In 1922 seventeen local women, many from very prominent families, gathered to organize our unit. They received the Charter on March 27th, 1922, However the Charter was not signed and the unit established until October 11, 1923. The following ladies were the names on the Charter that established Unit 5 of the American Legion Auxiliary : Mrs. RH(Lottie) Dallmeyer, Mrs. T.O. Towles, Mrs. Harry Edwards, Mrs. Foster McHenry, Mrs. John Delahay, Mrs. Lester Sone, Miss Lottie N. Delahay, Mrs. L. David Enloe, Mrs. Ed S. Ramsey, Mrs. Fred H. Tanner, Mrs. Edith Tanner, Mrs. A.C. Weigel, Mrs. R.R. Nacy, Miss Patricia Nacy, Miss Honora Nacy, Mrs. Louis G. Schell, Mrs. Phillip Dallmeyer, Mrs. S.B. Cook, Mrs. Jeno Grotoff, Mrs. Paul R. Schmidt, Mrs. R.M. Talbert, Miss Elisabeth Talbert, Miss Mary N. Sone, Mrs. Bertha Blackwell, Mrs. A. Linxwiler, Mrs. Fred Manchester, Mrs. W.R. Foster, Mrs. C. Czarlinsky, Mrs. W.A. Moore, Miss Kate Moore, Mrs. J.R. Bundy, Mrs. L.B. Landman Jr, Mrs. Harding Ferguson, Mrs. R.L. Gulinn, Miss Margaret Anne Nacy, Mrs J.O. Heisinger, Mrs. C.F. Gansloser, Mrs. Howard Cook, Mrs. C.B. Coulin, Mrs. W.F. Sappenfield, Mrs. H.L. Kirby, Mrs. Wade Condit, Mrs. Stella Lindley, Mrs. Ray Vineyard, Miss Gussie A. Lindley, Mrs J.H. Silvey, Mrs. D.W. Peters, Miss Nadine Allen, Mrs. John Thompson, Mrs. James Snorgrass, Miss Ludwina Allen, Mrs. W. C. Hoefer, Mrs. George Wangem, Miss Sybil Stewart, Mrs. L.S. Parker, Mrs. S.P. Howard, Mrs. Houck McHenry.
The Unit had 46 members that first year. The first officers were Mrs. Sam B. Cook, president, Mrs. Harry Edwards, Vice President, Patricia Nacy, Secretary, Mrs. R.H. Dallmeyer, Treasurer, Mrs. R.R. Nacy, Sgt at arms, Mrs. J.H. Silvey, Chaplain.
The first meeting place was the American Legion Hall at 111 Madison Street , which is across the street from the Governor's Mansion.
Charter member Miss Pat Nacy served as Unit 5 President 4 times years, District President for 2 years then was elected Department Treasurer in 1933 and served at least 9 years. She was presented the Life Membership Award in 1970 for her many years of service. During the Celebration of the American Legion Birthday in 1995 she was presented a bouquet of flowers by a new member as the last living charter member of Unit 5.
Unit 5 recognized it's Gold Star Mother's, in 1950 they were, Mrs. Sam Steigel, Mrs. Ben Markway, Mrs. Lawrence Zimmmerman, Mrs. Foster Wheatley, Mrs. Wilkie Cunningham, Mrs. Paul McDaniel SR, Mrs E.G. Parmalee.
Our history shows many activities the Auxiliary participated in during the 40's and 50's such as: Unit 5 sponsored a War Bond Drive on October 22,1942. On November 9, 1942 the Unit handled the sale of War Stamps in booths set up in stores in downtown Jefferson City. In May of 1943 the Auxiliary honored War Mothers and Army Navy Mothers at a tea. They celebrated "Molly Pitcher Day" by selling war bonds and stamps. They held an Ice Cream Social where a ticket was 25 cents for ice cream and cake. This activity continued for many years. In 1950, Mrs. R.H.(Bernice) Mueller, Unit 5 was permanently awarded the Doris Jones Gavel Bell award for the best community wide participation in the Pan American Study program for three years. She donated the Gavel Bell to Unit 5 and it is still used today. Betty L. Baker in 1944 became the first member of our unit to enter the service of our country when she joined the U.S. Marine Corp Women's Reserve. In the late 1940's Unit 5, had a membership of more than 740. In 1944, 37 " energetic young ladies" were junior members of our unit.
