SERVICE CLUBS
POST NO. 546
Department of California, The American Legion
Historical Review
And Comments by
Captain LAURENCE J. STUPPY II
Post Historian (since 1983) and Past Commander
Post Adjutant (since 2009)
and
LLOYD D. MITCHELL
Past Historian (1981) and Past Commander
December 2013
(Second Edition)
Throughout history mankind has been called to the defense of his native soil, or to engage in foreign military campaigns, to fight for the survival and security of himself and his family, to struggle up the ladder of advancing civilization, to reach out through thought and action for the protection and glorification of his inheritance, his tribal, national or racial culture, his place in a world both primitive in its violence and idealistic in its spiritual influences.
Long before Alexander the Great, or the legions of the Caesars, there were associations evolving from military campaigns and the valorous deeds, sacrifices, triumphs or defeats which they brought about. In our own times such organizations and associations are not uncommon, but in America, there emerged from World War I the American Legion, whose great spirit and vitality, has endured and grown as a symbol of American patriotism.
Ninety-five years ago this past March 15, the first meeting of what was to become the American Legion was held in the American Club at 4 Rue Gabriel, Paris, France.
Let us now quote form from the American Legion Magazine:
“Paris, in the spring of 1919 was a city filled with American doughboys full of idealism and urgent desire to get home. They were just off the battlefields and then in the processing camps, enduring the problems of getting aboard a ship for the slow trip home.
“A young Army officer with a famous name was among a handful of officers who had an idea which, they hoped would get the troops looking beyond their battlefield experiences to the future.
“Lt. Col. Teddy Roosevelt Jr., had joined with 19 other officers to call a meeting in Paris for the purpose of forming a veterans’ organization. The three-day meeting at the American Club, later moved to the larger Cirque de Paris, laid the cornerstone for the organization just as the meeting in St. Louis three months later began assembling the building blocks of what was to become the largest veterans organization in the world.
“The estimated 2,500 men who attended either the Paris or St. Louis Caucus, of both, formed the cadre known as the Founders of The American Legion.
“History records that two three-man committees, separated by an ocean and half-a-continent, worked to draft what has been described as one of America’s important documents - - the Preamble to the Constitution of The American Legion, which members of Post 546, and American Legion members everywhere read as a part of official proceedings. It is interesting to note that this document was adopted without debate at the St. Louis Caucus and has had only one minor change since that time.
“The Founders were neither self-serving nor given to resting on their laurels. One year after the Armistice, the Legion met in Minneapolis for their first convention. Following the St. Louis Caucus, the Founders stumped across the country, speaking locally to hasten the Legion’s grassroots organization. The result, a scant six months following St. Louis, was an organization that sent delegates to Minneapolis representing 684,000 paid-up members.
“The Legion’s stance of being non-partisan and non-political endures to this day.
“When World War II ended, the American Legion, by then an American institution, stood ready to aid the millions of veterans returning from yet another “Great War.” Those Legionnaires – still guided by the values instilled in the organization by its Founders and mindful of the fact that the federal government had virtually ignored the returning WW-I veteran – vowed not to let history repeat itself. The results were fore-ordained: The G.I. Bill of Rights – drafted and shepherded through Congress by The American Legion – furnished the returning veteran with the most extensive package of benefits ever granted in American history.” (end quote)
The people of this nation know the American Legion has been a great force in American history and we, today, are inspired by patriotism and preparedness.
Present day members of the American Legion, as those who have gone before us, honor the Founders and the vast number of patriots who have guided and kept alive our ideals, our devotion and our effectiveness.
With specific reference to Post 546, Department of California: An examination of the records reveal that on November 20, 1936, application was filed for a “temporary charter” to organize and maintain “Service Clubs Post.” The Post was made up from members of six Los Angeles Clubs [Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Optimist, Advertising, and Exchange]. This application was submitted over the signature of Harry Myers, address Hayward Hotel, Los Angeles. The application listed 31 names with addresses and Service Clubs affiliations. The application was then approved by Thos. F. Sebastian, Commander, 17th District, in regular meeting, November 20, endorsed by Thomas J. Riordan, Commander, Department of California on November 27, resulting in approval of such “temporary charter” on December 11, 1936, at National Hq., Indianapolis, Indiana.
Thereafter, on February 24, 1938, application for a permanent charter was made and granted on July 9, 1938 under Registration No. 12,571.
