Avon American Legion Post Honors Fallen WWI Soldier, Joseph Gallipeau

The Joseph Gallipeau American Legion Post 294 named the Avon Post for Joseph Gallipeau, an Avon resident killed in action in France in 1918. His bio will be presented at the Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 26th.

David and Viola Carrie Gallipeau of Lakeville welcomed their third child and first son, Joseph Leo Gallipeau, on October 12, 1898. They moved to Avon when Joseph was about 10 years old and Joseph lived on Wadsworth Avenue for many years with his little brother, Spencer, his two older sisters, Ruth and Eunice, and his younger sister, Sophronia. David was a barber in town and Viola was a homemaker. Joseph worked as a messenger boy for the Railroad as a teenager. The family lost Spencer to a car accident in 1915 when he was 10.

On July 15, 1917 at 18 years old, Joseph enlisted in the Regular Army Division at the beginning of the World War and was trained at Camp Syracuse. He was one of the first Avon boys to enlist. On September 7, 1917, he went overseas on the USS Huron as a Private First Class. In October, while stationed in France, he turned 19. He was assigned to Company D, 23rd Infantry 2nd Division.

During his service, Joseph was in the trenches for many months before he was killed in action on June 6, 1918 at Belleau Wood on the deadliest day of The Battle of Belleau Wood (June 1 – June 26, 1918). Joseph and so many others that day gave their lives in a wheat field on their way to Belleau Wood. His mother received a telegram informing her of his death on July 24,1918.

In 1919, The American Legion first applied for an Avon charter and chose the name Joseph Gallipeau American Legion Post 294. American Legion Posts are named for a veteran(s) from the community who gave their life in service to their country. Post 294 received their permanent charter in February 1925.

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