Who We Are
The Hamptons American Legion Post 35 serves the communities of Hampton, Hampton Falls, and North Hampton, New Hampshire. We are part of The American Legion, the nation's largest and most effective veterans organization devoted to serving veterans, community, and country. We served honorably as members of the armed forces, and along the way learned a few things about ourselves and about being a part of something bigger. As veterans, our life of service has never ceased. We strive to help our fellow veterans, our community and our nation, while enjoying the camaraderie unique among former service members.
Find out how joining the American Legion and The Hamptons Post 35 helps veterans and others while enriching your life. For those who want to make a difference in our community, the American Legion is a good place to start. Continue the service!
THE FIRST OF ITS KIND
We are pioneers who never forget.
On September 11, 2006, we were the first In the nation to unveil a Global War on Terrorism monument listing the names of all the service members from the state of New Hampshire who have lost their lives in this conflict since 2001. Post 35 rededicates this monument each year on September 11, and sadly, adds the names of our newly fallen heroes. We do not simply talk about remembering our fallen heroes. We transform our words into action.
Post 35 also honors our living veterans. Another one of our signature events is the Wounded Warrior “Hit the Beach” event, held the last Friday in August at North Beach in Hampton. This event features our Post and the local surf community, under the leadership of Post 35 Past Commander Ralph Fatello, taking our wounded warriors and their families into the ocean for a day and introducing them to surfing. All proceeds are donated to the Wounded Warrior Foundation.
COMMANDER'S CORNER
Commander’s Corner - Winter 2024
Fellow Legionnaires!
As we complete another successful year, the Hamptons American Legion Post 35 continues to make a difference in the Seacoast community!
In January, the Post participated in the Winnacunnet High School Alumni Memorial Plaque rededication ceremony. The ceremony was held to honor SPC Ryan McDermot, US Army and CPL Jonathan Currier, USMC, who lost their lives in service to our country and whose names were added to the plaque.
This year, the Post initiated a Community Veterans Outreach Program, spearheaded by Post Chaplain Ed Kittredge. The outreach program visits local nursing homes once a month, actively engaging our fellow veterans during monthly meetings and facilitating their participation in Legion community service.
On April 24, WMUR‘s Jean Mackin stopped by The Hamptons Post 35 to film a segment on Eagle Scout Connor Nicol’s project, We Will Remember. He started the project four years ago, forming a 501c3 nonprofit to make dog tags for every single service member who died while serving our country. His mission is to give them away to people who will adopt them, assuring that every single veteran who died is remembered. The Hamptons Post 35 is the Charter Organization for Connor’s Boy Scout Troop 177.
The segment aired on WMUR’s New Hampshire Chronicle on May 9, and may be viewed on the following link: https://www.wmur.com/article/nhchronicle-the-dog-tag-project/60672823 The website for We Will Remember is https://www.wewillremember.us. For anyone who would like to adopt dog tags, you can contact Connor at connor@wewillremember.us.
On August 23rd, Past Commander Ralph Fatello and the Post held our 16th annual Wounded Warrior “Hit the Beach” event, which was great success, with 89 wounded warriors and their family members enjoying a beautiful day on the water. Almost $4000 was raised to benefit Wounded Warriors, New England Disabled Sports, and the Manchester VA!
Post 35 conducted our Global War on Terrorism Monument rededication ceremony on September 11, 2024. Nearly 150 Gold Star Family members, friends, veterans, and members of the community attended as the name of SSG Tanner Grone, USA, was added to the monument. Tanner was one of five members of the Army’s 160th SOG “Night Stalker” squadron who were killed when their helicopter went down on November 10, 2023. The helo went down during aerial refueling training in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
The monument in front of Post 35, the first of its kind in New Hampshire and among the first in the country, bears the names of all the service members from New Hampshire who have lost their lives in the Global War on Terror since September 11, 2001.
To help kick off the holiday season, the Post collected toys to support the Seacoast Firefighters Toy Drive, and the Post color guard was asked to lead the annual Experience Hampton Christmas Parade, which was quite the honor! It is gratifying to know that the residents of the Seacoast respect and appreciate our veterans!
On December 14, we conducted the opening ceremonies for Wreaths Across America events at the High Street Cemetery in Hampton, North Hampton Cemetery, and Weare Common in Hampton Falls.
Once again, the Post is hosting Manchester Veterans Administration representatives on Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 10 am - 1 pm at the Post. It is an opportunity to talk one on one with the reps, learn about your VA benefits and is a wonderful opportunity to sign up for VA benefits if you haven’t done so. You served and earned those benefits, take advantage of them!
Finally, I can’t tell you how proud I am of this Post and all we have accomplished this year! We consistently have an average of 32 members at our monthly meetings! Most Posts in the state would love to half that number show up! Our Post enjoyed a lot of good "PR" for the Wounded Warrior "Hit the Beach" event and our 2024 GWOT ceremony. Because of what we consistently do, Post 35 serves as a role model for our fellow American Legion Posts throughout the state! We are a prime example of a Legion or VFW Post that thrives without having a bar, and that is something to be proud of! Plus, we are an important part of the Seacoast community!
In that spirit, if you haven't done so already, let's get those dues in for the 2025. Let's continue to recruit new members, especially the younger vets of Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan. They will be the future of our great Post! There are 91,000 veterans living in New Hampshire, but only 14,000, or 15%, are members of the American Legion! Be proud of your Post and talk it up! I can guarantee you that the staff at the Hampton Union/Portsmouth Herald/ Seacoast online, as well as WMUR, knows who Post 35 is, as well as Governor Sununu and Senator Maggie Hassan! There are not many Posts in the state of New Hampshire that can say that!!!
Keep up the good work on behalf of our veterans and their families, and I hope to see you at many of our upcoming events!!!
Berk Bennett
Commander
OUR LOCATION
Post 35 Legion Hall
Post 35 is nestled in the quiet, seacoast town of Hampton, New Hampshire and located at 69 High Street. The building boasts two floors containing a main meeting and event hall as well as an event hall including a small stage on the second floor.
Parking is ample and the main seating area can accommodate up to 93 people. The hardwood floors and abundance of natural light make this venue a great place for friends and family to gather and celebrate.
Important! We are an alcohol free space and we require visitors to abstain from bringing or consuming alcohol on the premises. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.