Gingrich Post of the American Legion was organized in Wakonda and a charter singed on July 7, 1919, by the veterans of World War I. The Legion and Auxiliary Post was named Gingrich Post No. 13 in honor of Curvin A. Gingrich, the first service man from Wakonda to lose his life in World War I. At the close of World War II, the name Dixon was added to the name of the post in honor of Luverne F. Dixon, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Dixon, the first service man from Wakonda to lose his life on the battlefield of that war. The name then became Gingrich-Dixon Post No. 13.The organization of a women’s auxiliary unit of the American Legion was consummated at the Lodge Hall on August 19, 1927. Curvin Alfred Gingrich was born December 3, 1888 at York, Pennsylvania. He came to Wakonda in 1910 and by force of his great character and business ability won a place for himself and went into business. Gingrich made the supreme sacrifice for his country when he fell on the battlefield in France on November 1, 1918. He fell fighting for the protection of his flag and his home. He was 29 years old. He was married to Maude Keene. Gingrich is buried at Union Cemetery in Wakonda. Luverne Francis Dixon was born November 5, 1920 on a farm southwest of Wakonda and lived in this community until called to serve his country. He attended Wakonda High School and graduated in the 1938. He remained home and assisted his father with work on the farm. He was called to the service November 12, 1942 and received training at Camp Wolters, Texas and a short period in the New York area before going overseas in April, 1943. He saw service in Africa and was in the invasion of Sicily where he was wounded. Sergeant Dixon was Co. B Sergeant and Assistant Squad Leader of the 7th Regiment, 1st  Battalion, 5th  Army, 3rd  Division. Dixon was reported missing in action and presumed dead on February 3, 1944 after leading a U.S. Army detail of men in an advance on enemy lines on a battlefield at Anzio Beachhead, Italy. He never returned. He gave his life for our country at age 23.

Past Commanders:

1927 – VACANT

1928 - EZRA CHRISTENSEN

1929 - ARTHUR E. DIEFENDORF

1930 - SYVERT BERGH

1931 - CRYUS F. HATCH

1932 - WARREN DAVIDSON

1933 - SOREN JENSEN

1934 - DR. F.E. WILLIAMS

1935 - J.H. BLANCHARD

1936-1943 - A.E. FORSBERG

1944 - HOWARD MORTENSON

1945-1946 - CARL SCHAFER

1947 - EDWARD DOWD

1948 - HAROLD GLASER

1949 - W.A. DOTY

1950 - DALE R. PETERSON

1951 - GEORGE BORRELL

1952 - HERBERT HALL

1953 - HAROLD DAVIS

1954 - JOSEPH GLIDDEN

1955 - DONALD E. NELSON

1956 - MILO PETERSON

1957 - KERMIT F. HALL

1958 - W.D. MORRISON

1959 - ARTHUR HOLT

1960 - LAMOINE A. BABB

1961 - JAMES N. DWYER

1962 - IRA SHERMAN

1963 - DEAN GILKYSON

1964 - ROBERT GANSCHOW

1965 - JOEL BABB

1965 - EDWARD HESSMAN

1966 - MARVIN JOHNANSEN

1967 - JOE WALSH

1968 - LEO BOHLMANN

1969 - RICHARD HEMMINGSON

1970-1971 - KENNETH PETERSON

1972 - DONALD E. NELSON

1973 - BERNELL PETERSON

1974 - DEAN LARSEN

1975 - RAY SOKOLOWSKI

1976 - LUVERNE DWYER

1977 - THOMAS STEVENS

1978 - RICHARD ANDERSON

1979 - ERNEST HAUGE

1980 - LELAND SWENSEN

1981 - PAUL JENSEN

1982 - JAMES LOGUE

1983 - MARVIN GIRARD

1984 - DAN HUTH

1985 - MARVIN GIRARD

1986 - DONALD LYSO

1987 - STEVE JOHNSON

1988-1989 - CLIFFORD MILLER

1990-1991 - DARRELL VOGNILD

1992 - JOHN MATHROLE

1993-1997 - CLARK CHRISTENSEN

1998 - MARVIN GIRARD

1999-2000 - JOSEPH STEFFEN

2001 - SHELDON COOK

2002-2003 - RAY PETERSON

2004-2005 - JOHN HAVER

2006-2008 - THOMAS LARSEN

2009-2010 - ROBERT LOGUE

2011-2013 - MICHAEL HESSMAN

2014-2015 - EVAN PETERSON

2016-2018 – JOHN PETERSON

2019 – PRESENT - BRENT FRIER

The Gingrich-Dixon Post #13 of the American Legion was formed in July 1919. For 62 years (1944-2006), the Post’s home was the Start Township Hall at the corner of First and Montana Streets in Wakonda. After a fire destroyed that hall in October 2006, the Legion erected a new building at the same location that has been in use since fall 2007. The new hall, which cost approximately $275,000 to build, is totally paid for, thanks to insurance money and the generosity of the Wakonda community, which gave approximately $85,000 (including $25,000 from First Premier Bank) and donated much labor and some materials for cleaning up the fire mess and constructing the new structure. The primary activities of the American Legion include: holding monthly Legion meetings, annual Veteran’s and Memorial Day Services for the community, participating in local parades and programs, hosting the annual Hunter’s Feed each October and serving meals at auctions, fundraisers, and other events that take place in the Legion Hall. Just like the old building was before, the new Legion Hall building is the center of activity for the Wakonda community. The hall is busy year-round with community events, weddings and private functions. Girard Auctions featuring Antique Tractor, Collector Car, and Vintage Farm Equipment Auctions are held every June. Other auctions include farm toys and memorabilia. Many auctions are broadcast live over the Internet, spanning two or three days in length, and drawing bidders from across the United States and some internationally. Legion members, along with Auxiliary members, often serve food during these events. The fire on October 5, 2006, that destroyed the Star Township building was devastating to Legion members and the community at large. The goodness and generosity of the community had shown brightly when, a mere year after the fire, a Legion building was built in its place. Many Legion members, as well as friends of the Legion, volunteered their time, money, and talent to clean up the fire site and to bring a new building to life. The majority of Legion records were destroyed in the fire.