Wendland Post of the American Legion honors civil war veterans.
When the boys of '61-'65 members of the old Grand Army of the Republic as their honored guests, the boys of '17-'18 members of the new Grand Army of the Republic, banqueted Wednesday evening at the high school gym. The event was the first annual banquet of Frank Wendland Post 253, American Legion.
The six G.A.R. Veterans present were, Joseph B. Grow. John Monroe, Robert Hawthorne, George W. Blakmon, Alfred F. Wilcox and R. A. Parker, but W. H. Addis was unable to attend due to the illness of his wife.
Dinner was prepared by the ladies' Union of the Congregational Church. Commander Ernest W. Osborne introduced, George J. Scott, Secretary of the local exemption board as Toastmaster. The most stirring address was given by Dr. B. O'Conner, of Ferndale who served with the Canadians as a medical Captain, from September 1914 until early in 1918, when he was discharged as medically unfit after been wounded several different times.
Lyle D. Taber, State Adjutant, explained the history of the Legion briefly and then told of the four types of service for which it stands-Service to country, to dead comrades, to their dependents, and the living comrades, he also the Wendland Post organize a women's auxillary.
Village President E.J. Ledrle, after asserting that the community as a whole is proud of the American Legion and hopes that it's members will stick together closely, said,"What wonderful idealism we found, in America after we got into the war, how quickly we got together. What instilled this spirit to throw away all other thoughts but to a successful persecution of the war?"
"I hope that you members of the American Legion will see to it that we instill into the young the patriotism which we were taught. Make your influence felt in the community. Lastly, honor your fallen comrades and heroes of our earlier wars, and brush up your uniforms and be out on Memorial Day."