History of the Department of Vermont

INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN LEGION & EARLY HISTORY OF VERMONT State Headquarters The main purpose of this narrative history is to keep the members of The American Legion and The American Legion, Department of Vermont informed that the Department Of Vermont, Inc. is a very active Department. The founders of this proud organization Would be proud of their Department. Because the early records of The American Legion, Department of Vermont were destroyed by a fire, our founder H. Nelson Jackson wrote the book “History of The Department of Vermont, The American Legion, Inc. which covers the years 1919 to 1950. Listed below are important dates of the founding of The American Legion: The American Legion was founded in Paris at the first caucus by members of the American Expeditionary Force on March 15-17, 1919. On May 9, 1919 at a caucus meeting in St. Louis The American Legion was adopted along with the Preamble. On May 24, 1919 The Department of Vermont received its Temporary Charter. On June 9, 1919 the National Executive Committee adopts the Legion Emblem. On September 16, 1919 the U.S. Congress charters The American Legion. The first Department of Vermont’s American Legion Convention was called for October 30, 1919, to be held in Burlington, Vermont, There were Seventy Five Posts in the state, with a total paid up membership of 4,249. By December 31, 1921 the paid up membership reached 5,365. POST AS OF OCTOBER 31, 1919 No City No City No City 1 St Albans 26 Hartford 51 Ryegate 2 Burlington 27 Middlebury 52 Hardwick 3 Montpelier 28 Bridgewater 53 Danville 4 Middlebury College 29 54 Shoreham 5 Brattleboro 30 Lyndonville 55 Brandon 6 Proctor 31 Rutland 56 Hyde Park 7 UVM-Burlington 32 Essex 57 Charlotte 8 Groton 33 Morrisville 58 St Johnsbury 9 Randolph 34 Richmond 59 Waterbury 10 Barre 35 Cambridge 60 Alburg 11 Winooski 36 Ludlow 61 Chelsea 12 Richford 37 Bellows Falls 62 Franklin 13 Bennington 38 Manchester 63 Northfield 14 Vergennes 39 Poultney 64 Stowe 15 Wilmington 40 Glover 65 Swanton 16 No. Bennington 41 NU-Northfield 66 Bethel 17 Craftsbury 42 Enosburg 67 Chester 18 Springfield 43 Rochester-Royalton 68 St Albans 19 Bristol 44 Montgomery 69 Arlington 20 Bradford 45 Milton 70 21 Newport 46 Johnson 71 Guildhall 22 Underhill 47 Peacham 72 Waitsfield 23 Orleans 48 Hartland 73 Derby Line 24 Woodstock 49 Fair Haven 74 North Troy 25 Windsor 50 Marshfield 75 Warren 76 Barton 90 Derby The first Annual Convention convened in Minneapolis on November 10-12, 1919 and the Constitution was adopted. Vermont brought back a banner for the largest paid-up membership, this banner was brought to each succeeding National Convention. November 11, 1919 the delegates at the convention voted that the National Headquarters be in Indianapolis, IN rather than Washington, DC. HISTORY In November 1919 the Headquarters for the State of Vermont was established in Middlebury, then following the 1920 Department Convention was moved to Montpelier where it remained until the latter part of 1921 when it moved to Burlington, VT. In 1921 at a National Convention in Kansas City, H. Nelson Jackson from Vermont received the honor of being elected the First National Vice Commander. Also in June, 1922 he was elected as the Delegate representing The American Legion at the British Legion Convention in London. The First Flag Code was drafted by The American Legion on June 15, 1923. On July 17, 1925 The American Legion Baseball Program was created. By 1931 membership in The American Legion is more than One Million Veterans. On June 23, 1935 the first American Legion Boys State is convened in Springfield, IL, The first Boys Nation was organized in 1946. On June 1, 1938 the round of the first National High School Oratorical Contest was held in Norman, OK. On September 19-21, 1942 the Preamble to the Constitution of The American Legion was changed for the first and only time since its creation in 1919. On October 29, 1942 The American Legion Charter is changed to allow World War II Veterans to join The American Legion. On December 15, 1942 Harry Colmery, Past National Commander writes in longhand on hotel stationary the first draft of what’s to become the GI Bill of Rights. The GI Bill was signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt on June 22, 1944. On August 28, 1946 Legion membership surpasses Three Million. The First World War II Veteran is elected as the National Commander on September 1, 1949. Vermont’s first World War II Commander was Mr. Campbell. On December 28, 1950 the Korean War Veterans are approved for membership. The American Legion Child Foundation was formed on July 9, 1954. On September 1, 1966 the Vietnam War Veterans are approved for membership. The Halloween Safety Program was implemented on May 1, 1972. On August 25, 1983 the first Korean War Veteran is elected National Commander. Vermont’s first Korean War Commander is Robert Bergeron. On September 8, 1988 the first Vietnam War Veteran is elected National Commander. Vermont’s first Vietnam Commander was Milt Willis. On October 3, 1990 the Veterans of Lebanon, Grenada and Panama are approved for membership. In the 1990’s the Legion’s first National Junior Shooting Sports Air Rifle Competition was started On December 3, 1991 Veterans of Desert Shield/Storm are approved for membership. Vermont’s first Desert Storm Commander was Linda Thayer On June 30, 2008 Modern GI Bill signed by President George W. Bush, which was strongly Supported by The American Legion. Today The American Legion is the world’s largest veterans organization with nearly three million members and close to 15,00 local posts. These posts are organized into 55 Departments, one for each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines. On September 15, 2009 Colchester Post #91 lost their Post home to a severe fire. On September 14, 2009 the Senate proclaims September 16th The American Legion Day March 11, 2010 Eighty-Eight year old Patricia Kenworthy Nuckol of Manchester, Vermont received the Congressional Gold Metal (the highest civilian honor given by congress) for her service as a pilot during WWII. An 84-year-old Vermont man is being awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition for being among the first African-Americans integrated into the U.S. Marine Corps. Nathaniel Boone of Manchester will be among 200 Montford Point Marines to receive the highest civilian honor from President Barack Obama on June 27,2012. When Boone enlisted in 1946, he was sent to boot camp at Montford Point Camp, a training facility in North Carolina that was segregated between 1942 and 1949. Commander’s Project for 2011 was to purchase tents for the Boy Scouts and he purchased three. Commander’s Project for 2012 was to Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, and he donated $14206.00 Commander’s Project for 2013 was to purchase a bed for the Children’s Hospital for $46000 – Made $51,000 Commander’s Project for 2014 was a fund raiser for the Green Mountain Council, BSA Commander’s Project for 2015 was a fund raiser for Veterans Outreach Commander’s Project for 2016 was a fund raiser the Renovation of the visiting family room & a second floor family room at the Vermont Veterans Home. Raised #30,000