LEWISTON – Post 22, American Legion, has named Joseph Paradis, long-time member, as chairman of the Thursday, March 20, Legion birthday celebration at the Multi-Purpose Center, Birch Street.

A social hour will be held from 6 to 6:30 p.m. followed by a lunch. A donation of $5 a person will be taken at the door.

A group of 20 officers, who served in American Expeditionary Forces in World War I, is credited with planning the Legion at the first meeting held in March 1919 in Paris, France.

About 1,000 officers and enlisted men attended the meeting, known as the Paris Caucus, adopted a temporary constitution and chose the name of the American Legion.

The Legion held a second organizing caucus in St. Louis, Mo., in May 1919. It set up temporary headquarters in New York City and began its relief employment and Americanism programs.

The anniversary of the founding is celebrated March 15 to 17 every year.

Also on the Birthday Committee are First Vice Commander Raymond Allen and Adjutant Jerry DerBoghosian.

Paradis, trustee and service officer, is also responsible for having Lewiston’s Heritage Park renamed Veterans Memorial Park. Veterans are still requesting their name be placed on stones in the new park. Paradis said time will be set aside to accommodate all veterans with proper forms and DD214. Cost is $30.

Paradis is a life member of the Franco American War Veterans Post 31, the Amvets Post in New Gloucester, Veterans of Foreign Wars of Lewiston, life member of the Disabled American Veterans, a trustee in the Military Order of the Purple Heart Thomas J. Field Chapter 2699, Combat Infantrymen’s Association, New England Regiment and American Ex-Prisoners of War, National Chapter.

For more information on the Legion, call 786-0488.