Homer Russell Smith Post 587

Our Legion

The American Legion is a great source of fun, fellowship, and support. Community service is at the very heart of our core beliefs and our members have always taken a leadership role in community betterment!

Along with our peers on the City of Fulton Veterans Council, we lead, support, and participate in many community events including:

Annual flag placements at all local cemeteries
Visits to local schools and interact with and teach our children
Coordinating activities on veterans’ holidays including: Memorial Day ceremonies, parade, and other related functions; Veterans Day activities; POW/MIA remembrance, Watchfires, Gold Star Families, etc.
Providing honor guards for funerals
Keeping the Veterans Memorials and Parks clean and providing fresh flowers and displays.

Our History

The Homer Russell Smith post is named for a Fulton World War I hero, Homer Russell Smith.

Smith was born in Fulton in 1894 and graduated from Fulton High School in 1913. After graduating, he went to the New York Military Academy at Cornwall-on-the-Hudson and while there, he belonged to the Private Band Orchestra, Camera Club and Track Squad.

He later went on to New York University and while he was there, he enlisted in the Army in 1917. He was given the rank of first lieutenant in Company F, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Division, which was under fire from May to November 1918. A report of his service states his unit had only 10 days rest during this six month period.

The 32nd Division took a leading part on five fronts – such as Alsace Sector, Marne Offensive, Oise-Aisne Offensive, Meuse-Argonne – and faced 23 German division and reports state this division was the first to enter German soil during the war.

Smith was killed in action Aug. 28, 1918 while his division was heading off the Germans in the town of Gevigny. He originally was buried in a cemetery in France, but then his body was sent home in December 1919. He is buried in Mt. Adnah Cemetery, Fulton.