County Proclaims Sept. 16 “American Legion Centennial Day”
The mayor of Benton County has declared Sept. 16, 2018 to be “American Legion Centennial Day.”
During the presentation of the proclamation, Mayor Brett Lashlee praised the veteran’s service organization, the largest in the nation, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary through Veterans Day 2019. The American Legion has built a legacy of dedicated service to veterans, the military, families and communities since its founding in March 1919. The national organization was formally chartered by Congress on Sept. 16, 1919.
Mayor Lashlee also hailed the Legion Family’s legacy of community volunteerism and the organization’s significant national role in everything from development of U.S. Flag Code, helping start the Veterans Administration, passage of the GI Bill, helping veterans receive benefits for their honorable service, acceptance of Agent Orange exposure as cause for adverse health effects among veterans of the Vietnam War, to support for our nation’s troops in the Global War on Terrorism.
“Since 1932, American Legion Post 102 has lived the Legion’s commitment to service,” Lashlee said. “Their support of youth programs, readiness to assist in national disasters, and call to honor and remember those who came before is unparalleled. I join the citizens of Benton County, as we all look forward to the Legion’s second century of service.”
Charles Turner, commander of Post 102, expressed his gratitude for the proclamation: “We are very grateful to Mayor Lashlee for his efforts in establishing Sept. 16 as ‘American Legion Centennial Day and we are excited to share both the legacy and vision of our organization with Benton County. We've done a lot of good and intend to keep doing it for a second century.'”
With a current membership of 2.2 million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veteran’s affairs, and Americanism and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 13,000 posts across the nation and around the world.
