Web posted
Friday, March 5, 2004
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THE SHARP observer and the long-time resident here will be able to recognize any number of familiar faces in this picture of an American Legion and Auxiliary dress-up party held in Brainerd on Feb. 15, 1932.
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Legion Post Has 52-Year History
The Carl Sidney Hanson American Legion Post No. 255 of Brainerd has a 52-year history ranging from 1919 to 1971. Auxiliary records date back to 1922.
The Post was organized Sept. 26, 1919, at a meeting held in Harrison Sherwood's law office in the First National bank building. Milton M. Mahlum was elected temporary chairman and Richard M. Johnson, secretary.
Twenty-nine ex-servicemen signed the application for a charter which was sent to Department headquarters in October, was approved at National headquarters within a few days and returned for filing with permanent records on Oct. 11, 1919. However, it was 1924 before a permanent charter was received.
The first Post commander was F. R. N. Anderson with A. W. Wallin as adjutant. A total of 51 commanders have served since that time, two of them only serving six months before moving from the area. Fred Fisher and Stewart Kunde are present Post commander and adjutant.
Meetings were held in various locations, among them the Elks hall, Chamber of Commerce rooms, Farmers room in the courthouse and Iron Exchange hall. In 1943, the Post purchased the former Palace theatre and by Nov. 4, 1944, the present Legion hall and clubrooms was ready to welcome World War II returning veterans to membership.
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+ The Carl Sidney Hanson American Legion Post was formed in Brainerd in 1919, with the following 29 ex-servicemen signing the charter: Franz R. N. Anderson, Arthur M. Lyddon,. Kirk J. Smith, Lamonte P. Koop, Arthur W. Fontaine, Alfred E. Warren, Harry A. Smith, George H. Ribbel, H. B. Sherwood, E. G. Roth, Robert J. Trent, Edgar S. Koop, Frederick Errington, Syd Harmon, Robert L. Gustafson, Ralph L. Russell, Robert W. Gerges, James E. Stevenson, Clyde W. Pearce, Walter J. Willis, Edward Hill, Richard M. Johnson, Milton M. Mahium, John J. Brady, Howard R. Lowe, Harry E. Murphy, Thomas R. Dwyer, Arthur L. Koop and Ernest A. Grimm.
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A remodeling program was held in 1961 and 1962 with an open house held just prior to the Sixth District's convention here. During this period, meetings were held in the old Eagles hall.
Legion membership in 1919 and 1920 was 172. From 285 members in 1945, the total jumped to 903 by the following year, and now, at the close of the last year, stood at 1,109 members.
In April of 1936, Voiture 778, 40 et 8, was organized with 12 charter members, all of whom are now deceased. This branch of the American Legion concentrates on child welfare and nurses' training.
In 1937, the Sons of the American Legion Squadron was organized. The group became inactive at the beginning of World War II, but was re-activated in 1965.
Another local organization within the Legion is its Funeral Escort Color Guard, formed in 1935. This group, still active, appears at District and State conventions along with other parades and functions, participates in military funerals for members and non-members alike, in flag-raisings and other ceremonies.
The Legion Post sponsors a number of athletic programs-- Junior baseball, Little and Pony league teams, peewee hockey and others. Many scholarships have been provided through the years, and the Post was a vital force in location of Legionville, the school patrol training camp, at North Long lake.
The first Legionville was held at Bemidji in 1936, came to Brainerd the following year and has been held here since that time. The Legionville campsite was dedicated here in 1959.
The local Post has hosted six District conventions and a Department convention here. Eight past commanders of the local Post have served as Sixth District commanders.
WOMEN'S AUXILIARY
The Women's Auxiliary to the American Legion was formed at a meeting in January of 1922 with Mrs. R. E. Bemmels and Miss Bertha Mahium as temporary chairman and secretary.
An application for a charter was sent to Department headquarters in May of 1922, with the charter received two years later at the time Mrs. W. S. Orne was unit president and Miss Gladys Peterson (Mrs. A. C. Mraz) was secretary. There were 11 names on the charter roll.
The Unit met in homes of members, then in the locations where the Post met, moving with the Post to the present quarters in 1944. From a mem- bership of 11 in 1922, and of 67 in 1924, the Unit now has about 570 members.
There have been 45 women serving as president, five of them for two years; six past presidents also headed the Sixth District Auxiliary. Present officers are Mrs. A. Boyd Elliot, president, and Mrs. John A. Pederson, secretary.
A Junior group was formed by the Auxiliary in 1935, and still works with them in various programs. A Past Presidents group was organized in the early years, was reorganized in 1959 and is active at present.
The Auxiliary's main attention is on the veteran and his family, child welfare and rehabilitation -- but many other projects are also carried out. Two scholarships are given each year in the Vocational school, a delegate is sent annually to Girls State and two girls to Legionville.
For 11 years, beginning in 1926, an Auxiliary Band of 22 members performed at many functions, including National, State and District conventions. William Knuppel was director and Mrs. Robert (Lillian) Anderson, majorette, for the band. The contingent appeared at both the Boston, Mass., and San Antonio, Tex, conventions.
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