History

A group of [20] officers who served in the American Expeditionary
Forces in France in WWI are credited with planning the American
Legion. A.E.F. Headquarters asked these officers to suggest ideas
on how to improve troop morale. One officer, Lieutenant Colonel
Theodore Roosevelt jr., proposed an organization of veterans. In
February 1919, this group formed a temporary committee and
selected several hundred officers who had the confidence and
respect of the whole Army.
When first organizational meeting took place in Paris, in March
1919. About 1000 officers and enlisted men attended. The meeting
known as the Paris Caucus adopted a temporary constitution and
the name The American Legion. It also elected an executive
committee to complete the organization's work. It considered each
soldier of the A.E.F. a member of the Legion. The executive
committee named a subcommittee to organize veterans at home in
the United States. The Legion held a second organizing caucus in
St. Louis, Missouri, in May 1919. It completed the constitution and
made plans for a permanent organization. It set up temporary
headquarters in New York City, and began its relief, employment
and Americanism programs. Congress granted the Legion a
national charter in September 1919. The first national convention
held in Minneapolis, adopted a permanent constitution and elected
officers to head the organization. The Michigan Department was
incorporated under a State Charter and a headquarters was
established in Detroit. The headquarters relocated to Lansing in
1974, while maintaining a Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation office in
Detroit.
In May of 1919 an application was made to the Michigan Patriotic
Fund for money to assist returning soldiers in obtaining
employment and financial assistance where necessary. Trusties of
this fund allotted the sum of $25,000.00, which was the First
Department Treasury. The organization was so efficient that 45
Posts had been charters and [7] more were in process of formation
by July 1919. The membership of the Department at that time
totaled 2,088.
The Michigan Department of the American Legion held its first
meeting at the Statler Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri, on Saturday
May 10, 1919. Officers elected at his meeting were George C.
Waldo, Temporary Chairman; Benjamin Bellows, Temporary
Vice-Commander; and Lyle B. Tabor, Temporary Adjutant. The
State was divided according to Congressional Districts and two
men of the organizational committee were placed in charge of work
in each District. Michigan's First State Convention was held in
Grand Rapids, October 13-15, 1920 with Colonel A.H. Gansser
named State Commander and Lyle B. Tabor as State Adjutant. At
that time Michigan had 192 Posts covering every county in the
state. Michigan's first ever resolution was a statement of partisan
politics neutrality. This basic theme has been continued.
Legislatively, the Department of Michigan enjoys a continuing
positive working relationship with the Michigan Legislature; it
continues to champion veterans issues, not political parties; a
policy that mirrors the National American Legion organization.
Thirteen veterans, Level Smith, Kenneth Amerman, Ray Corbin,
Anthony Hill, Roy Whitcomb, Roy Schumann, Charles Ray, Tom
Dean, Jack Tucker, Norman Nelson, Frank Sapho, James Butler
and Oscar Singleton got together and contacted the American
Legion Department of Michigan and were granted a charter naming
the new Post Fort Dearborn and were issued the number 364. Early
meeting were held at the Post quarters located at Michigan Avenue
& Monroe street. It wasn't until after WWII that the Post members
obtained the present location were our Post headquarters resides
today. The Post also
had property located in what is today Levagood Park and as the
City of Dearborn was still growing the City proposed a property
trade that gave us possession of Lot's 37 & 38 of the Arsenal
grounds of the Detroit Artillery Arsenal in Dearborn, Michigan. As
time passed our post was able to purchase the second half of our
building. Then in 1965 our building was gutted by a fire that
started in the boiler room [currently the back bar] do to the
surprise of the members we had no fire insurance to cover the
damage. The bank granted us a loan using the property on
Michigan Ave. as collateral. The need to expand came with the
increase in membership and a property trade and accusation was
agreed upon between Les Stanford Chevrolet & Fort Dearborn
Post. As a result of this action the Post members got together in
1988 and paid off the Mortgage.