[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.
____________________