield’s American Legion Post 49 on South Church Street is getting a new name.
It was originally designated the George F. Dashiell post, named for a World War I Army captain from Smithfield who was killed in action on Nov. 10, 1918. According to Tom Mastaglio, the Legion’s media coordinator, the local Legion’s members recently voted to rename the building the Barlow-Dashiell post.
Adding Barlow, he said, is to honor Joseph Augustus “Gus” Barlow, a World War II Marine Corps veteran and former legionnaire, also from Smithfield, who died July 20, 2018.
“He was instrumental in getting the current building,” Mastaglio said.
The legion has scheduled a ceremony for Aug. 14 at 2 p.m. at which its revised charter bearing the new name will be revealed. Two descendants of the building’s namesakes, James Dashiell Sr. and Billy K. Barlow, will be guest speakers.
“We’re expecting upwards of 50 people,” Mastaglio said.