Catasauqua American Legion Post 215, 330 Second St., held a spaghetti dinner Oct. 14 to benefit the Catasauqua Police Department.

Hal Wakefield, an Air Force veteran, staffed the ticket table. A pleasant gentleman, Wakefield warmly greeted attendees as they purchased dinner tickets.

Staffing the kitchen were volunteers Janet and Judy Houdershieldt and Craig Neetz. Their performance was critical as they cooked and assembled spaghetti with meat sauce dinners with salad, bread, dessert and a drink. The taste of the meal rivaled a spaghetti dinner one would receive at a fine Italian restaurant.

Catasauqua Police Chief Douglas Kish was on hand for dinner and expressed gratitude for the Legion’s effort to benefit the police department.

Post Commander Mike Rennig and his wife, Linda, sat with a group of Post members as they talked about past memories and future events. There is a breakfast event scheduled for 8 a.m.-noon Oct. 23 at the Post.

Rennig noted the reorganization effort at the Post the past few years is succeeding. He hopes to garner more members and increase activities that benefit the Post, Catasauqua and the surrounding communities.

Although debatable among historians, it is believed the precursor to spaghetti and other forms of pasta were developed perhaps as early as the first century B.C.

The direct origin of Italian pasta likely came from an Arab meal called itriyya during the seventh century A.D. when the Arabs occupied Sicily. By the 12th century, Sicilian records citing spaghetti proved pasta was a commonplace food staple by then.

To join the Post, call 610-264-1606, or stop by during operation hours to complete a membership application.