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| The History of The American Legion |
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American Legion
Post 2 History |
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The American Legion Post
#2 was formed in the Minnesota Valley area after the
turn of the century in 1900. A loose group of veterans
had connections to General Shields(sp), who was known to
be acquainted with President Abraham Lincoln after the
Civil War. General Shields Post #155 G.A.R. (Grand Army
of the Republic) was presented with a document to
“ensure future generations never forget the debt of
gratitude they owe the brave boys in blue who on land
and sea volunteered their services during that memorable
struggle for the preservation of our Union” – dated
October 1st, 1892. The American Legion Post #2 still
holds this document to preserve our rich history.
From the remnants of General Shields Post #155 G.A.R.,
we became the First American Legion Post chartered in
Minnesota on June 21, 1919. At the time, the temporary
headquarters for the National American Legion were in
Washington D.C. When the headquarters were relocated to
their permanent location in Indianapolis, Indiana, the
American Legion Post #2 was awarded a second charter on
June 21, 1921. Although the American Legion Post #2 was
actually the first American Legion Post, the title “Post
#1” was reserved for a future post in Minneapolis or St.
Paul. Some years later the American Legion Post #1 was
opened in Minneapolis, but has since been retired along
with the designation.
Another charter was issued to the World War I vets
through Post #2 on December 5, 1961. It was the
“Minnesota Valley Barracks No. 2733”, and commemorates
the names of the 27 men who founded that organization.
Many of the family names on the charter are familiar in
the Minnesota Valley area, and the original charter is
on display at the American Legion Post #2 along with all
of our other historical documents.
The location of the American Legion Post #2 changed many
times during the early years of our existence. Near the
beginning, meetings and events were held at various
members’ homes and in town spaces. After the Great
Depression, the American Legion Post #2 found a home in
the old building in downtown Shakopee where the current
City Hall now stands. The building was originally a
white, two-story, colonial home that was converted to a
hospital before the American Legion Post #2 acquired it.
The post then moved locations again, and held meetings
above the old Strumps Drug store on Main Street. During
that time, the members planned the groundwork for a
permanent location for the post. In the mid 1950’s, the
American Legion found its permanent home where it still
stands today. After moving to our current location, the
building suffered a fire in 1971. The entire building
was gutted except for the roof trusses and walls. Since
the 1980’s, the building has seen a number of
renovations and additions that still continue today. |
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National American Legion
History |
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The
American Legion was chartered by
Congress in 1919 as a patriotic,
mutual-help, war-time veterans
organization. A
community-service organization
which now numbers nearly 3
million members -- men and women
-- in nearly 15,000 American
Legion Posts worldwide. These
posts are organized into 55
departments -- one each for the
50 states, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, France,
Mexico, and the Philippines.
The
American Legion's national
headquarters is in Indianapolis,
Indiana, with additional offices
in Washington, DC. In addition
to thousands of volunteers
serving in leadership and
program implementation
capacities in local communities
to the Legion's standing
national commissions and
committees, the national
organization has a regular
full-time staff of about 300
employees.
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