American Legion celebrates 100 years

Members of Raymond B. Thorn, Unit 30 of the American Legion Auxiliary hosted a birthday supper for members of Post #30 of the American Legion on March 5 to celebrate the l00th anniversary of the founding of the American Legion.

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation's largest wartime veterans' service organization, committed to fellow services members and veterans. The programs and activities of the American Legion strengthen the nation one community at a time. Their success depends entirely on active membership, participation and volunteerism. One program in our community supported by Post #30 is Legion baseball educating young people about the importance of sportsmanship, citizenship and fitness.

The American Legion Auxiliary is a civilian organization of women whose members are the mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters and grandmothers of all men and women who were in active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States during any of the following periods:

 • April 6,1917- Nov. 11, 1918

 • Dec. 8, 1941- Dec.31, 1946

 • June 25, 1950- Jan. 31, 1955;

 • Feb. 28, 1961- May 7, 1975

 • Aug. 24, 1982- July 31, 1984

 • Dec. 20, 1989- Jan. 31, 1990

 •Aug. 2, 1990, to the date of cessation of hostilities as determined by the Government of the United States.

There are two classes of membership: senior and junior. Senior membership is for members over the age of 18 years. Junior membership shall consist of youth under the age of 18, whose activities are supervised by the senior membership. The mission of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support the American Legion through their service programs and activities that include Veterans Day breakfast, poppy sales and memorials, sponsorship of Girls State representatives, Dollars for Scholars, gifts for veterans, Share the Joy of Christmas and several fundraising events.

Members of these two patriotic organizations strive to honor the sacrifices of those who have served by enhancing the lives of our veterans and their families, and educating our citizens, mentoring youth and promoting good citizenship, peace and security of America. If you would like the opportunity to become a member of the American Legion Post #30, call 947-2384 or the American Legion Auxiliary call 947-2964.