June 18, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 102 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
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100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN LEGION; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 102
(Senate - June 18, 2019)
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[Page S3649] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN LEGION Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, today I wish to recognize the 100th anniversary of the American Legion. Following the end of World War I, the generation who fought the war to end all wars created an organization dedicated to the protection and defense of all veterans who answered the call of duty. The American Legion has been our Nation's leading advocate for proper healthcare and earned benefits for America's veterans, establishing hospitals and other services for the returning servicemembers of World War I. The Legion champions compensation and pensions for the disabled and for widows and orphans and was instrumental in creating the Veterans Administration in 1930. It also played an important role in the enactment of the GI Bill of Rights, first for World War II veterans, and then for veterans of following eras, establishing education, vocational training, and home loan benefits. Known as the father of the American Legion, Lt. Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., son of President Roosevelt, organized the first caucus of the American Legion in Paris in March 1919. The meeting continued in St. Louis in May 1919 where the official name was adopted. A preamble and constitution were adopted during the first National American Legion Convention in Minneapolis in November 1919. The preamble became one of the fundamental tenets of the American Legion's orientation and objectives, beginning with: ``For God and Country we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a 100 Percent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the Great War; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state, and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit to prosperity the principles of justice, freedom, and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by devotion to mutual helpfulness.'' Through the work of American Legionnaires, those same words remain compelling today. With members represented in all facets of our culture, including Presidents, Governors, Academy award winning actors, professional sports players, and Members of Congress, the American Legion played a role in many of America's triumphs. Today's Legionnaires, known for their legacy of patriotism, service, sacrifice, and community, continue the march. They dedicate their time and service to ensure these doctrines remain the heart of the American Legion. The American Legion has deep roots in Wyoming's history. Wyoming was represented in both Paris and St. Louis and at the first National Convention in Minneapolis. True to their pioneering nature, Wyoming's Ferdinand Bransetter Post No. 1 organized to situate themselves at the forefront of the Legion organization. However, due to the bureaucracy encountered by the first posts, Van Tassell was actually among the first 10 posts to be chartered. In October 1919, Wyoming held its First American Legion Convention, hosted by Samuel Mares Post No. 8 in Douglas. The first department officers included Commander Charles S. Hill and Adjutant Harry Fisher. Department headquarters was originally in Casper, later moving to Cheyenne as membership gradually grew to a high of 10,805 in 1949. Today's Wyoming American Legions continues to care for their comrades. As leaders in their communities, they demonstrate honor and respect for veterans and their loved ones. They actively support numerous youth programs including Boys and Girls State, the Child Welfare Fund, Boy Scouts, baseball, and scholarship programs. Their accomplishments continue to grow as they serve our veterans, their families, and our communities. Today's Wyoming American Legion is comprised of 57 posts. Their leadership includes Commander Richard F. Dansereau, Jr., Vice Commander Mike Cooke, 2nd Vice Commander Jerry Clark, Immediate Past Commander Kenneth V. Persson, Sr., Finance Officer Deanna Hurless, National Executive Committeeman Terry Miller, Alternate National Executive Committeeman Doug Uhrig, Adjutant Lee Buchschacher, Department Service Officer Dwight Null, Service Officer Michelle Jones, Historian Penny Merryfield, Chaplain Jim Vandivort, Judge Advocate Gary Hartman, and Office Manager Gina Mayhan. Current posts and their commanders are: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Commander Post Town ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dale Miller..................... Ferdinand Van Tassel Bransetter Post #1. Rich Larimore................... George W. Vroman Casper Post #2. Donald Dafoe.................... George Monroe Post Newcastle #3. David Shaner.................... Wieten-Dupes Post Lusk #4. Michael Sinner.................. Travis Snow Post Torrington #5. Jerry Bowen..................... Francis E. Self Cheyenne Post #6. James Schlenker................. John Donald Sheridan Garbutt Post #7. Doug Johnson.................... Samuel Mares Post Douglas #8. Marvin Wohletz.................. Jesse Martin Post Glenrock #9. Darrel Curry.................... Ora Call Post #10. Wheatland Rich Fink....................... Robert Boyd Lovell Stewart Post #11. Don Sillivan.................... Powder River Post Buffalo #13. Jonathan Storey................. Husted-Pendleton Laramie Post #14. Adam Blackburn.................. John Prince Post Glendo #15. Nate Messenger.................. Walter Haynes Post Thermopolis #18. Warren Hess..................... Riverton Post #19. Riverton John West....................... Fred Coe Post #20. Cody Michael Pavlica................. Robert Hogan Post Cheyenne #21. Michael Hobbs................... Archie Hay Post Rock Springs #24. Tim Wattenberg.................. Moorcroft Post #25 Moorcroft Jerry Clark..................... Hughes-Pittinger Powell Post #26. Thomas Niemiec.................. Tom Whitmore Post Green River #28. John Bubla...................... Marian Tanner Post Basin #29. Douglas Cubbison................ Philip Burlington Dubois Post #31. Paul Linse...................... Greybull Post #32. Greybull Mark Keiser..................... Don Stough Post Lander #33. Brian Sartor.................... Fort Bridger Post Ft. Bridger #36. Norm Freeman.................... Lavoy-Thorncock Cokeville Post #40. Michael Erickson, Jr............ Medicine Butte Evanston Post #41. Jerry Walters................... Campbell County Gillette Post #42. John Sherwood................... Jackson Hole Post Jackson #43. Joshua Craft.................... Floyd Minch Post Worland #44. Jimmy Bowman.................... Crook County Post Sundance #45. Daniel Corun.................... American Legion Alpine Post #46. Brandon Shriver................. Phillips Edwards Pinedale Post #47. Charles Sutter.................. Star Valley Post Afton #49. Steve Wilcoxson................. Angus England Post Saratoga #54. Robert Bowen.................... Kemmerer Post #55. Kemmerer- Diamondville Ricardo Nelson.................. Marlyn B. Anderson Veteran Post #56. John Wise....................... Donald W. Pine Bluffs Eisenhauer Post #60. Albert Oakley................... Washakie Post #61. Pavillion David Kendall................... Reed-Gobble Post Lingle #63. Marion McCartney................ William Home Post Medicine Bow #64. Donald Kessler.................. John Mcgill Post LaGrange #70. Robert Kissel................... Mcdonald And Chugwater Voight Post #75. Ronnie Olson.................... Boyce Marlatt Post Albin #77. Spencer Nichols................. Dee Fox Post #78.. Big Piney- Marbleton Keith Davidson.................. Roy Montgomery Hulett Post #80. Wyman Weed, Sr.................. Richard Pogue Post Ft. Washakie #81. James Yockey.................... James Oliver Hogg Meeteetse Post #85. Ray Fritz....................... Labarge Post #88.. LaBarge Robert Perry, Jr................ Hole In The Wall Kaycee Post #90. Kelly Colvin.................... Heart Mountain Cody Post #91. Jack Flores..................... Garcia-Castaneda Cheyenne Post #93. Nick Schwab..................... J.J. Webb Post #95 Guernsey Martin Blackburn................ Araoaho Warriors- Arapaho CPL Bill Farris Post #96. Mike Sherr...................... Hittner Engstrom- Rawlins Duncan Post #122. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The American Legion is more than the names of men who fell on the battlefield in the name of freedom, liberty and democracy. They are more than buildings or posts. They are the lifeblood of our country, endowed with the never-ending spirit of patriotism and liberty. They will never quit, they will never falter and will always complete their mission. America and the State of Wyoming are better for it. ____________________
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