May 23: American Legion Post 202 honors
May 23: American Legion Post 202 honors 62-year member Leland Codding
American Legion Post 202 (the Oldest veteran’s organization in Medina County – founded in 1919, the birth year of the national American Legion) began its May meeting with a special recognition of Leland Codding, who has been a member of Post 202 for 62 consecutive years. And for most of those years he has served in the Legion Honor Guard.
Honor Guard Captain Ray Hewitt thanked Leland for his long service in the honor guard, especially for his many years of taking care of the rifles used at ceremonies, keeping them clean and persevering well into his 80’s in age, during ceremonies each six weeks at the Western Reserve National Cemetery, sometimes in bitter cold with wind chills at 10 degrees below zero and stifling heat in the summer.
Past Commander Dave Taylor told Codding, an Army veteran during the Korean War who was also a paratrooper, that he was the “glue” that transitioned the WWII/Korean War era with the Vietnam War vets and vets from the Global War on Terror.
(Below) Legion Post 202 commander Phill Grassa presents Leland with a special plaque to recognize his many years of service to the post. On hand for the occasion were his children and their spouses. Well done good and faithful servant!