History of Pound-Uhre Post 210

The American Legion was organized as the McKinley Pound Post 210 in 1920 with William Sibley as commander. The group disbanded in 1933 and some of its members joined the group in Mitchell. In 1945, it was re-organized with William D. Anderson as commander. It was re-named the Pound-Uhre Post. McKinley Pound was the only Mount Vernon soldier killed in the first world war, and Dale Uhre was the first Mount Vernon service member to loose his life in the second world war. He died July 1, 1944. His memorial is at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines. He was a motor machinist's mate 2nd Class.
One member of the post, Mart Schuster, served in the army in both wars.
In 1962, the legion bought the Abbin Grocery store and converted it to a meeting hall. An attractive entrance was constructed and the first part of the store became a meeting hall. The walls were paneled, the ceiling lowered and new lights installed. At the rear of the room, rest rooms were installed. The back part was tuned into a large kitchen. The legion held its annual pancake feed here and other groups rent it for meetings, wedding receptions and open house celebrations. It also is the voting place for Mount Vernon and surrounding townships. There are bingo games every Saturday night. Roller-skating after school is out in the city auditorium and sponsored by the legion.
The post sponsored at one time a junior legion baseball and a basketball team.
The legion continues its sports program for the young and sends a high school boy to Boys State every year. At funerals, the legion acts as honor guard and the Auxiliary serves lunch. They plan the Memorial Day program which is held in the City auditorium, followed by an exercise at the Legion Plot in the Mount Vernon Cemetery.
A cross is erected for every deceased Mount Vernon Legionnaire and Auxiliary member. Small children place wreaths on each cross, the name of the person is read; and an American flag is provided for he grave of each war veteran. A similar ceremony used to be conducted by the Women's Relief Corps. Flowers were carried on a stretcher, and as the group passed a grave with a flag, a child placed a small bouquet on it.
The Legion membership in November 1980 was 96 members.
The 2016 officers are: Commander Gerald Koch; Vice commander Darrell Espedal; Adjutant Duane Spencer; Americanism Gene Deinert; Finance Dean Baker; Chaplain James Jorgenson; Historian Tom Greenway; Sergeant-at-arms Don Carlson; Athletic Officer Dean Baker; Service Officer Alan Zens; Children and youth Tom Pranger. Same officers for 2017.