The permanent charter application named three Post officers as follows:
Arthur F. Malin, Commander
Preston D. Orem, Adjutant/Treasurer
Ernest K. Hartman, Historian
There were Standing Committees listed as “Americanism,” “Community Service,” “Program and Entertainment,” “Membership,” “Finance and Audit.”
The amount of the General Fund was stated as $138.19. It was certified that the listed members had served in the military or naval forces of the United States between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, and thereby entitled to membership in the American Legion under Article IV of the Constitution.
Of the 31 original members, four were affiliated with the Rotary Club, sixteen with Kiwanis, six with Lions Club, two with the Advertising Club, two with Optimist Club, one with the Exchange Club.
Today, this criterion for membership in Post 546 has been modified and membership in a service club is no longer a strict requirement, although many of our members belong to one or another of these fine organizations.
Otherwise, the basic policies and objectives as established by those original members have continued largely unchanged.
On the Post 546 letterhead there appears al of all Commanders, Past and present, 77 in all, with some members serving multiple terms. Each has made his contribution of loyal service and effective leadership. Throughout its history, the Post has been characterized by a dynamic membership.
The tradition goes on and we find pleasure and pride in our friendships and common purpose.
The fact that we are often hosted in the homes of our members or at their favorite restaurant or club is of great significance to the success of our meetings. There is always a social hour and an excellent dinner preceding the meeting and such pleasant occasions contribute in great measure to the personal friendships and esprit de corps of Post 546. It also explains the necessity of limiting our membership. Otherwise it would be impossible to meet, as we do, in private homes.
Meetings of Post 546 are held on the second Tuesday of each month with the exception of December when our ladies are invited for a gala Christmas (Commander’s) Dinner and similarly on occasion in other months when we may be hosted for a weekend outing which will replace the regular meeting for that month. These special occasions have always been notable experiences. Those of us who were in the Post forty years or more ago, still remember with great pleasure the several weekends when we were hosted by the late Comrade Herndon Norris and his gracious wife, at their desert estate near Indio. And many of us were present and happily remember the weekends hosted by Comrade William Andrews and his wife, Ruth, at their ranch home at Valley Center. Another weekend for us was hosted by Comrade Kenny Tipton, Jr. at his Apple Valley retreat not far from the Apple Valley Inn where we had a dinner party.
And we count among the highlights of our meetings those delightful Christmas parties hosted by the late Leon and Happy Pellissier, at the California Country Club, Whittier, and later continued by Leon’s brother, Comrade Robert Pellissier, and by Leon’s sons, all loyal members of this Post, Leon Jr., Henri, and Francois.
Other Christmas gala parties have been hosted by Dr. Laurence and Mary Stuppy in their unique and magnificent Wilshire district home. Other meetings were held by special arrangements aboard the S.S. “Lurline” while at anchored in Los Angeles Harbor and once later aboard the renowned “Queen Mary” at Long Beach Harbor. We enjoyed a summer beach party and cookout on the sands at a member’s home in Malibu.
Many wonderful trips were made to Howard Bodger’s seed farm in Lompoc, California. Howard was the sixth largest flower seed producer in the world and April is when buyers from around the world arrive to see and purchase seeds. We were invited to compare the flowers in the greenhouse display rooms.
Altogether we have been delightfully and royally entertained on numerous occasions which were memorable in setting and hospitality.
In 1995 we visited the Federal Reserve Bank. In October 2010, John Turpit hosted the post and families at the Miramar Air Show through the Miramar Museum.
While the social aspects of our meetings are most attractive and greatly aid in the amelioration of the stresses and strains of this modern and turbulent civilization in which we live, the basic elements of our regular meetings are nevertheless conducted in strict compliance with the prescribed procedures, observances, and regulations obligatory for each Post. This indeed does not preclude the humorous, friendly and erudite banter and exchanges which sometimes enter into the proceedings.
[Lunch at Nieuport 17 restaurant 2012]
We also encourage discussions on topics of both local and national concern and not infrequently, a member or a guest is invited to speak on an important subject. Members often report on personal travel experiences as many of our members are frequent travelers abroad.
Officers and committee chairmen serve a term of one year. Election of officers is by majority vote of the membership. A Nominating Committee makes recommendations to the April meeting and other nominations may be made from the floor, although this has rarely been done. Election takes place at the May meeting and installation of officers, a meaningful and formal procedure takes place at the June meeting. Committee chairmen are appointed by the Commander.
Past and present membership of Post 546 is distinguished by important positions in the business and social life of Southern California, in civic and political offices, the judiciary, aviation, medical, company officers, banking, and legal professions. Judge Goddard wrote the book on family law used at many law schools. We remember General Ames. We have members who now live in Virginia, Texas, and Utah.
