4th District Centennial Parade

Dick Munkres American Legion Post 287 of Savannah, Missouri celebrated the Centennial by hosting the 4th District Centennial Ceremonial Parade around the Andrew County Courthouse Square. The idea for the event came from Legionnaire Edner Rudolph, who also achieved 60 years of Continuous Membership this year! Legionnaire Rudolph shared the story at a regular meeting earlier this year, how Post 287 held a parade around the square to recognize The American Legion’s 50th anniversary. He asked the question, “How about repeating the historical event for the Centennial?” Dick Munkres American Legion Post 287 had 532 members in 1969. Today, the Post membership is at 235. Lacking the large numbers in membership, and large numbers of members who can march in a parade, the Centennial Parade was opened up to include the 21 Posts of the 4th District of the Department of Missouri. The idea was to replicate The American Legion’s National Parade, by having the 4th District Posts bring their American Legion Post Flag. Six Legion Posts participated in the Centennial Parade: • MacDonald-Dugger-Duncan-Petree Post 11, Saint Joseph • O’Howell-Strader Post 102, Barnard • Pony Express Post 359, Saint Joseph • Daniel-Shafer Post 445, Edgerton • Tri-C Memorial Post 464, Conception Junction • Host Post Dick Munkres Post 287, Savannah Three Sons of the American Legion Squadrons were represented: • Tri-C Memorial Squadron 464, Conception Junction • Pony Express Squadron 359, Saint Joseph • Host Squadron Dick Munkres Squadron 287, Savannah One Tractor Division participated: • Daniel-Shafer Tractor Cruiser 445th Division, Edgerton One American Legion Rider Chapter supported the Centennial Parade: • Host Chapter Dick Munkres American Legion Chapter 287, Savannah The Centennial Parade highlighted The American Legion’s National Children and Youth Month. Local Cub Scout Pack 60 and Boys Scouts Troop 60 marched along with the Legionnaires. A Boy Scout led the parade with our country’s Colors, followed by the other Scouting youth. The Centennial Parade VIP’s were two fellow Legionnaires who both had received Purple Hearts during their time in service. Bernard Winger of the Korean War (escorted in the 1943 Willy’s Jeep), and Vernon Wright of the Vietnam War (escorted by the 445th Tractor Division) were recognized by Andrew County Commissioner Bob Caldwell. Andrew County was recently designated as a “Purple Heart County” by the “Order of the Purple Hearts – USA.” A Purple Heart Recognition Ceremony took place at the halfway point of the parade at the site of the “1st Responders/Military Veterans Memorial.” Another special feature of the Centennial Parade was the resurrection from a storage garage of the Dick Munkres Post 287 Model T. For safety reasons, since none of us had any experience driving a Model T, the Model T was trailered. Department Historian Jerome Goolsby, along with Cathy Major and Steve Crockett, both of Post 287 were on hand to take pictures of the Centennial Parade. Legionnaire Marshall White, also a staff writer for The Savannah Reporter local newspaper, provided news media coverage. One goal of the ceremonial Centennial Parade was to have a positive image for The American Legion. The parade was held on a Sunday afternoon, so as to not interfere with the local churches and their services. We also did not want to have a negative impact on the local downtown businesses and apartment residents by tying up the streets during the normal business hours and days. We received great support from the Savannah Police Department, Savannah City Commissioner, the Cub/Boy Scouts, and the fellow Legion Family members and entities. Reflecting the 100 years of our beginning to present day via the Model-T to the 1943 Willy’s Jeep, and now our tractors and Legion Riders, was all done in the true spirit of Americanism.