• Originally published November 23, 2009 at midnight, updated November 24, 2009 at 4:18 p.m.

The national American Legion was organized in Paris, France, on March 15, 1919, by members of the American Expeditionary Force. The first caucus in the United States was held in St. Louis, Mo., on May 9, 1919. They adopted the name and a preamble, which starts "For God and Country we associate ourselves together." Congress chartered the organization on Sept. 16, 1919, with PL 66-47. In 1921, the Legion pushed for development of the Veterans Administration. The Flanders Fields Memorial Poppy was adopted by The American Legion on Sept. 29, 1920. During 1923, it developed a flag code which was adopted by Congress in 1942. The American Legion Baseball program began in 1925. The boys state program began in 1935. Past national Cmdr. Harry W. Colmery wrote out a draft of the "GI Bill of Rights" in 1943. This was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 22, 1944. The National Legion Headquarters is established in Indianapolis, Ind.

The local chapter was formed on March 20, 1920, when a group of veterans met in the district court room of the old county courthouse. Club rooms were subsequently made available on the third floor in the old Iroquois building, which is now occupied by attorney Jerome Brown at 121 S. Main St.

The opening of this meeting place occurred on April 27, 1920. During the meeting, the title of Leon A. Zear Post No. 166 was formally accepted for the post. The name Leon A. Zear was picked in honor of a lad from Victoria, killed in the Great War. He was assigned to Ambulance Company C of the 26th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division. He was involved in heavy fighting and was killed in the Argonne Offensive at Montfaucon on Oct. 3, 1918. He was initially buried in the Legion Plots in our Evergreen Cemetery until his body was exhumed and buried in Arlington National Cemetery on Oct. 6, 1921.

Dr. O.S. McMullen may have been the first commander. Beginning in 1945, the organization met for a short time in the City Hall. On Nov. 11, 1949, there was a search for new quarters. A place was finally found at 1403 N. Navarro St., (now Ramsey's Restaurant) and they moved there on Feb. 2, 1950. The Legion then moved to a location at 5311 Country Club Drive, behind the Ashley Furniture Store. Some shady business was reported here and, as a result, they lost their building. They next rented space at 404 N. Bridge St., across from the First United Methodist Church. On March 7, 1988, the post moved to 1402 E. Santa Rosa St., where they purchased a building for $177,000. It has 4,000 square feet of space on 1.73 acres of land. That mortgage was paid off during August 2008.

Membership is open to all who served and who were honorably discharged between the following dates:

WWI - April 6, 1917 - Nov. 11, 1918;

WWII - Dec. 7, 1941 - Dec. 31, 1946;

KOREAN WAR - June 25, 1950 - Jan. 31, 1955;

VIETNAM WAR - Feb. 28, 1961-May 7, 1975;

LEBANON AND GRENADA - Aug, 24, 1982 - July 31, 1984;

PANAMA - Dec. 20, 1989-Jan. 31, 1990;

GULF WAR - Aug. 2, 1990 - present.

In 1932, provisions were made for the establishment of a hereditary organization. This is for legal male descendents of a Legion member. The organization is called The Sons of the American Legion. We have a local chapter with Roger Walleck currently serving as commander. Their goal is to support the post and its activities.

Back in 1919, the Legion also provided for an American Legion Auxiliary whose purpose was to contribute to the aims and purposes of the American Legion. Its activities are designed to enhance the American Legion programs. Membership is limited to women with a direct personal connection with someone who served in the military. That person should be in their immediate family, such as husband, son, father, grandfather, etc. The local organization is quite active and Gladys Brandl is now serving as president.

The Legion is a full member of the local Victoria County Veterans Council and participates in their funeral detail, cemetery cleanup and other activities. Some of the Legion activities include Steak Night on the first Friday of the month and a hamburger night on the third Friday. The public is invited to all these events. They also have an occasional chicken barbecue and tamale sale. They sponsor high school juniors to boys state every year. Various certificates are given out each year to recognize an outstanding fireman, policeman and EMT. John Tait is currently serving as commander.

Meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. in the Post Home on the second Tuesday of each month. The Legion Hall is easy to recognize with a 155 mm cannon displayed in the front. The hall is available for rent. Annual dues are $30 and the Legion is always looking for new members, especially young ones.

This column is a research project of Dr. Peter B. Riesz and the Victoria County Veterans Council. Contact Riesz at pbriesz@suddenlink.net or 361-575-4600.

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