The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization. Focusing on service to veterans, service members and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Membership swiftly grew to over 1 million, and local posts sprang up across the country. Today, membership stands at over 2.4 million in 14,000 posts worldwide. The posts are organized into 55 departments: one each for the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines.
The first organization meetings to form an American Legion Post in Kent County were held in 1919 by ex-servicemen of World War I. The initial meeting is believed to have been held in the Wheatley Insurance Co. office, and subsequently in the County court house. When the Post's charter was established, meetings were held in the court house, the Imperial Hotel, the armory, and in a room over Gill Brothers ice cream parlor. The chosen Post name was originally Kent Post, but the charter was issued simply to Post 36. On January 15, 1920, Frank M. Jarman, a charter member of Post 36, who had served as Sergeant in Co. C, 304th Field Signal Batallion, 79th Division, died from tuberculosis contracted while in service. At a Post meeting held in March,1920 the Post was named in his honor. In 1938 the Post bought a small one-story building on Queen Street, which was adequate for WWI veterans. During WWII, the Legion invited veterans of that war to join, doubling the membership, and making larger accommodations necessary. In 1945 the Legion acquired the Clay Property, a large residence on the northeast corner of Maple Ave. and Queen St. When the Korean conflict added members, the Legion purchased a tract of land on the south side of Route 447, Morgnec Road. That Post home was dedicated in 1953, with the dedication address given by Colonel Carey Jarman, Frank Jarman's brother. The present Frank M. Jarman Post 36 home on American Legion Drive was dedicated in May, 1960, also by Carey Jarman.
