15 members signed this application.

Note the scratched out original "Name of Post"

Hundreds of thousands of African-Americans were in segregated units in World War I, mostly assigned to non-combat duties. The early American Legion left the question of integration, the formation of segregated "Negro" posts, or exclusion of black soldiers from membership altogether up to the states and the posts themselves, often resulting in gross disparities of opportunity.

The formal founding convention was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota from November 10 to 12, 1919. It was attended..

On November 19, 1919 forty former servicemen met at the WRC hall in Marion. Allen McElwain was in charge of the meeting. A constitution and by-laws were drawn up and $12.00 a year was charged for expenses.

Minutes of many years meetings, starting with this one, have been found.  Several pages are in the "Some about Post 298" Gallery

From 1919 to 1921 A. R. McElwain was elected as Commander

  Legend has it that the old adage, "Looks like he's at death's door," was coined in a base hospital surgical ward in Orleans, France, during World War I. Many have forgotten, but a world-wide pandemic in 1918-19, labeled Spanish flu, killed nearly as many soldiers as the war. It also killed millions of civilians.

      Accounts from that time stated that the surgical ward was long and narrow..

On November 24th a Charter was granted with 14 members. In the minutes of the meetings a decision to not name the post was made, so the Post became “The American Legion Post #298” in the Department of Iowa. However, close examination of this document shows the controversy was not complete as in the upper portion it says Wm Penn Post you can see that had been scratched and MARION was written in. What a..

120 wives attended a meeting on December 7th, with interest to starting an Auxiliary Unit to the Post. They purchased the first American Flag for the Post.

August 10th, 1920 the Charter was signed by the National Commander. In September the Post held their first annual street carnival in Marion

1921 – Hanford MacNider of Mason City, Iowa, a highly decorated combat officer of the American Expeditionary Forces and veteran of the Pancho Villa expedition, is elected national commander of The American Legion at it's third National Convention held in Kansas City, Missouri. He lead a cross-country victory tour for Supreme Allied Commander Marshal Ferdinand Foch of France. MacNider would go on to serve as assistant secretary of war under President Calvin Coolidge, as U.S...

Calling themselves the “Second American Expeditionary Force,” 20,000 men and women of The American Legion and Auxiliary journeyed to France in September 1927 for the Legion’s 9th National Convention.

The conventioneers frolicked at Coney Island, New York, before sailing across the Atlantic on board the steamship Leviathan. Gen. John J. Pershing accompanied National Commander Howard P. Savage on the voyage. In Paris, both men – along with many other distinguished Legion guests – attended a dinner..

OUR TRIP TO PARIS IN 1927

John H. Pazour and V. H. Balster.

    On September 5, 1927, we left Marion at 7:50 A.M. and arrived at Chicago at 2: P.M.  After arranging for sleeper tickets, we walked up Michigan Blvd and then took in a show where Balster saw an old friend, Ray Burns, who was playing in the..

In 1930 the athletic park was purchased and plans were completed for a swimming pool. The Auxiliary helped by purchasing stock each year for expenses, they later gave all the stock to the Post as a gift. The pool was dedicated Aug. 30th. with a cost of about $30,000. Many hours were spent each year getting the pool ready, cleaning and closing it at the end of the season. The pool was 17,000 sq. ft...

John Pazour was elected as Mayor of Marion in 1933 and served as Mayor until 1941

A.R.McElwain elected as Second District Commander

In 1938, in reaction to an article where another post claimed to have all the rings and doubted any other post in the country did, this article was published in the local Newspaper.

More Flag Pole Ring information is with the gallery entitled Flag Pole Rings

1942 – 1945 No meetings were held, no records were kept during WWII.

1945 Gilbert Gordon was hired and put on a salary as the Marion’s Veterans Club Manger and Bookkeeper for over 25 years. A. McElwain was Post Adjutant for over 30 years. Membership dues were paid for all World War II veterans who had been honorably discharged. The post initiated over 210 World War II Veterans. We performed many community functions. The Post and Auxiliary help purchase $800 worth of band uniforms for the Marion High..

A mass initiation of new members at the end of WWII

Another Article about Marion Post having ALL the Flag Pole Rings from the Marion Gazette

In 1962, The American Legion Memorial Pool and Park was purchased by the city of Marion for $4,000. Earlier value had been placed at between $500,000 and $1,000,000. June 15, 1965 Congressman John Culver proclaimed Marion as “Flag City USA”; Legionnaires placed flags on 22 light poles, up town and business houses. In November 1967 the Marion Legion Post and the Auxiliary published their first newsletter. Katz Salvage installed a new flag pole. Feb. 16,..

Albert's son, Mike commanded 40 years later in 2007

 In 1969 a Veterans Memorial, “Freedom Flame”, was erected in the Marion City Park”, it honors all veterans. The plaque “1919-1969” was the 50th anniversary of the American Legion.

This building located on 12th Street and 6 Ave. was next to the Legion home, the New Dearborn Hotel. It was one of the 1st brick homes built in Marion, about 1843. It was torn down about 1969 to make room for the newer Legion addition.

At The American Legion Department of Iowa Convention in 1987, Bettie Andrews of Cedar Rapids was elected as the first female Commander for the Department of Iowa.

Vic Klopfstein Elected Mayor of Marion 1988-2003

2001 The Legion Color Guard wins first place at the Department Convention.

Post Member John Nieland Elected Mayor of Marion  2004-2007

At Department Summer convention, Bob Berridge selected as Department Legionnaire of the Year

Mike's father, Albert L. Etzel, commanded in 1967, 40 years before his son.

Post Member Paul Rehn Elected Mayor of Marion  2008-2011

Karl was succeeded by his wife as Commander

Mary Clapp became the first female commander of Post 298 in our elections in June, following her husband Carl as the previous commander.

Both are firsts for 298.  A husband and wife both commanding and a first female commander.

Post Member Snooks Bouska Elected Mayor of Marion  2012-2015

At the 99th Annual Convention of The Department of Iowa, Michael Etzel of Post 298, Marion was elected Department Commander.

Our own Denny Kendrick was one of 3 community Heroes selected by the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival committee for 2018.

https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Tribute-to-Heroes-Dennis-Kendrick-485068231.html?fbclid=IwAR1lnEpR0hA7TTtIsw-8pjeE-xC5y9MmBWO6K0_EwaF3pk6S2A-Pil7Y2dE

https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/community/freedom-fest-2018-cedar-rapids-iowa-june-14-the-hotel-at-kirkwood-center-20180610

He was recognized at the Tribute to Heroes Dinner, at the Voices of Hope..

On the evening of 8 November, Mayor Nicolas AbouAssaly  of Marion proclaimed 2019 as American Legion Centennial Year.   Mayor AbouAssaly presented the proclamation to Post 298 Commander Tom Thompson.

Albert Etzel - As Albert Etzel, 93, grabbed a photo album with “WWII” written on it and opened it up, the tears started to roll down his face as if the war was yesterday. As he pages through pictures from fighting in the South Pacific, he points to people he would consider the real heroes.