Girls State has always been a very important program for Unit 5. In 1945, 21 delegates were sent to Girls State by our Unit. They were from Simonsen High, Senior High, Immaculate Conception Convent and St Peter's High. In 1955 a Unit 5 Girls State delegate was selected to attend Girls Nation where she held the post of Secretary of the Air Force. Our Unit continues to send high school junior girls to Missouri Girls State and several unit members volunteer as staff for each Girls State session. This year, 2014 we will send 17 girls from 5 area schools.
In 1956 we assisted with Memorial Day services at the National Cemetery and we continue to take part in these services. Our Unit became a member of Council of Clubs, a civic organization that supports needs in our community. We continue that affiliation today it serves as an information sharing group.
Our annual Poppy drive has a wonderful and varied history. Unit 5 sponsored a little Miss Poppy Contest in 1959 the winner was Miss Cheryl Kay Akre, age 3 she was the, youngest junior member of Unit 5. In May of 1974 a picture of a Missouri prison inmate distributing a poppy to a passerby was published. Also published was a picture of John Ashcroft, then State Auditor receiving a poppy from Shannon Humpreys, age 2 and Lyndon Steele, age 11. Both were grandchildren of Unit 5 presidents. We have used several activities to promote our Poppy Drive including , a Poppy hat decorating contest, filling a long banner spelling out "For God and Country" in poppies and filling a mock up of Flanders Field with poppies.
On October 29, 1960 the new home of the American Legion was dedicated on Highway 54 South. In 1962 Mrs. Romajean Simpson was the President of Unit 5, she remained active with our unit holding several offices until her death in 2013. She was a member for more than 50 years. During that time we assisted with the Legion Paper Drive, we held an Americanism Essay Contest and participated in parades in downtown Jefferson City. In 1960 a Unit 5 member represented Missouri in the American Legion School of Communism in New Mexico.
In 1961, two members were honored as "Women of Achievement " In Jefferson City, they were Miss Anne Kallenbach and Mrs. Robert Hadlick. In 2013, Claudia Goodin was honored with the same award.
In December of 1959 we were recognized for our support of Boys Town of Missouri, in 2013 we assisted with Christmas gift wrapping for Boys and Girls town of Missouri.
In the 1970's, Mrs. Buell (Marge) Baclesse served as Unit President. She revitalized our unit by recruiting new members and increasing participation in programs. She continued her service to the Auxiliary and served as Department President in 1977-78.
In the 1990's Mary Alice Webster served as Department Secretary. After her retirement she became Unit 5 President then went on to become Department President in 2001.
Claudia Goodin also served as Unit 5 President before serving as Department president.
Currently our membership is between 450 -500 members. We are a very active unit assisting the Post with many activities such assupporting the baseball program, Boys State, and the Cadet Patrol program. We support Veterans by giving Christmas gifts to veterans in Nursing Homes, we donate to the coffee fund at the VA Medical Center and the Christmas Gift Shop. We support Veterans under the care of our county administrator. We have made donations to help homeless veterans. We make donations to the USO. We have sent Pocket Flags and made cards for deployed troops. Some members assist with the Veterans Appreciation Dinner and the Wreaths for Heroes' programs. We support community service projects, Project Prom and Project Graduations and Trunk or Treat. We decorate the Post home for holidays and special dinners. We decorate floats for the Fourth of July parade.
We have a wealth of history and hope to continue to support our Veterans, our active duty military, our youth and our community in the next 100 years.
