During World War I, young men from Shermerville and surrounding Northfield Township left their homes to serve overseas. One of them was George W. Benjamin, a private in E Battery, 151st Field Artillery, 42nd Division of the U.S. Army.
George lost his life in France on January 24, 1918, at just 23 years old. He is believed to have been the first Northfield Township servicemember to lose his life in World War I.
In 1921, American Legion George W. Benjamin Post 791 was chartered in his honor. In 1949, the post purchased three acres at the southeast corner of Pfingsten Road and Walters Avenue and built its Legion Hall.
For decades, the grounds became a familiar gathering place for the community, hosting the annual Round-Up Days summer festival from the mid-1950s through 1986. The festival featured carnival rides, a popular Friday night fish fry, and other community activities. The building was eventually sold and closed in 2006, and the property was redeveloped into a residential neighborhood.
This Veterans Day, we honor all those who have served our country and remember the sacrifices made by generations of veterans.
