On September 16, 1919, an informal meeting of veterans from World War I met at Franklin School on Stuyvesant Avenue. Their reason? To form a Post of the American Legion here in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. The meeting was called to order by acting chairman John J. Pinckney. D. B. Liston, Secretary Pro Tempore, made a motion to name the post Harold G. Barringer who lost his life in the 1st World War and who was a resident of Lyndhurst. The name was agreed to and 27 original members signed the application for a charter.

                                                                        The 27 men were:

                       Ferdinand Heineman          Arthur Heineman                Eugene D. Firth*

                       Harold Reed                          Douglas B. Liston                Arthur Reed

                       James A. Reed                       George D. Bull                     Arthur W. Bull

                       John J. Breslin**                   John McGarry                       William V. Dragnett

                       Wilbert T. Albrecht               Joseph Stark                         John J. Pinckney

                       Coleman Cheney                 Thomas Monisera               Pasquale Beldatti

                       John Migliaresi                      John Eula                              Thomas W. Fahy

                       George Spencer                   Ludwig C. Nordbruch          Henry C. McMullen

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On September 24, 1919, a second meeting was held to form the Executive committee and elect temporary officers. The officers elected this night were:

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                                                   Commander: Eugene D. Firth

                                                   Vice Commander: John J. Pinckney

                                                   Adjudant: Douglas B. Liston

                                                   Finance Officer: Harold Reed

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On October 2, 1919, the Executive committee called the first meeting: The Harold G. Barringer #139 was now in existence. 

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On Memorial Day in 1968, with National Commander William E. Galbraith presiding over the ceremony, Post 139 proudly announced it would be renaming the post to Barringer-Walker-Lo Pinto to honor our fallen hometown heroes whose lives were lost: William E. Galbraith Wallace J Walker, World War II veteran, and Lance Corporal Frank Lo Pinto, Vietnam War veteran.

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*Eugene D. Firth was present in Paris, France at the signing of the American Legion Charter.

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** John J. Breslin is one of our original unsung heroes. Breslin, a World War I veteran, was a member of the committee in Paris, France who founded the American Legion. He adamantly refused any recognition for the work he's done for his fellow veterans both abroad and back home.