We are proud of the multiple generations in the Post. Included are Leon Pellissier and his brother Robert and Leon’s children Leon Jr., Henri, and Francois; Laurence Stuppy MD, with sons Henry Stuppy and Larry Stuppy II along with grandchildren Jamie, E. Martin III, Ben.
Military rank is not a consideration of membership and it has no influence upon our relationships. Of course, rank is no secret and one’s grade is service may be known to the other members. Our membership represents all branches of the service: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and National Guard with ranks from PFC to Major General, just as there is a great variance in ages.
In 1938 the records show that special attention was directed by Post 546 to “a possible solution of the high traffic toll,” and to “special studies of subversive movements.”
For more than forty years, the Post has directed its main on-going interest to the support of Boys’ State. The Post carefully and thoughtfully selects five or more young men to take part in a great, well organized convention in Sacramento. Each one is a junior in a senior high school and from a variety of ethnic and scholastic backgrounds. Our own children and grandchildren are given preference.
This is a Post activity of great merit. Boys’ State was founded by and is today an established part of the Americanism program of the American legion on a nationwide basis. The facilities of California State University, Sacramento, are used for housing, feeding, feeding, recreation activities and convention sessions, all under a core of counselors, men who by experience know the structure and function of our City, County, and State Government, and qualified supervisors. One Boys’ State young man from our Post, Eric Wersching, thought so highly of his experience there, he volunteered as a counselor at Boys’ State for ten years. Boys’ State is not a recreational camp. It is a well designed, organized, serious program to educate our youth in the duties, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.
The strength of a nation lies not alone in the size of its Army, Navy, or Air Force, but also in the character, loyalty, and intelligence of its citizens.
Youth must have a true conception of the ideals and objectives of government. Youth must know what results attend the successful operation of government. These lessons are taught in Boys’ State. Each boy, upon arrival at Sacramento and as he is registered, is assigned to a “city area” and thereafter he is a “resident” of that city. The boys are divided into political parties -- Federalist and Whig – just so that they may see how political parties, as such, function under our form of government. The boys develop their own party platform and make their own controversial issues. All of their Governmental Activities, whether city, county or State, are carried on according to the existing laws of California.
There are a series of progressive actions and in proper order, in the selection of the state officials, is the State Primary Election. The District Primary Law of California is followed in this election, and candidates for any office can only have their names put on the ballot by fulfilling all requirements of that law. The names of candidates nominated at the primary go on the ballot for the General Election at which time the boy citizens elect their Boys’ State Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer, Controller, Secretary of State, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Justices of the Supreme Court; and from the Assembly and Senatorial Districts, they elect the members of the Boys’ State Assembly and Senate.
A public inaugural ceremony is then held and the Boys’ State Governor – elect and other Boys’ State officers are sworn in by appropriate California State officers. The purpose of Boys’ State is thus attained: to let them learn by doing.
The two MOST OUTSTANDIND citizens of California Boys’ State are selected to represent California at Boys’ Nation at the American University, Washington, D.C. Selections are made by votes of the boys and the counselors on the last day of Boys’ State.
Over nine hundred young men attend Boys’ State in Sacramento. Post 546 takes great pride in its annual sponsorship of boys at this outstanding institution. Total cost for each boy is over four hundred dollars plus transportation costs.
In this project Post 546 has been fortunate to have the Committee Chairmanship filled by Comrade Henri Pellissier who has given generously of his time, support, and great talent for this or any other such responsibility. The tremendous enthusiasm of the returning boys, who make personal reports of their experiences and observations at one of our Post meetings, is each year an inspirational, rewarding conclusion of our efforts.
We look back with profound respect for the devotion, patriotism and able leadership of those in Post 546 who have gone before us and for those in our present assembly, all of whom have contributed to the continuity and greatness of this Post of the American Legion.
Those who served in World War I are now of a diminishing number and to a lesser extent at this time the same is true of World War II, Korean War, Viet Nam War, Lebanon/Grenada, Panama, Gulf War/War on Terrorism members. The future of Post 546 is in good hands for service to community, state, and nation.
We are humble in our privilege to be numbered among the millions of Legionnaires who have served in the defense of this great nation and in the cause of justice, freedom and democracy.
Howard Bodger Seeds, 1984, Sweet pea fields, Lompoc, California
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE – THANKS TO THE SACRIFICES OF OUR MILITARY
