American Legion 214 have decided to name the post after two soldiers from Willoughby, Ohio who were killed in action during World War I. Harold T. Palmer, 2nd LT, 5th Reg., U.S.M.C. Carl W. Roberts, SGT, Co M 145th Infantry, 37th Division U.S. Army

The application for Charter was approved by the Department of Ohio on October 23, 1919. Signatures on the Charter were as follows: H.H. Ball Harry H. Carrel J.A. Penfield John Spindle H.R. Shaw Thomas McGee Paul N. Downing S.R. Burns John Wicker Paul E. Keehn Albert Wicker Harold A. Fitch A.R. Mosley On November 6, 1919, the Post was formally organized and officers were elected. Commander – Harry H. Carrel 1st Vice Commander – Ben Daniels Adjutant – John Ryan Treasurer – Phillip Wells Chaplain – Reverend O.C. Jones Historian – George Talbot

The first national meeting was held in the U.S. on May 8th, 9th and 10th, 1919 in St. Louis. The meeting was called to order by Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. The eyes of the entire country were upon the caucus of this infant organization known as the American Legion. The members of the organization worked hard and efficiently and on September 16, 1919 the Congress of the United States granted the American Legion a national charter, an honor only conferred previously on the Boy Scouts of America. Back in Willoughby, Ohio, following the action by Congress, a small item appeared on the front page of the Willoughby Republican on October 10, 1919. It read as follows; “American Legion post to be formed in Willoughby. All Lake County soldiers are urged to attend a meeting at the Council Rooms Thursday evening, October 16, when preliminary steps will be taken towards forming an American Legion Post. H.H. Carrel will be here to help organize the Post.” The application for Charter was approved by the Department of Ohio on October 23, 1919. Signatures on the Charter were as follows: H.H. Ball Harry H. Carrel J.A. Penfield John Spindle H.R. Shaw Thomas McGee Paul N. Downing S.R. Burns John Wicker Paul E. Keehn Albert Wicker Harold A. Fitch A.R. Mosley On November 6, 1919, the Post was formally organized and officers were elected. Commander – Harry H. Carrel 1st Vice Commander – Ben Daniels Adjutant – John Ryan Treasurer – Phillip Wells Chaplain – Reverend O.C. Jones Historian – George Talbot An article appeared in The Willoughby Republican on November 14, 1919 announcing the event. “American Legion Post Formed in Willoughby, Ohio. Willoughby now has an American Legion Post. It was formed Thursday last, and has made a flying start Harry Carrel was the arranger and the boys are enthusiastic in their praise of him. The Thursday meeting was very spirited, full of vim and running over with enthusiasm. All boys who enroll up until 12:00pm Armistice Day will be regarded as charter members of the post.” 87 members had their names put on the charter. It was decided to name the post after two soldiers from Willoughby, Ohio who were killed in action during the war. Harold T. Palmer, 2nd LT., 5th Reg., U.S.M.C. Carl W. Roberts, SGT, Co. M 145th Infantry, 37th Division U.S. Army The original home of Palmer-Roberts Post 214 was located where the Memorial Junior Middle School now stands. The building was donated by the Willoughby War Memorial Commission. The Memorial Commission was formed for the purpose of deciding on a suitable memorial to honor the World War I veterans. After much discussion, the Commission decided it would be appropriate to provide this home to the newly formed American Legion post. It was presented to the post in a ceremony on November 11, 1920. The post occupied this building until 1925. After fire years, the post could no longer afford the upkeep of such a large building. It was decided to sell the property to the Board of Education for use as a site for a Memorial Junior High School. From January 1, 1925 until November 21, 1930 Palmer-Roberts held their meetings on the second floor at 4126 Erie Street (Route 20). In June of 1925 the American Legion Auxiliary received their charter. Beginning in November 1930, meetings were held on the second floor at the old Willoughby Hardware building at 4148 Erie Street. A dedication ceremony was held on November 21st, 1930. On April 1, 1940, the post moved into its present home on Center Street in Willoughby. The front room upstairs was arranged with a table and chairs so the Auxiliary could meet on April 4th. This was the first regular meeting to be held in the new home. In January of 1978 the Sons of the American Legion received their charter. Great-Granddaughter of Carl W. Roberts came to the Post. Jennifer Peeters is the Great Granddaughter of SGT Carl W. Roberts and was our honored guest. Jennifer husband Jean-Pol Peeters is a 7 year veteran of the United States Air Force. Jean-Pol and Jennifer Peeters are our newest members of American Legion Post 214 Palmer-Roberts. In World War I, the U.S. Army chose Willoughby as the site for a chemical weapons plant producing lewisite. During this time, a young man named Carl W. Roberts heard the calling to serve his country like many young men of that day did. Pvt. Carl W. Roberts entered the Ohio Army National Guard on May 7, 1917. He was assigned to Company M 1-145th Infantry out of Painesville, Ohio. He quickly made rank to SGT in August 1917. On September 12, 1917, Carl W. Roberts married Gladys Marguerite Lynn. Carl's unit was shortly deployed to the European Theater. While serving in Europe Carl received 3 purple heart. On November 4th, 1918, while in Belgium at the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, he was killed in action and is buried in Flanders Field, Belgium. On December 8, 1918 Carl and Gladys's daughter, Mildred E Roberts, was born. In 2014, Carl's grave was assigned to a care giver named Geert De Backer, a Belgian national. His duties were explained in his own words "As from now, it's my duty to look after him (put beautiful flowers on Memorial Day, Nov. 11th, etc." Geert was able to do some background history on Carl, but was having a hard time finding all the information. Geert was able to track down information about Post 214 Palmer-Roberts. From there the two parties emailed back and forth and Geert was able to find information to contact Jennifer Peeters, the Great Granddaughter of Carl W. Roberts. On July 12-16, 2016, Jennifer and her husband Jean-Pol Peeters visited in Willoughby, Ohio at Post 214. On July 12, the Mayor of Willoughby, David E. Anderson, presented Jennifer with a Proclamation in Honor of Carl W. Roberts. The next day Soldiers' from Headquarters Company 1-145th Infantry presented her with her great grandfathers 48 Star American Flag, with Taps playing in the background. Jennifer and her husband Jean-Pol enjoyed their time in Willoughby and the Cleveland area.