Letter: Remembering The Founding of The American Legion

Ninety-three years ago this month, a group of war weary American Expeditionary Force soldiers met in Paris to organize an association based on devotion to mutual helpfulness, born of war service, and dedicated to securing equitable and compassionate treatment for veterans.

A subcommittee of 17 veterans returned to the states to promote interest among those who had already come home from the Great War. Less than two months later, 1,100 veteran delegates met in St. Louis and drafted the blueprint of our organization.

A few months after that, delegates attended the charter convention in Minneapolis, By the first anniversary of Armistice Day _ November 11, 1919 _ and only eight months following the first caucus, The American Legion had grown to a force 648,000 strong.

Thus was laid the cornerstone for what has become the largest veteran’s organization in the world.

We, the members of  Gensi-Viola Post No. 36 are privileged to belong to a charted post, having received our charter on September 23, 1919.

Americanism Chairman
Edward V. Sabotka
Windsor Locks