Our local post the American Legion has its birthdate, August 12, 1919, when 15 local Guardsmen and Veterans of Glenwood, IA, first signed a temporary charter, to organize a local Legion Post.
On Thursday afternoon, August 28, 1919, and election was held, and Ewart C. Howe was elected the first Commander of this post. The other officers elected were Thomas B. Lacy, Vice Commander, W. C. Rathke, Adjutant, Carl H. Cooke, Historian, Frank D. Logan, Chaplain, and Harry J, Widows, Finance Officer.
A local newspaper notice at this time stated that all desiring to join the American Legion, should leave a fee of one dollar, at the Hamilton Matthews store, located here in Glenwood. At this meeting, delegates to the state convention, to be held in Des Moines, September 4 and 5, were selected. It was also decided at this meeting that the membership drive should be started immediately after the State Convention.
The local post of the American Legion, Department of Iowa, on Monday, November 10, 1919, adopted the name of Harvey T. Rimel, Post 141, with a permanent charter membership of 120. Harvey T. Rimel, was the first local servicemen killed overseas during World War I, and it is to his honor and memory that we name our Post. This, comrades of the American Legion, is the beginning of our local post organization.
Those signing this charter were:
W. C. Rathke
Frank D. Logan
Wayne A. Bogart
E. A. Archer
R. J. McCleary
Thomas B. Lacy
Ralph T. Snodgrass
Ewart C. Howe
Harry J. Widows
C. H. Olson
Shirley D. Lewis
Howard N. Baxter
Bernard A. Matthews
Van F. Barnes
Morris A. Louis
by B. L. Kent, Post Historian, 1953-1954
