Sergeant Archibald "Archie" L. Hay

Archie Hay Post 24

Rock Springs, Wyoming

Chartered on 19 December 1919, the Archie Hay Post in Rock Springs became the 24^th American Legion post in Wyoming. Dr. Oliver Chambers (1919-20), was the first Post Commander. Post 24’s namesake Sergeant Archibald (Archie) L. Hay was killed in his 5^th major engagement at the beginning of the Argonne campaign on September 27^th, 1918 by being shot down from a German plane while leading his men against a hidden nest of German machine guns. Archibald L. Hay, son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Hay was born in Laramie, Sept. 16, 1893 and came to Rock Springs as a little boy. He received his education in the schools of Rock Springs, the Episcopal High School at Alexandria, VA and the Kearny (Neb.) Military Academy. He was employed by the Rock Springs National Bank as an assistant cashier and was also a director; then came the war. As a volunteer, he went with the first detachment from Wyoming to Camp Lewis for training and shipped over with his regiment, (Co. G. 362^nd Infantry), in July of 1918.

August of 2010 legionnaires moved into their newly renovated building at 551 Broadway, also keeping the old post home next door at 543 Broadway and rent it out to the community for weddings, anniversaries, reunions and other local events. The property also boasts a huge back yard with grass, horseshoe pits, a gazebo and a large covered picnic area. In the last ten years The American Legion, (TAL), Archie Hay post No.24 has surpassed Casper, Sheridan and Gillette to become the second largest post for membership in the state of Wyoming, with nearly 500 war time veteran members, Cheyenne is the largest; there are currently sixty posts located throughout the state. Post 24 also has the largest Sons of The American Legion, (SAL) detachment and the largest American Legion Riders, (ALR) group in Wyoming.

Post 24 sponsors a Boy Scout troop, a Cub Scout pack, and several pool and dart teams. Post 24 sponsored 3 American Legion Baseball teams last summer with 56 players. In a First for Wyoming, Post 24 AA team member Jarett (JD) Hambee was selected to The American Legion’s annual All-Academic Team sponsored by Diamond Sports; the announcement was made at TAL World Series in Shelby, NC along with a $2,500 scholarship. Post member Ron East was re-appointed as chairman of American Legion Baseball for the state of Wyoming by the newly elected Department Commander Ken Persson, Sr.  in 2017.

The Rock Springs post has been well represented at the annual American Legion Boys’ State program and Oratorical programs through the years and continues to actively support and promote these programs.

The America Legion Auxiliary, (ALA) was chartered 16 January 1926 and has one of the largest ALA Juniors’ groups in the state. The post 24 ALA Girls’ State program has been a huge success, a Rock Springs delegate was one of two elected to attend 2017 Girls’ Nation in Washington D.C.

Post 24 is very active at the community, state and national levels; involved with Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, Children and Youth, Americanism and National Defense – the Four Pillars of TAL. We team together as the “American Legion Family” for fund raising functions, veteran assistance, and community donations. Our Honor Guard is top notch; performing 30 to 40 veteran grave side services a year and numerous Color Guard presentations throughout the community. At the state level post 24 has produced four Department (State) Commanders; George A. Johns (1938-39), William T. Nightingale (1945-46), R. R. Menghini, D.D.S. (1969-70) and Douglas R. Uhrig (2013-14).

The 2^nd largest post for membership in Wyoming, Rock Springs Post 24 also had the #1 membership for a Sons-of-The American Legion Squadron and The American Legion Riders, the Auxiliary ranked 3^rd. Post 24 continues to be very active at the state and national level. Last summer at the Department Convention post 24 family members Richard Dansereau was elected Department 1^st – Vice Cmdr. and Mike Cooke 2^nd – Vice Cmdr. Mike Hobbs was appointed Sgt.-at-Arms and Doug Uhrig brought home the “Legionnaire of the Year Award”.  Susan Dansereau was elected Vice President and Gina Dusel 2^nd – Vice President for the Auxiliary and Sunny Hobbs was sworn in as District 1 President and appointed the State Historian. Matt Baldwin and James Landwehr were elected to state offices for Wyoming’s SAL Detachment and Mike Tipton voted in as TAL Riders Vice-Director. National Commander Denise Rohan appointed Mike Cooke to the Commission on National Security and Mike Hobbs to the National Committee for Veterans Employment and Education, joining Doug Uhrig, (Americanism Commission) and Richard Dansereau, (Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Committee), having National appointments.

