Sitting in the hall of American Legion Post 54 in Wiscasset Monday night, Anthony Jordan recalled when the post got the Route 1 building. It was a hole in the wall, he said. He praised the job members have done making it over in the years since he has moved from Wiscasset and up through the Legion's ranks, including becoming national commander.

He didn't set out to move up the veterans organization's state and national ladder. Everything he did was successful, so the positions kept coming,the Vietnam era veteran and 1958 Wiscasset High School graduate said ahead of the night's installation ceremony he led.

Post Commander William Cossette Jr. said earlier, he looked forward to Jordan, a lifetime member of the post, being at the installation. Jordan, now of Augusta, was glad to come.

As each newly elected or reelected officer met with Jordan, he described the duties they could expect and threw in personal notes from his knowing them as fellow members and residents. He told Neil Page, he always saw Page driving by on Gardiner Road.

Cossette continues as commander. “We’re going to put you back in again, because you’re that good,” Jordan told him in the ceremony. Others installed were historian Wally Pitcher, Sargeant-at-Arms Jim Savage, Chaplain Dale Skillin,  Service Officer Neil Page, Second Vice Commander Cliff Hendricks and First Vice Commander John Kennedy.

Other members and auxiliary members observed the ceremony.