Post 79 Marshall, Michigan

Post 79

Marshall, Michigan

Post 79 Marshall, Michigan

About This Post

Post Namesake

Stanley E Lamb

Notable Members
  • Charter Post 79 OFFICERS
  • Vice Post Commander Ross E. Church
  • Post Adjutant: Ellsworth B. More
  • Post Finance Officer George O. Quick
  • Post HistorianGeorge E. Ruddock
  • Pos

    A Brief History of the American Legion Post #79

     

    In honor of the American Legion Post #79 celebrating its 100th anniversary, guest writer John Twist has given a short history of the American Legion in Marshall.

     

    Each war has its own veterans' organizations.   From the Civil War came the GAR; from the Spanish wars, the United Spanish War Veterans.  

     

    Conceived in Paris and born in St. Louis in May 1919, the American Legion's first assembly met to establish a site for their first national convention, planned for November of 1919.   

     

    Later that month, Lieutenant George Maines of Battle Creek, who had attended the St.  Louis meeting, ran a small advert in the Marshall Statesman soliciting war veterans for a Calhoun County Post.  But posts were intended to be more local than countywide.

     

    The prospect of a Marshall American Legion post was supported by Mayor Moon in his address at the homecoming celebration given by the city of Marshall for the returning soldiers, sailors and marines, on Aug. 12, 1919.  

     

    The organizers of the Marshall Post, Dr. Abbott and Ellsworth More, had already petitioned the state for sanction.  Their application was dated Aug. 12, 1919, and the resulting charter was issued Aug. 18, 1919.  

    The organizers announced a meeting to be held in the  evening of Sept. 25, 1919 at the GAR Hall.  About 35 former servicemen attended and signed the application for a charter.  

     

    A further meeting on  Sept. 28, 1919 was held at the Marshall Motor Car Company sales room in the Murphy block.

     

    Officers were elected, by-laws adopted, dues settled, and the post named.   Post 79 honored Eton Stanley Lamb, the first Marshall boy killed in World War I.

     

    The organizers accidentally swapped Stanley's first and middle names so the post is named the Stanley E Lamb Post.  The error has never been corrected.

     

    At about the same time, a Legion post was formed in Albion honoring its first war dead, Patrick Lee Hanlon.

     

     

     

    The Stanley Lamb Post charter officers were:


    Dr. W. H. Niles, Post Commander                                   

    Ross E. Church, Post Vice-Commander

    Ellsworth B. More, Post Adjutant                                                                 

    George O. Quick, Post Finance Officer

    George E. Ruddock, Post Historian                               

    Dr. Nelson Abbott, Post Chaplain


     

     

    On Nov 5, 1919, a meeting attended by nearly 100 local men was addressed by Col. Gansser, state commander, to explain about the Legion.  

     

    Mayor Moon, also attending, supported any efforts that would benefit the city - morally, mentally and physically.  Not everyone was “on board” in support of the Legion. At Christmastime in 1919, the local Auto-mobile, Aircraft and Vehicle Workers of America in Detroit voted to fine its members $500 if they joined the Legion. Editorials followed urging the Legion to remain aloof from politics.

     

    The first state convention was held in Grand Rapids Nov. 12. Delegates were named to attend the first national convention.  By November, the Stanley Lamb Post had organized a shooting day which was to be attended by some of the best marksmen in the country. Proceeds benefited the post.  

     During the 1920s, Post 79 supported worthy civic projects. They were the first organization to donate to the city hospital fund, Nov. 1, 1921, making a $100.00 unsolicited contribution.  

     

    They equipped all the graves of former servicemen with markers (legion metal markers) and oversaw the proper decoration of those graves on Memorial Day.  They sponsored a Boy Scout troop in addition to supporting scouting in the area as well as sponsoring as sponsoring a junior baseball team.  

     

    The Legion hosted a charity ball on New Year's Eve, the proceeds of which were donated to charity. The Legion also kept a war relic museum in the trophy room of the Legion Home.

     

    In 1919, the post met at the Marshall Motor Car Company and later at the Masonic Temple where they remained for several years.   The post moved into the old Bush property after one dwelling was razed and the other remodeled at 205 W. Mansion, just across from the Presbyterian Church.  This new post was dedicated May 27, 1934.  The post sold that property in 1954 and moved onto W. Michigan Avenue.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The auxiliary was organized on May 5, 1921 at the club room at the Marshall City Library.  The temporary chairman was Mrs. E. A. Hoeltzel.  Officers were elected in July:

     


    Mrs. Aura Smith, President                                               

    Mrs. E. A. Hoeltzel, Vice President

    Mrs. Harry B. Smith, Secretary                                                                      

    Mrs. Albert C. Burgy, Treasurer

    Mrs. Joseph Cunningham, Chaplain                              

    Mrs. Erwin Katz, Publicity


    ·       The executive board included Mrs. Deville Hubbard, Mrs. B. K. Bentley and Mrs. Starr Seegal.

