Milford chronicle., 1960-03-04
Nat'I. Legion Cmdr.
To Visit State
CONTINUED from page one)


BY special department request
the National Commander of the
AmericA1 Legion, Martin B. Nc
Kneally, will be the speaker at
the banquet. Governor ]. Caleb
B0ggs, u. S. Senator j. Allen Frear,
Jr., u. S. Representative Harris
B. Mcdowell, Jr.. and Mayor Eu-
gene Lammot will be among the
distinguished guests.
Attorney Martin B. McKneally,
A years old . was born in the
picturesque and historical city of
Newburgh, New York, on the
shores of the Hudson River, sixty
miles north of New York City,
second generation descendant of
Irish immigrant stock. He gradu-
ated from the public schools of
Newburgh and then, choosing law
as his career, graduated first from
Holy Cross College, Worcester,
Massachusetts, with a B. A degree
and" then from the Law School of
Fordham University with an LIB.
On March IL, 1941, he entered
military service and after basic
training served with the Field Ar
tillery at Fort Bragg, North Caro-
lima. After attending O.C.S., he was
commissioned a Second Lieutenant
in September, 1912, and served on
the Staff of the Adjutant General
of the Army and overseas on the
Staff of Lieutenant General Rob-
ert C. Richardson, Commanding
General, Mid-Pacific Area.
Shortly after his honorable dis
charge Martin McKneally began
his long, devoted work with The
American Legion, joining the judi
son P. Galloway Post No. 152 of
Newburgh, New York, where, in
1855, he was elected Post Com
mander.
His activities in The American
Legion have been diversified and
varied with the greatest emphasis
on Americanism and anti-Commu-
nism. At the 38th annual New
York Department Convention at
Rochester, he was elected Depart
ment Commander, during which
tenure of office his vigorous appli-
cation to duties brought him not
only New York State recognition
as an eminent propOnent of the
cause of freedom, but national at
tention as we'll
On the community, state and ma
tiOnal levels, McKneally has serv-
ed as chairman of many COM
munities, among which have been
Legal, Americanism, Foreign AT
fairs, unAmerican Activities and
Resolutions. At the Miami, Florida
National Convention in 1856 he was
bappointed Parliamentarian by Ma
tional Commander SeabOrn Collins
and distinguished himself by his
rulings. For the past five years he
has served as a member of the
Department Convention Resolu-
tions Committee, and is currently
member of the National Foreign
Relations Committee of The Amer
lean Legion.
Never one to hoard either his
own time or efforts, he was elected
President of the Board of Educa-
tion of the City of Newburgh. This
position has given him an Oppor-
tunity to view youth problems at
field level. He is a member of the
Elks and a member of the Ameri-
can Bar Association.
| Governor Nelson p Rockefeller
has recently appointed McKneally
to the important New York State
Defense Council, an eleven man
high-level executive staff with
Governor Rockefeller as chairman.
This group would function as the
New York State governing body
if the disaster of war prevents the
elected legislature from function
ing. New York State Civil Defense
is under the jurisdiction of this
council.
Basil O'Conner, chairman of the
National March of Dimes" Polio
Fund raising committee, last month
appointed McKneally as New York
State chairman of the drive this
year.
The American Legion, under his
administration, will be assured of
devoted efforts of a strong minded,
hard hitting Legionnaire for Nc
Kneally has devoted himself un-
stintingly to the demands of public
| and Legion service.