The American Legion was first organized in Paris, France in March 1919, The Glen Stafford Post 198, Department of South Dakota received its charter from The American Legion dated on the Second day of September 1920. Glen Stafford Post 198 is dedicated to the memory of Glen Stafford, a young land agent who lived in the community but a short time. He was called into the service of his country during World War I and died of the flu shortly after entering the service.
Those members of the Elkton Post signing the charter were: Max Hammer, Emil E. Weber, Thomas E. Coughlin, Albert L. Thielen, Richard J. McCarthy, Raymond C. Maloney, Thomas P. Heffernan, Joseph P. O’Donnell, August C. Hartwig, Fred Engelbrecht, Robert Main, Claude C. Brantner, John E. Dunn, Ray Alberts, John Noathe, and Robert C. Roberts.
The first commander of the Elkton Post 198 was Max Hammer. The first club room for the post was over the Hodge Hardware which was the Lovely’s Grocery which today is the north side of BankStar Financial.
Later the Post purchased the old foundry building located on the site where the war memorial was located north of the old City Auditorium. This land extended all the way south to the old auditorium. That old memorial was update several times over the years and finally a granite engraved stone was set in to replace the veterans names which were in need of repair. When the city sold the City Auditorium to B & H Company the monument had to be moved.
The present site of the war monument is just north of the Community Center which was built in 2000. The block and brick foundation and surround for the granite stone was laid by Hans Rupp Masonry and a paver monument was established where paver could be purchased to recognize veterans from the Elkton area. The start of the base includes those service personnel killed in action: Eugene Belson, Glen Stafford, George Haley, Earl Bolte, Fred Monk, Harold Belson, John Gebhart, Rudolph Bartelt, Frank Coughlin, Harold Anderson, Marvin Risch, Donald Mangan, F.W. Karsten, Lambert Hegerfeld, William Cassidy, Emery Risch, David Fjerstad, Rollie Rohrer, Matheau Lorang and Francis Crystal. Also the Gold Star Mothers: Ethel Belson, Margaret Gebhart, Mathilda Bartelt, Mary Coughlin, Anna Risch, Mary Mangan, Christine Karstens, Anna Hegerfeld, Mae Cassidy and Marjorie Fjerstad are included.
For several years the Post sponsored a Junior Legion baseball team, the last being in 1966. Since then the Legion has annually funded the summer baseball program with its gift of $2500. Other activities sponsored by the Post include annual Poultry festivals, Boys Staters on an annual basis, Veterans Day program given at the school, spouse suppers in February.
In June of 1963 the Legion Post purchased new flags and poles and standards and installed a set of 3 flag standards on 16 light poles on Main Street and flags are placed on appropriate holidays and special occasions including funerals of all veterans. The post has been a very active post for many years and has been recognized almost every year since the early 50s until 2009 with the Go Getter award.
Annually the post holds their Memorial Day observance with guest speakers, special music and recognition of Boys and Girls Staters. The Post has presented members with special recognition certificates for membership in the post for 50, 60 and two members with 70 year participation in the Legion. As part of the Memorial Day observance Legion members Dennis Lundgren and H.E. “Jack” Hegerfeld walk the three cemeteries and place flags at each veteran’s grave site, which is over 100 graves.
In October of each year the Post holds a ceremony to properly dispose of worn flags gathered from residents. The ceremony is open to the public and in past years Girl Scouts, Boy and Cub Scouts along with interested citizens have helped in the proper disposal of flags by burning them.
The Post continues to provide military honors at the burial of any veteran whose family requests it.

Submitted by
Dennis R. Lundgren
Post Adjutant

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