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.