On November 26, 2022, the Cherry Hill PBA will once again be hosting a VETERANS APPRECIATION DINNER at the American Legion Post 372. In addition to providing an evening with great food, music and camaraderie, they will be honoring our beloved Post 372 member, Lt Col Al Bancroft, for his service to our country and his recent retirement from the Camden County Veterans Affairs Office. (Jan 2022). All military/veterans are invited and may bring a guest. RSVPs are required as there is limited seating. RSVP to squinn9807@aol.com or 856-495-7270

Anyone not going to the Veterans Appreciation Dinner that would like to Thank Lt Col Al Bancroft for his service to our country, is welcome to join in the “Surprise” by joining a group of us making an appearance at the party. Details below:

MISSION: Lt Col Al Bancroft will be attending a Veterans Appreciation Dinner at the American Legion, which is being hosted by the Cherry Hill PBA. Unbeknownst to Lt Col Bancroft, they will be honoring him for his 30+ years of service in the United States Marine Corps and his 20+ years with the Camden County Veterans Affairs Office.

We will be “crashing” the party , so to speak, to show Lt Col Bancroft how much we appreciate his service and all the great things he has done for our veterans over the years – from attending hundreds of Welcome Homes, presenting Camden County Service medals to our local veterans, helping veterans with their benefits and much more, he has given selflessly to all our local veterans for over 30 years. HOORAH !

Please meet in the American Legion canteen and/or picnic grove at 6:45pm, and once given the cue, we will go in the Party to SURPRISE our beloved Lt Col Bancroft ! (If your group/organization would like to present something to him (ie; coin, etc), you will have an opportunity to do so.

Lt Colonel Alfred Bancroft Bio

USMC – Served from 1958 – 1991 (33 years of service to our country)

Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs (20+ years)

Alfred Bancroft was born in New Jersey in 1939 and adopted from the Camden Home for Children at age 10. At this time, he met a Marine who inspired him to become one himself. Bancroft and his twin brother Art joined the Marines in 1958, attending recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina. He then went to Camp LeJeune’s Infantry Training Regiment in North Carolina, before becoming a heavy equipment specialist.

Bancroft completed three tours in Vietnam and was among the first Marines who landed in 1965. While in Vietnam, he served in Da Nang, Chu Lai and Hoi An. Bancroft always served near the beach, where he worked unloading weaponry from ships and volunteering for patrols. In 1967, he helped establish an orphanage for Vietnamese children and credits the Camp Fire Girls from Portland, Oregon, with providing supplies.

Upon returning stateside, he was a staff sergeant instructor at a Marine Corps engineering school. In 1973, he went to South Bend, Indiana, for inspector instructor duty, and then moved to Quantico, Virginia, where he promoted to limited duty officer lieutenant. Bancroft continued on to California, where he became a first lieutenant with the 11th Marine Regiment. He became a captain in 1977, before leaving California to return to the East Coast. Bancroft became a major while working at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina. Before retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1991, he received a Legion of Merit for his work putting 30,000 Reserve Marines on a base during Operation Desert Storm.

After retiring from the Marines, Bancroft returned to Camden, New Jersey. He continued to serve the military community, working as an officer with the Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs up until his retirement Jan 1 2022.