[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 102 (Tuesday, June 18, 2019)]
[Senate]
[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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