American Legion - Dale Peace Post 40

 

American Legion History

A group of twenty officers who served in the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F) in France in World War 1 is credited with planning the Legion. A.E.F. Headquarters asked these officers to suggest ideas on how to improve troop morale. One officer, Lt. Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. proposed an organization of veterans. In February 1919, this group formed a temporary committee and selected several hundred officers who had the confidence and respect of the whole army.

When the first organization meeting took place in Paris in March 1919, about 1000 officers and enlisted men attended. The meeting, known as the Paris Caucus, adopted a temporary constitution and the name The American Legion. It also elected an executive committee to complete the organization's work. It considered every soldier of the A.E.F. a member of the Legion. The executive committee named a subcommittee to organize veterans at home in the U.S.

The Legion held a second organizing caucus in St. Louis, MO in May, 1919. It completed the constitution and made plans for a permanent organization. It set up temporary headquarters in New York City, and began its relief, employment, and Americanism programs.

Congress granted the Legion a national Charter in September 1919. The first National Convention, held in Minneapolis, adopted a permanent constitution and elected officers to head the organization.

 

The following is from the Vinita newspaper dated Sept. 18, 1919

POST ORGANIZED HERE

At South Park, Wednesday morning 67 former soldiers, sailors and marines of the world's war, organized a post of the American Legion which will be known as Dale Peace post in honor of Dale Peace who gave his life on the battlefields of France.

The following officers were chosen:

Jesse Ballard Post Commander

Dave Waters Vice Post Commander

Dr. W.R. Marks Post Adjutant

Dr. F. L. Hughson Financial Commander

Albert Clinkscales Post Historian

Bernie Cole Post Chaplain

 

There will be another meeting of the post Monday night and every former soldier, sailor and Marine is urged to be present.

The two principal officers of the Dale Peace Post of the American Legion, are soldiers who entered the service as privates. The Commander, Jesse Ballard, gave up a government place to enter the service as a private, but he afterwards, upon his own merits, was commissioned Captain. The second officer, Dave Waters, was the first draft soldier to leave Craig county. Now if these posts of the American Legion do not become the tools of the politicians, there is no reason why they can't be of mutual benefit to the returned soldiers, sailors and marines

Note: Veterans of the Air Force and Coast Guard were included as each branch was established.

 

OUR PROGRAMS

 

National programs

Veterans, families, children

 

State programs

Boys State

Girls State

Oratorical

Legion baseball

Scouts

Rifle teams

 

Local programs

Poppies

Scholarships

Family assistance

Veterans assistance

Memorials

Grave markers

Legion baseball

Boys State

Auxiliary

Girls State

Essay contest Poppies

Sons of the American Legion

 

AMERICAN LEGION AUXILLARY UNIT #40 Mission, Vision, and Purpose of the Auxiliary Mission

In the spirit of service not self, the mission of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion and honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of veterans, military, and their families, both at home and abroad. For God and country we advocate for veterans, educate our citizens, mentor youth, and promote patriotism, good citizenship, peace and security

 

Vision

The vision of The American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion while becoming the premier service organization and foundation of every community providing support for our veterans, our military, and their families by shaping a positive future i an atmosphere of fellowship, patriotism, peace and security.

 

Purpose

In fulfillment of our Mission we adhere to the following purposes:

 

  • To support and advocate for veterans, active military and their families.
  • To support the initiatives and programs of the American Legion.
    to foster patriotism and responsible citizenship.
  • To award scholarships and promote quality education and literacy.
  • To provide educational and leadership opportunities that uphold the ideals of freedom and democracy and encourage good citizenship and participation in government.
  • To increase our capacity to deliver our Mission by providing meaningful volunteer opportunities within our communities.
  • To empower our membership to achieve personal fulfillment through "service not self".

 

 

The Vinita American Legion Auxiliary Unit #40, in addition to our support of the American Legion Post #40, sponsors the Girl State representatives from Craig county every year, The Americanism Essay contest for local schools, contributes monetary donations to the community, helps the Post # 40 with their activities during the year, helps at the Veterans day services, the Will Rogers Rodeo, the yearly functions that the Legion has. The Auxiliary bought and set up a children's corner for reading and playing at the new Veterans Medical center in Vinita. The Auxiliary has recently helped make memento pillow cases and help serve lunches for our deploying National Guard troops and will be involved with the Blue Star mothers after the troops have deployed. Every Christmas the Auxiliary contacts, shops for and delivers Christmas presents to our Nursing home/Boarding home veterans and honors our Gold Star Mothers.

 

The Auxiliary meets monthly and discusses issues and ideas that arise that we can help or participate in.

 

Preamble:
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 one-hundred percent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations during the Great Wars; 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 posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to participate in and contribute to the accomplishment of the aims and purposes of The American Legion; to consecrate and sanctify our association by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.