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History of the American Legion Fort Dearborn Post #364 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. |