THE AMERICAN LEGION, FLORENCE EASTMAN POST 280
MATTAPOISETT AMERICAN LEGION FLORENCE EASTMAN POST 280·MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2020·
Post 280 Officers Commander: Rachel L Perron, Adjutant: Barry J. Denham
Army Nurse Florence Eastman, the only daughter of Russell B. and Ada (Atwood) Eastman, came to Mattapoisett from West Falmouth in June 1915, to live at Ned's Point, where her father had been appointed "
Light House Keeper". At the age of 17 (1911) she enrolled at Morton Hospital to train for the Nursing Profession. She later completed he post graduate courses at Massachusetts General Hospital and worked as a Night Supervisor in several New England hospitals. In January 1918, at the age of 23, she was transferred, as a Red Cross Nurse, to Capt Upton, Yaphank, Long Island. In April of that year she was sent to Camp Mills, Mineola, Long Island where she assumed the duties of Head Army Nurse of the Isolation Hospital with 20 nurses and over 100 soldier orderlies under her supervision. Her devotion to duty, her sympathy for the sick soldiers and her consistent, cheerful disposition won the respect and esteem of all with whom she was associated. When the terrible Influenza Epidemic came, bringing with it an unprecedented amount of sickness, she did not falter in performing her duties as nurse and friend of the victims, nor did she think of herself. Finally she became a victim of the dreaded influenza from which she died, paying the last full measure of devotion to her profession and her Country. Just before the full outbreak of the Flu she had received her passport and was expecting soon to go overseas to the battlefields of France, a journey she was fated to never take. Army Nurse Eastman's death came on Monday, October 14, 1918, at the early age of 24. She was buried, with full Military Honors at Pine Island Cemetery surrounded by her family and many friends who came to pay homage to a brave and devoted daughter and a true noble soul. Of the 42 brave souls from our Town of Mattapoisett, who stepped forward for their country to serve in the Great War, Florence Eastman was the only one who did not survive the call to duty. For all the above reasons the Charter members of our American Legion Post 280, in February 1925, dedicated our post in honor of her and to her memory by forever affixing her name to all of the Post's efforts on behalf of those who have served our Great Country, the United States of America. Thank you Nurse Eastman for your example and courage, we will never forget you, or your legacy.
-Michael P. Lamoureaux Former Commander, Post 280
Mission: The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans. Hundreds of local American Legion programs and activities strengthen the nation one community at a time. American Legion Baseball is one of the nation’s most successful amateur athletic programs, educating young people about the importance of sportsmanship, citizenship and fitness. The Heroes to Hometowns program connects local Legionnaires with recovering wounded warriors and their families, providing a variety of support activities. The Legion raises millions of dollars in donations at the local, state and national levels to help veterans and their families and to provide college scholarship opportunities. The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization with great political influence perpetuated by its grass-roots involvement in the legislation process from local districts to Capitol Hill. Legionnaires’ sense of obligation to community, state and nation drives an honest advocacy for veterans in Washington. The Legion stands behind the issues most important to the nation's veterans community, backed by resolutions passed by volunteer leadership. The American Legion’s success depends entirely on active membership, participation and volunteerism. The organization belongs to the people it serves and the communities in which it thrives.
