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 application. The members determined the name shall be the Codington County American Legion Post. July 14, 1919, nine veterans from Watertown attended the First State Convention of the American Legion held in Sioux Falls and received their Post Charter. Numbers were assigned to all American Legion Posts at this convention in the order of their charter application. Codington County Post of Watertown received the number 17 to be included in their name. Thus Codington County Post 17 of Watertown is the new name of the American Legion Post in Watertown.
The regular Post meetings of the Post were held at the Grand Army of the Republic building in Watertown from 1919-1926. In the late 1920’s, Codington County was in the process of building a new courthouse. The county ran low on funds to finish the construction of the courthouse. Codington County American Legion Post 17 donated money to the county to finish the construction of the new courthouse. In 1926, the Codington County Commissioners approved the third floor of the courthouse be dedicated to the American Legion at no cost. In 1926, Post 17 and American Legion State Headquarters moved into the third floor of the new courthouse. Due to the increase in membership, Post 17 was in need of more meeting space. In 1944, the Watertown Steam Laundry building was put up for sale for the amount of $3,000. Following a Post 17 meeting, thirty Legionnaires donated $100 each so that they could purchase their first Post Home. With three floors to the new building, adequate space was available for the membership.
Through the years as membership continued to increase, the Post felt the growing pains and was in need of a larger Post Home. Through donations received by deceased Legionnaires, the Post acquired parcels of property. In 1978, the Post traded one parcel of property for another parcel of property located right off Highway 212. In 1979, a new Post home was built on this site and remains the Post Home today. In the construction of the Post Home, volunteer labor was used, which included many Legionnaires.
The Post has had many leaders in the State of South Dakota, including two State Commanders, Commander Carroll H. Lockhart in 1930-1931 and Commander Byron Callies in 2012-2013. Many other Department Officers including State Vice Commanders, State Adjutant, State Children & Youth Vice Chairman, State Chaplain, State Finance Officer and District Commanders to name a few came out of Post 17.
The American Legion Family of Post 17 includes: the American Legion Auxiliary, which was chartered in January of 1923; Sons of the American Legion, which was chartered in September of 1997; and the Legion Riders program was approved in 2002. The Auxiliary programs revolve around Girls State, promoting the Poppy program, Children & Youth and supporting the Post, including serving meals for the Post. The local SAL uses their steak night as a fundraiser to help support their Bike Safety program. Upon completion of the course the safety helmets are given to those attending the course. The Legion Riders have grown to 42 members and are still growing. They host many rides, including rides to the Vietnam Wall and across the county visiting veterans memorial and placing a wreath at the foot of each memorial. They also support the National Legacy Run, raising money for scholarships for the children of fallen veterans.
Throughout the Post history, many Legionnaires have been honored for their dedication and service to American Legion. Legionnaires being awarded life memberships include; Wright Tarbell, Emil Micke, Bert Tollefson, Paul E. Goodell, Lonnie Wietgrefe, J. Maurice Redmond, Richard Vohlken, Hilmer Moen, Ted Meyer and LaVerne Cordell.
The Post has been very important in helping the Community of Watertown. For example, the Post saved the World War I wartime funds and used these funds to purchase Memorial Park & the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial in the Codington County Courthouse yard. After the Korean Conflict, the community was in need of a new National Guard Armory. The Post donated the land for a new Armory to be built in Watertown. This facility served the National Guard up until the building of the new Readiness Center in 2013.
Through the years Codington County Post 17 has been very active in the programs of The American Legion. Some of the programs are: Sponsoring of an American Legion Baseball Team, sending 17 boys to Boys State, sponsoring Boys Scout Troops, Oratorical program, Youth Trooper Academy, hosting patriotic programs, leading parades with color guard, providing education on flag etiquette in schools, sponsoring scholarships for high school seniors, ZooBoo for kids at the Zoo and sponsoring cookies for veterans. The Post purchases and hands out to school children flags, color books and pencils. The Post started delivering 20 dozen cookies to veterans in nursing homes but has expanded to delivering approximately 150 dozen cookies to veterans, teachers and community entities. The Post Color Guard performs more than 30 funerals per year for our Fallen Veterans.
Other community events the Post is involved with are sponsoring a bowling team, sponsoring youth softball team, a veteran’s softball team, host a Family Night Out, assisting in the Toys for Tots program,
Codington County Post 17 has served fellow veterans and their families, children and their community since it was chartered and looks forward to the next 100 years serving God and Country.

View more history for Post 17 in Watertown, South Dakota