    ·       The work of the auxiliary was child welfare, rehabilitation and Americanism Legislative.

    ·       When George Ruddock, Post Adjutant, answered H.C. Brooks' enquiry about the history of the post, he reported that in January of 1937, there was a membership of 80, including 15 charter members.  

    ·       The auxiliary boasted 70 members, of whom eight were charter.

     

    In the centennial parade, July 4, 1930, the Legion won first prize for its trench-in-action float and took the Sweepstakes Cup.  The float was manned by a contingent of soldiers from Camp Custer.  

     

    From the Marshall Chronicle:

    “The American Legion float was awarded the sweepstakes prize as well as the prize for the best local decorated float.  

    The float represented an actual wartime scene.  Trenches topped by sandbags, barbed wire entanglements, machine guns, army rifles, and the soldiers in uniform were all a part of the float, which was constructed on the large truck, twelve feet wide, belonging to the county road commission.  

    The trenches were so constructed that several soldiers were able to occupy them, keeping the position to “duck” if necessary, but for parade purposes, at least, maintained a position ready to fire upon the enemy.  

    The decision of the judges proved a popular one.  From the standpoint of beauty alone there were, of course, other floats to be considered, but for originality of idea, and the carrying out of a definite worthwhile idea, the American Legion float had no peer.”

     

    Over the years the Legion has called several locations its home.  Membership has waxed and waned, changing with the times and is now largely populated with Vietnam War veterans.  

     

    The 100th anniversary of Post 79 list of Officer’s includes…

     

    Commander:                                                Charles Baker

    Adjutant:                                                       Sonja Patrick

    1st Vice Commander:                               Donald Kujawa

    2nd Vice Commander:                              Michael Menard

    Finance Officer:                                          Robert Lake

    Service Officer:                                           Donald Weberling

    Historian:                                                      Catherine Hayes

    Sergeant-At-Arms:                                   Tom Brownell

    Chaplain:                                                       George Youngdahl

    Members-at-Large:                                  Mark Patton & James Coats

     

     
     

     


     

     

        
     
     
      

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


     


     

     
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    A Brief History of the American Legion Post #79

     

    In honor of the American Legion Post #79 celebrating its 100th anniversary, guest writer John Twist has given a short history of the American Legion in Marshall.

     

    Each war has its own veterans' organizations.   From the Civil War came the GAR; from the Spanish wars, the United Spanish War Veterans.  

     

    Conceived in Paris and born in St. Louis in May 1919, the American Legion's first assembly met to establish a site for their first national convention, planned for November of 1919.   

     

    Later that month, Lieutenant George Maines of Battle Creek, who had attended the St.  Louis meeting, ran a small advert in the Marshall Statesman soliciting war veterans for a Calhoun County Post.  But posts were intended to be more local than countywide.

     

    The prospect of a Marshall American Legion post was supported by Mayor Moon in his address at the homecoming celebration given by the city of Marshall for the returning soldiers, sailors and marines, on Aug. 12, 1919.  

     

    The organizers of the Marshall Post, Dr. Abbott and Ellsworth More, had already petitioned the state for sanction.  Their application was dated Aug. 12, 1919, and the resulting charter was issued Aug. 18, 1919.  

    The organizers announced a meeting to be held in the  evening of Sept. 25, 1919 at the GAR Hall.  About 35 former servicemen attended and signed the application for a charter.  

     

    A further meeting on  Sept. 28, 1919 was held at the Marshall Motor Car Company sales room in the Murphy block.

     

    Officers were elected, by-laws adopted, dues settled, and the post named.   Post 79 honored Eton Stanley Lamb, the first Marshall boy killed in World War I.

     

    The organizers accidentally swapped Stanley's first and middle names so the post is named the Stanley E Lamb Post.  The error has never been corrected.

     

    At about the same time, a Legion post was formed in Albion honoring its first war dead, Patrick Lee Hanlon.

     

     

     

    The Stanley Lamb Post charter officers were:


    Dr. W. H. Niles, Post Commander                                   

    Ross E. Church, Post Vice-Commander

    Ellsworth B. More, Post Adjutant                                                                 

    George O. Quick, Post Finance Officer

    George E. Ruddock, Post Historian                               

    Dr. Nelson Abbott, Post Chaplain


     

     

    On Nov 5, 1919, a meeting attended by nearly 100 local men was addressed by Col. Gansser, state commander, to explain about the Legion.  

