Neighbors

American Legion Post 44 in Old Town Scottsdale honors its own

Retired Navy veteran Richard Grant celebrated his 89th birthday with about 100 of his closest friends at the American Legion post 44 in Old Town. As a naval aviator in the 1950s, he flew the Distant Early Warning line, or DEW Line, that ran from Greenland to Alaska. The mission was to detect any possible Soviet bombers coming in from the far north.

(J. Graber/Independent Newsmedia)

From left, Heather Stricker, Vanessa Helms and Chelsee Hicks, of the Manhattan Dolls entertained a group of about 100 Legionnaires and their families at a party at American Legion Post 44 in Old Town Scottsdale Nov. 15. The blowout was Legionnaire Richard Grant’s 89th birthday but also marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 50th anniversary of the troop withdrawal from Vietnam, as well as the 90th anniversary of the post itself.

(J. Graber/Independent Newsmedia)

Richard Grant was 18 in 1955 and wanted to serve his country, so he joined the Army.

Then a friend of his came along and said he wanted to serve too, but he didn’t like anything constraining around his neck (like the collar of an Army uniform).

“I said, there’s nothing for you but to join the Navy!” Grant said.

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American Legion Post 44 in Old Town Scottsdale honors its own

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American Legion Post 44 in Old Town Scottsdale honors its own

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