Archie Hay Post 24

Rock Springs, Wyoming

Chartered on 19 December 1919, the Archie Hay Post in Rock Springs became the 24^th American Legion post in Wyoming. Dr. Oliver Chambers (1919-20), was the first Post Commander. Post 24’s namesake Sergeant Archibald (Archie) L. Hay was killed in his 5^th major engagement at the beginning of the Argonne campaign on September 27^th, 1918 by being shot down from a German plane while leading his men against a hidden nest of German machine guns. Archibald L. Hay, son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Hay was born in Laramie, Sept. 16, 1893 and came to Rock Springs as a little boy. He received his education in the schools of Rock Springs, the Episcopal High School at Alexandria, VA and the Kearny (Neb.) Military Academy. He was employed by the Rock Springs National Bank as an assistant cashier and was also a director; then came the war. As a volunteer, he went with the first detachment from Wyoming to Camp Lewis for training and shipped over with his regiment, (Co. G. 362^nd Infantry), in July of 1918.

August of 2010 legionnaires moved into their newly renovated building at 551 Broadway, also keeping the old post home next door at 543 Broadway and rent it out to the community for weddings, anniversaries, reunions and other local events. The property also boasts a huge back yard with grass, horseshoe pits, a gazebo and a large covered picnic area. In the last ten years The American Legion, (TAL), Archie Hay post No.24 has surpassed Casper, Sheridan and Gillette to become the second largest post for membership in the state of Wyoming, with nearly 500 war time veteran members, Cheyenne is the largest; there are currently sixty posts located throughout the state. Post 24 also has the largest Sons of The American Legion, (SAL) detachment and the largest American Legion Riders, (ALR) group in Wyoming.

Post 24 sponsors a Boy Scout troop, a Cub Scout pack, and several pool and dart teams. Post 24 sponsored 3 American Legion Baseball teams last summer with 56 players. In a First for Wyoming, Post 24 AA team member Jarett (JD) Hambee was selected to The American Legion’s annual All-Academic Team sponsored by Diamond Sports; the announcement was made at TAL World Series in Shelby, NC along with a $2,500 scholarship. Post member Ron East was re-appointed as chairman of American Legion Baseball for the state of Wyoming by the newly elected Department Commander Ken Persson, Sr.  in 2017.

The Rock Springs post has been well represented at the annual American Legion Boys’ State program and Oratorical programs through the years and continues to actively support and promote these programs.

The America Legion Auxiliary, (ALA) was chartered 16 January 1926 and has one of the largest ALA Juniors’ groups in the state. The post 24 ALA Girls’ State program has been a huge success, a Rock Springs delegate was one of two elected to attend 2017 Girls’ Nation in Washington D.C.

Post 24 is very active at the community, state and national levels; involved with Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, Children and Youth, Americanism and National Defense – the Four Pillars of TAL. We team together as the “American Legion Family” for fund raising functions, veteran assistance, and community donations. Our Honor Guard is top notch; performing 30 to 40 veteran grave side services a year and numerous Color Guard presentations throughout the community. At the state level post 24 has produced four Department (State) Commanders; George A. Johns (1938-39), William T. Nightingale (1945-46), R. R. Menghini, D.D.S. (1969-70) and Douglas R. Uhrig (2013-14).

The 2^nd largest post for membership in Wyoming, Rock Springs Post 24 also had the #1 membership for a Sons-of-The American Legion Squadron and The American Legion Riders, the Auxiliary ranked 3^rd. Post 24 continues to be very active at the state and national level. Last summer at the Department Convention post 24 family members Richard Dansereau was elected Department 1^st – Vice Cmdr. and Mike Cooke 2^nd – Vice Cmdr. Mike Hobbs was appointed Sgt.-at-Arms and Doug Uhrig brought home the “Legionnaire of the Year Award”.  Susan Dansereau was elected Vice President and Gina Dusel 2^nd – Vice President for the Auxiliary and Sunny Hobbs was sworn in as District 1 President and appointed the State Historian. Matt Baldwin and James Landwehr were elected to state offices for Wyoming’s SAL Detachment and Mike Tipton voted in as TAL Riders Vice-Director. National Commander Denise Rohan appointed Mike Cooke to the Commission on National Security and Mike Hobbs to the National Committee for Veterans Employment and Education, joining Doug Uhrig, (Americanism Commission) and Richard Dansereau, (Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Committee), having National appointments.