Fulton-Farmer-Epiphany History 1919 to 2016

Fulton-Farmer-Epiphany American Legion Post 85
October 1919—February 2016
Fulton American Legion Post 85, Department of South Dakota was chartered on October 13, 1919 with 15 members listed on the post charter. Than at the December 19, 1952 post meeting a motion was made to rename the post to Fulton-Farmer-Epiphany Post 85. It appears that the new charter reflecting the name change was dated February 26, 1953.
Members of the post had many different types of fund raising activities though out the years and supported many causes from these fund raisers. Some of the fund raisers were coyote, pheasant and rabbit hunts and trap shooting competitions. They also held an annual “Monte Carlo” game night. In the 1940’s and 1950’s the post, along with the local auxiliary would sponsor dances to raise funds for various causes.
In September 1930, the post was asked to provide ex-service members to wagon duty as guards for the National Corn Picking contest to be held near Dell Rapids, SD.
Some of the activities supported over the past 95 years have been Boy’s State, oratorical contests, gun safety classes, Junior Legion baseball team, volunteer service (Bingo) at the VA hospital in Sioux Falls and many other causes.
In the minutes of the September 10, 1941 meeting, it was noted that the post had the largest increase in membership in the department.
Probably the most unusual item reflected in the meeting minutes dated November 7, 1952. Nine members of the post were arrested and put on trial on a charge of exceeding the bag limit of pheasants during a post sponsored pheasant hunt. A newspaper article stated “because the hunters were out for birds to send to veteran’s hospitals, the trial drew Legionnaires from all over the district, including the district commander, all of whom appeared in the courtroom wearing their Legion caps. Their guns were confiscated and a complaint signed against them for being over the bag limit by seven birds. Charges against eight of the hunters were dismissed with the ninth hunter pleading guilty. He was fined $100.00 and gave 30 days in jail at hard labor. The jail sentence was suspended on condition of good behavior.