Legionnaires and their spouses attended a luncheon in honor of American Legion National Commander O. L. Bodenhamer. Bodenhamer was elected without roll call (a first in Legion history) on October 3rd, 1929. The formal St.Charles event was held in the elegant Hotel Baker Main Dining Room. An invitation was extended to the Legion Auxilary. A hand flyer was drawn by a Post member- it can be seen in our photo archives.

Excerpted from The St. Charles Chronicle Wednesday, April 4,1962:

Throughout the decades, Post 342 has provided financial support for issues relating to children: health and safety, foreign exchange, Boy Scouts of America Council, School for Gifted/Exceptional children, childrens charities, donating to local hospital and community funds as well as nation-wide oprganizations such as the Heart Association, Easter Seals, American Red Cross, American Field Service and Polio Fund. The local Boy Scout Troop 1 has been sponsored..

The Post, 316 Legionnaries strong, voted to select an award of a bright red 1963 Ford Station Wagon to be donated to the  St. Charles Fire Department  for their Community Service Project. The car, intended for use by the Fire Chief for emergency response, was fully-equpped with a one-man operated  E & J  resuscitator and a two-way radio, which was a primary need for the department along with an aluminum boat for water rescues on..

IN 1964, the Veterans Day Program in St. Charles included a flag raising at the Baker Community Center (one of the first post meeting homes, in 1926), a parade then stepped off from the Com. Following the parade, munity House, halting on the Main Street Bridge for an Invocation, a combined rifle squad salute, the playing of Taps by the St. Charles High School Band , a Benediction, and concluded at the Post, for a..

The Public was invited to many events hosted by the American Legion from 1919 through the 1960's, including an early Minstrel Show, comedians, Big Band orchestras, comedic and dramatic Plays and even, a 4th of July Log rolling Contest! This particular event was provided in an "air-conditioned ballroom" with picnic tables, door prizes and "everything furnished!"! $7.00 per couple.

During the month of April, a train named the "Freedom Train" drawn by a steam locomotive set out for a journey to 80 cities in 48 states as part of our Nation's Bicentennial Celebration. The rtrtain carried the american Legion Freedom Bell, a 2:1 scale replica of the Liberty Bell and a model of the bell on display at the American legionm Headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. It's creation was authorized by Congress on October 12,..

St. Charles featured a Veterans Day parade every year, that observed a moment of silence as they reached the center of town at the Main Street Bridge.We hosted a "Veterans Day Religious Service" at 7:30 p.m. at the Post for the 11th District. it was attended by Alex Bonner, Commander, 11th District; Walter Massey, Dept. Co-Chaplain; Winston Baumann, Past 11th District Commander; Edward Rickert, Post 342 Chaplain, Mrs. May Chesak, Past 11th Division Auxiliary President..

Post Commander Ron Lingle and member Art Buller presented a check for $3,000 to St. Charles City Council to fund the initial phases for the construction of "Safety Town",a child-size replica of St. Charles complete with streets, traffic signals, signs and 12-15 buildings. Designed to instruct small children in safety procedures and practises, Safety Town occupied 6,000 square feet of land at North First and State Avenues, adjacent to the police department building. Conceived and..

The Boy Scout Troop 1 Charter was granted to the Post, to develop a strong addition to the scouting program for the St. Charles community, incorporating Patriotism, Citizenship training, in keeping with the spirit and intent of the organization for the development of character, in 1989. It was the beginning of a formal partnership between the Post and the Boy Scouts organization that lasts and flourishes in the current day, in the year 2019, evidenced..

Post 342, under the leadership of Commander Guy Few, made a $15,000 pledge to fund a playroom, to be located in the new Delnor Hospital building's Pediatric Patient Care Center. Commander Few stated, "We are pleased to be able to make this gift to the hospital as we continue to support the interests ofg children in our community." Especially poignant is the fact that in 1924, Post 342 assumed responsibility for management of the St...

Our Post has been coordinating the events in St. Charles surrounding Memorial Day for decades. Services are held at three area cemetaries with large intrerrments of veterans dating back to the Civil War. The servicies consist of an Honor Guard, flag raising, playing of Taps,..

Post member Mark Benson procured a copy of the 1945 edition of the U.S. Army's YANK Magazine, because it featured our Post member Norm Skala in the cover story, "Blacksmith in LoloLand". Here, Mark (on left) presents it to Norm, framed, with their fellow Post member and former Post 342 Commander John Westphall. Mark and John have been instrumental in bringing Norm, who is wheelchair-bound, to Post functions and to his doctor appointments at the..

On Saturday, March 9th our Post Centennial Committee presented a custom-designed Centennial banner to the community at the St. Charles Veterans Center. The banner was created for use in parades, special events and for display on the exterior of our St. Charles Veterans Center, home to Post 342 and four other posts, to promotoe our 100 Year Anniersary in our community. We opened the dedication with a prayer from our Chaplain Betty Butler.  Betty sevred..

Over the course of four days, with technical help provided by Onesti Entertainment with staff from the Arcada Theater, we recorded the stories and accounts of War from eight of our eleven post members who served our Country during the course of WWII. Among the accounts, the Salween Campaign in Chinese Burma and the Battle of the Bulge, encounters with President Truman and Generals Patton and Eisenhower. The footage will be made into a video..