     

    Mayor Moon, also attending, supported any efforts that would benefit the city - morally, mentally and physically.  Not everyone was “on board” in support of the Legion. At Christmastime in 1919, the local Auto-mobile, Aircraft and Vehicle Workers of America in Detroit voted to fine its members $500 if they joined the Legion. Editorials followed urging the Legion to remain aloof from politics.

     

    The first state convention was held in Grand Rapids Nov. 12. Delegates were named to attend the first national convention.  By November, the Stanley Lamb Post had organized a shooting day which was to be attended by some of the best marksmen in the country. Proceeds benefited the post.  

     During the 1920s, Post 79 supported worthy civic projects. They were the first organization to donate to the city hospital fund, Nov. 1, 1921, making a $100.00 unsolicited contribution.  

     

    They equipped all the graves of former servicemen with markers (legion metal markers) and oversaw the proper decoration of those graves on Memorial Day.  They sponsored a Boy Scout troop in addition to supporting scouting in the area as well as sponsoring as sponsoring a junior baseball team.  

     

    The Legion hosted a charity ball on New Year's Eve, the proceeds of which were donated to charity. The Legion also kept a war relic museum in the trophy room of the Legion Home.

     

    In 1919, the post met at the Marshall Motor Car Company and later at the Masonic Temple where they remained for several years.   The post moved into the old Bush property after one dwelling was razed and the other remodeled at 205 W. Mansion, just across from the Presbyterian Church.  This new post was dedicated May 27, 1934.  The post sold that property in 1954 and moved onto W. Michigan Avenue.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The auxiliary was organized on May 5, 1921 at the club room at the Marshall City Library.  The temporary chairman was Mrs. E. A. Hoeltzel.  Officers were elected in July:

     


    Mrs. Aura Smith, President                                               

    Mrs. E. A. Hoeltzel, Vice President

    Mrs. Harry B. Smith, Secretary                                                                      

    Mrs. Albert C. Burgy, Treasurer

    Mrs. Joseph Cunningham, Chaplain                              

    Mrs. Erwin Katz, Publicity


    • The executive board included Mrs. Deville Hubbard, Mrs. B. K. Bentley and Mrs. Starr Seegal.
    • The work of the auxiliary was child welfare, rehabilitation and Americanism Legislative.
    • When George Ruddock, Post Adjutant, answered H.C. Brooks' enquiry about the history of the post, he reported that in January of 1937, there was a membership of 80, including 15 charter members.  
    • The auxiliary boasted 70 members, of whom eight were charter.

     

    In the centennial parade, July 4, 1930, the Legion won first prize for its trench-in-action float and took the Sweepstakes Cup.  The float was manned by a contingent of soldiers from Camp Custer.  

     

    From the Marshall Chronicle:

    “The American Legion float was awarded the sweepstakes prize as well as the prize for the best local decorated float.  

    The float represented an actual wartime scene.  Trenches topped by sandbags, barbed wire entanglements, machine guns, army rifles, and the soldiers in uniform were all a part of the float, which was constructed on the large truck, twelve feet wide, belonging to the county road commission.  

    The trenches were so constructed that several soldiers were able to occupy them, keeping the position to “duck” if necessary, but for parade purposes, at least, maintained a position ready to fire upon the enemy.  

    The decision of the judges proved a popular one.  From the standpoint of beauty alone there were, of course, other floats to be considered, but for originality of idea, and the carrying out of a definite worthwhile idea, the American Legion float had no peer.”

     

    Over the years the Legion has called several locations its home.  Membership has waxed and waned, changing with the times and is now largely populated with Vietnam War veterans.  

     

    The 100th anniversary of Post 79 list of Officer’s includes…

     

    Commander:                                                Charles Baker

    Adjutant:                                                       Sonja Patrick

    1st Vice Commander:                               Donald Kujawa

    2nd Vice Commander:                              Michael Menard

    Finance Officer:                                          Robert Lake

    Service Officer:                                           Donald Weberling

    Historian:                                                      Catherine Hayes

    Sergeant-At-Arms:                                   Tom Brownell

    Chaplain:                                                       George Youngdahl

    Members-at-Large:                                  Mark Patton & James Coats

     
      

     


     

        
      
     
       

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


     


     

     

     
      

     

     

     

     

     

     

    t ChaplainDr. Nelson Abbott

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