100 years young: Allan Valladares, a World War II veteran, celebrates in style in Marion
BELLEVIEW — Allan J. Valladares, a World War II veteran and longtime American Legion member, was honored on his 100th birthday on March 7 by fellow members of Al Krietemeyer Memorial Post 284 in Belleview.
Post Commander Danny Rowlett kicked off the gathering by introducing Valladares, who was born March 7, 1922. During his military service, Valladares served on a type of ship that placed mines to protect coastal areas.
Rowlett said the crew of Valladares' ship likely pushed mines off the ship manually.
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At the gathering, Valladares was surrounded by family including daughters Elise Burke and Rise' Olsen. His son, Mark, lives in Alabama, and his third daughter, Michele Cassidy, resides in New Hampshire.
Allan J. Valladares joined the U.S. military in 1940
Olsen provided a brief biography of her father.
Valladares was born in Georgetown, British Guyana, and his stepfather was American.
He joined the U.S. military in 1940 and was part of the Coastal Artillery Command, which was connected to the U.S. Army, and served on the ship General R.N. Batchelder in the South Atlantic. He remained in the service until 1943.
Valladares moved to the Massachusetts area after his time in the military and worked in various jobs including bartender and machinist.
"(My father) has seen a lot and done a lot. He’s a blessing," Olsen said.
Valladares married Sandra Carlton in 1955.
After Valladares moved to Marion County in 1988, he worked as a security guard at Emergency One until the early 2000s, Olsen said.
He was a member of the American Legion in Massachusetts and he joined American Legion Post 284 when he moved to the area, she said. Valladares always had an interest in people getting out to vote, Olsen said.
Sandra Valladares died in 2001.
Allan Valladares has 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, including Malik Rahman, 7, who joined the birthday celebration.
Valladares’ grandson Jesse Burke and his granddaughter Alana Cassidy were at the post celebration. His great-grandnephew, Asher Bruinsma, age 6 months, was the youngest family member at the birthday celebration.
Paul Gerrish, who is Valladares’ nephew-in-law and his primary caregiver, is also a longtime post member. He was on hand for the birthday celebration.
'If not for (World War II veterans) we wouldn’t be here'
Past Post Commander John Rose, a Vietnam War-era veteran and post member for 40 years, paid tribute to the World War II veteran.
"If not for (World War II veterans) we wouldn’t be here," Rose said.
Craig Ham, a retired U.S. Army colonel and president of the Marion County Veterans Council, joined the post gathering to recognize Allan Valladares’ service and milestone birthday.
March 2022 is also the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the American Legion.
According to legion.org., the organization has 2 million members and 12,000 posts and was "established by an Act of Congress in 1919."
The American Legion organization will mark the milestone on March 15, the website indicates.
The website states the organization was "instrumental in getting the original GI Bill through Congress and the creation of the Department of Veterans Affairs."
All about Post 284 in Belleview
Post 284, named the Al Krietemeyer Memorial Post after a charter member and early benefactor, was founded in January 1959, according to an unattributed and undated newspaper article on display in the post.
Richard Dean, 87, a Korean War veteran, former Army master sergeant and post member for about 30 years, said Post 284 is an active post.
Rowlett said the post supports the Marion County Veterans Council, the Ritz Veterans Village, and has programs to recognize high school students.
The post also supports scouting, children's welfare and other outreaches in the community.
The post's Facebook page states the nonprofit donated $15,000 to local charities in 2015 and the post is currently contributing to a water park and sponsors an American Legion Baseball League for high school youth.
Dave Salcito, post service officer, said the post has programs to acknowledge local educators and hosts events like a Law-and-Order Dinner scheduled for June.
American Legion Post 284 also includes an American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion and American Legion Riders organizations.
Former Post 284 Post Commander Eddie Jaworski, who died in 2020, spearheaded the local Wreaths Across America program with post members Rowlett and John Grimstead.