Remembering the Fallen
The American Legion was established in France, in 1919. When the Hicksville Post was formed not long afterwards, it was named after Charles A. Wagner.
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Huntington Long-Islander, January 24, 1919
Hicksville began planning its war memorial only weeks after the war's end, but before long the effort became contentious. Who would build the memorial? Whose names would it bear? Who had authority to make such decisions?
Less than a year earlier, the "Tail Light Riot" (see 1901/Hixtory.htm) had laid bare a rift between the village's leading citizens - in any disagreement, some looked to Justice Joseph Steinert for guidance, but others looked to Dr. Elwood Curtis. This rift again now came into play again with regard to the memorial. An ad hoc group had started planning a soldiers' homecoming celebration and the war memorial. Within months, snarky letters about the group's infighting appeared in the Long-Islander, the group's original leaders were ousted, the contractor selected to build the monument was replaced, the once-independent group became part of The Patriotic Sons of America, and Dr. Curtis was named the revamped group's leader.
Despite the rather shameful discord and strife, Hicksville got its monument in time for a grand July 4, 1919 dedication ceremony at Depot Square (aka The Triangle).
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On January 20, 1924, a Knights of Columbus Council was formed at St. Ignatius parish. Its founders named the Council after Joseph A. Barry, in consideration of his having been "a young man of the highest character."
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