On October 28, 1919, an application was submitted to the National Executive Committee of The American Legion requesting a charter to organize and maintain a Legion Post, in Deep River, Connecticut, under the name Richard W. Ibell. The following World War I veterans signed the application for Post 61's original charter:
Harry B.L. Marvin, Charles L. Tyler, Carl H. Carlson,
Henry Troegen, William H. Stoddard, Louis R. Ziegra,
Charles F. Sizer, William F. Winschel, John J. Shea,
Sameul W. Rutty, Herman G. Bahr, John J. Kurze,
Raymond Johnson, Paul Hagen, Leon C. Schick,
Abram Wimorsky, Gustave C. Johnson
