100 Years and Going

The American Legion Centennial Celebration is not only about honoring the past 100 years of our history, but also preparing to continue our legacy of service. Events and activities at posts all around the world will showcase The American Legion “Still Serving America.”
1919 Timeline

March 15-17

Members of the American Expeditionary Force convene in Paris for the first American Legion caucus.

May 8-10

St. Louis Caucus. “The American Legion” is adopted as the organization’s official name. The Legion’s draft preamble and constitution are approved.

June 9

The National Executive Committee adopts the Legion emblem.

Sept. 16

Congress charters The American Legion.

Nov. 10-12

First Legion convention convenes in Minneapolis. The Constitution and preamble are adopted. Delegates vote 361-323 to locate the Legion’s national headquarters in Indianapolis, instead of Washington. A Resolution was adopted supporting the Boy Scouts of America as its first youth program.

For more detail on the timeline history, check out National’s Centennial Page.

Centennial Resources

Every Department Has A Story – Iowa
Centennial Media Kit
Legacy and Vision

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how are you continuing the celebration?

Use the form below with your information. Please be sure to include your post number and city. Thank you!

18 Comments

  1. Terry Greenfield on October 3, 2018 at 9:28 AM

    Our post started the 100 Year Celebration with a Salute to Veterans opening home football game on August 31. Vets & partner were admitted free and stood on the goal line while our Color Guard raised the flag while the National anthem played, finishing with a real cannon firing! On September 9 we held a chicken & sweet corn feed for the community with free will contribution, we fed 150! We are working on other events through the year to culminate on June 1919 our actual charter date! – Terry Greenfield, Commander

    Story City American Legion Post #59

    Reply
  2. Roger Norfolk on November 4, 2018 at 4:39 PM

    Post 298 in Marion has repainted and prepared an Eternal Flame obelisk that currently has a 50 year Legion Anniversary plaque to add a 100th year plaque. (May 28th, 2018)

    Placed a float in our annual Swamp Fox Parade with youth champions on it. (September 29th, 2018)

    Repaired and painted a flag pole base in a local cemetery that was constructed by and a donation of Post 298. (October 18th, 2018)

    Reply
  3. Roger Norfolk on November 8, 2018 at 9:00 PM

    On the evening of 8 November, Mayor Nicolas AbouAssaly of Marion proclaimed 2019 as American Legion Centennial Year. Mayor AbouAssaly presented the proclamation to Post 298 Commander, Tom Thompson.

    Reply
  4. David Rehbein on December 11, 2018 at 3:57 PM

    Ames Post #37 is publishing a monthly article in the Ames Daily Tribune. Each article focuses on an event in the history of the Post. The series began in July 2018 and will run through June 2019. To date the articles have discussed; 1) the kick-off event for our centennial, 2) the formation of the Post, 3) the Post operating the Ames airport during the early 1930’s, 4) The Ames post work on highway safety with lights on police cars and tests on knowledge of driving laws and 5) the toy closet operated by the post beginning at Christmas 1932 and continuing in the 1940’s. Reprint of the articles are available on the post website, http://www.ameslegionpost37.com/.

    Reply
  6. Amy Muse on February 2, 2019 at 6:40 AM

    I would like to encourage communities to become Home Base Iowa (HBI) Communities and Legionnaire business owner to become Home Base Iowa Business Partners. Our Sergeant-in-Arms, spearheaded her local HBI Committee to earn the designation. Glenwood proudly displays its HBI Community signs at major entrances to the town. Post 141 held the designation event, which is another way to publicly recognize and highlight what the Legion is doing in your community. https://glenwoodlegion.org/2018/05/03/glenwood-designated-home-base-iowa-community/

    Reply
  8. Roger Norfolk on March 13, 2019 at 2:56 PM

    At our Post 298 11 February meeting in Marion, Leon Mehring, one of our post members and WWII veteran, received the “French Legion of Honor medal” The medal was presented by his son, Retired Colonel Steve Mehring. The medal was presented because of actions taken in freeing the French. Leon said he was accepting the medal in behalf of the crew members who were no longer with us. https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/community/cedar-rapids-wwii-veteran-leon-mehring-honored-by-french-legion-eighth-air-force-305th-bombardment-group-20190311

    Reply
  16. Gary C Fahan on July 10, 2019 at 7:09 AM

    The Lake City Post 31 observed the 100th by holding a breakfast at the towns “Western Days” celebration. Afterwards we entered two floats in the parade. These floats were made by Dan Weber. He has done our floats for a number of years, all out of cardboard. We had a large cake with “Happy Birthday Legion 100 years” on it. Dan also built a large cannon used in WWI and was normally pulled by horses. The crowd loved them.

    Reply

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