May 15, 1919
On May 15, 1919, Wright Tarbell from Watertown attended the temporary organizational meeting of the American Legion in Vermillion, South Dakota. Upon returning to Watertown, he and other veterans held a meeting on May 19, 1919, for the purpose of starting an American Legion Post in Watertown. On May 20, 1919, the second meeting was held for the purpose of naming the Post. Discussion was held on what to name the Post on the charter..

Nov 29, 1944
During WWII the US War Department had a program. Any group or entity raising $10,000,000 or more selling war bonds would have a "Liberty Ship" named after their group. By the summer of 1944, Codington Co. Post 17 had sold $16,564,244 in war bonds. AK-173 - USS Codington was launched 29 Nov. 1944 by Froemming Brothers Inc. in Milwaukee Wis. under a Maritime Commission contract and commissioned at Galveston Tx. 23 July 1945 under the..

Sep 18, 1982
Quoting an article in the Watertown Public Opinion by Bob Mooney written for Saturday, Sept. 18th, 1982. "Fifty years ago today, the ship's bell from the USS South Dakota was dedicated in its newly created berth at Memorial Park on the northwest side of Lake Kampeska. The Bell that serves as a lasting reminder of a once proud fighting ship never belonged to the battleship that prowled the Pacific Ocean during WWII, immortalizing itself in..

Mar 10, 2016
Dean Halahan, on right, received his 50 year continuous membership certificate for Post Commander Dana Jones, on left.