By Bart Rettew

THE BEGINNING – 1946

**(August 24, 2006) GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ–**The year was 1946, and World War II was over. Many veterans were now returning home to resume their lives that were interrupted by the War. A group of young, local former high school athletes got together and started what was known as, and still is, the Gloucester City Memorial Athletic Association.

The club was formally organized on Tuesday, June 18, 1946, at the Dixie Hotel at Burlington and Ridgeway streets in Gloucester, as reported by Bill Flynn, the meeting chairman. The club was named in honor of the 42 local boys who gave their lives in WWII. Since most of them were athletes or had a strong interest in athletics, it would be a living tribute to them. The Charter was presented to club president, Ralph Bracken, on October 9, 1946, by State Senator Morrisey.

The primary purpose of the club was to promote and encourage sports, and to reward the city’s best athletes in various sports. Initial membership by August of 1946 numbered 260. An emblem was adopted featuring the letter “G” bearing a “Mustang” which became the club’s nickname. The club’s initial major project was to work with the city and the Board of Education to recondition the Charles Street Stadium to provide a field for local schools and independent teams.

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