History of
Kearny Mesa Post 3788
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on Photo to enlarge
Kearny
Mesa Post 3788 was originated and organized through the efforts of Comrade
Sid Smith, who at that time was a member of O.K. INGRAM POST.
Sid believed there was a need for a new post in the Kearny Mesa Area,
knowing the area housed many active as well as retired military and ex
service personnel. Every Saturday Sid walked the streets of Linda
Vista knocking on doors recruiting for eligible veterans. During the
month of October 1956, Sid was instrumental in signing enough new
qualified Veterans and met the required number for a quorum in order to
legally conduct a meeting. The VFW By-Laws state a minimum of 5 members
must be present to conduct a meeting. The meeting was arranged and
16 new members attended to begin the process of establishing Post 3788.
For the first three months meetings were held in Sid's garage where
elections were held to select the first core of new officers.
New Officers elected to get the post started were as follows:
Commander:
Sid Smith
Sr. Vice Commander: Ray Morales
Jr. Vice Commander: Dale Jones
Quartermaster:
Jim Keough
Adjutant:
Rick Richard
The
members voted to leave the charter open in hopes of recruiting several
more members. On January 27, 1957, the charter was closed with 88
members and Kearny Mesa Post 3788 was chartered as the new post in the San
Diego area.
From 1957 thru 1961, Post 3788 conducted its monthly
meetings by renting space in the American Legion building located on
the corner of Genesee Ave and Linda Vista Road. In the year 1961 the
City of San Diego offered to rent Post 3788 a vacant Maintenance Building
(40' x 80') located on Levant St. (across from the American Legion Post).
The rent was $1.00 per year. At the same time the City
also gave Post 3788 the option to purchase this building for the grand sum
of $1.00. The conditions being that, this building had to be removed from
the city land and relocated to another area. At that time Post
3788 was unable to locate any affordable land and the sale option was
dropped, but the growth of post 3788 continued.
In 1964 a building at 7785 Othello Street was founded
and the move was made into a large stucco building that had been
used as a Service Garage for repairing automobiles. Over the next several
years the new Post home began to take shape- thanks to the many hours of
work volunteered by the members. Membership at that time was just
under 200 . Post 3788 remains in the same building today and
has been negotiating with the owners to hopefully purchase the
property.
Post
3788 holds the honor of having two of its Past Commanders and two
Auxiliary Presidents elevated to the higher positions within the
District, Department and National levels.
They
are:
Warren (Sid) Smith
Jean Smith
District Commander 1960-1961
District President 1960-1961
George Bellon
Mary Bellon
District Commander 1969-1970
District President 1976-1977
Department Commander 1978-1979
Department President 1990-1991
National Council Member 1983-1985
National Council Member 1995-1997
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on Photos to enlarge
On December 28, 2002, a new charter was issued
and Kearny Mesa Post 3788 was renamed "Lcdr Arnold E.
Betcher - Kearny Mesa Post 3788" in honor of a great
dedicated member, Retired Navy Lcdr Arnold E. Betcher.
From the first day Arnold became a member of Post 3788 he spent numerous
hours working to better the post. He was instrumental in setting up
and maintaining many programs that helped the post progress to its current
status - known as- "the friendliest post in the 1st
District".
Arnold
left us on February 7, 2000
to
be with other departed comrades in the heavens above.
Thanks
Arnie from all the members of Post 3788-We miss you
