The Dexter D. Harbour Post No. 79 honored local veterans with a chili and cinnamon roll luncheon at Grant County Civic Center November 11, Veteran’s Day.
Those in attendance were welcomed by Ken Warner, Commander for American Legion Post No. 79. Warner explained some of what post members do.
“What does (the Legion) do? Who can belong? Why would you or I want to belong? What does the local legion post do for the community and Ulysses? These are all questions individuals ask us on a regular basis. Our goal today is hopefully to provide you some answers,” Warner said, adding “We do a lot of things in the community.”
Warner explained a little about the history of the American Legion and the local post.
“The American legion is the nation’s largest most influential organization of us veterans,” he said. “The American legion was chartered in Congress in 1919 as a patriotic to veterans organization. Focused on service to the veterans service members and communities membership in the American legion today is about 1.8 million with over 12,000 posts worldwide. The national organization has always been a very staunch advocate of veterans. They are the ones who ushered in the modern day of Veteran’s Administration. They were very instrumental in passing the GI bill. They continue today to advocate for the need and continued support for our service members and the veterans and their health needs. They provide free and professional assistance to any veteran in pursuing benefit claims with the VA.”
According to Warner, the “12,000 posts worldwide provide many services and sponsorships in local communities, ranging from baseball to Boy Scouts, to many other organizations that they sponsor.”
Who can belong to the American Legion?
Initially, according to Warner, those eligible for membership in the American Legion were “anyone who has served active duty in the US Armed Forces since December 7, 1941, had been honorably discharged or was still serving.” Those rules, however, have changed.
“You may know of a veteran or someone who says ‘I wasn’t eligible because my dates don’t match up,” Warner said. “The US Congress finally realized it doesn’t matter when you served. You sacrifice no matter what is going on at the time. A few years ago, they changed the law to allow any veterans to join the Legion.”
Why would a veteran want to belong to the Legion?
“Whether it is World War II, Korea, Vietnam or all the conflicts that have occurred since 911, our members are connected through their love of country, hope for the future, remembrance of the fallen and duty above themselves,” Warner said. “Membership in your local post provides the opportunity to meet and work with fellow veterans. It provides an opportunity to be involved in community activities that support the American Legion values of peace, goodwill, prosperity, justice, freedom and devotion to that mutual helpfulness. Focus and the direction of the national American Legion office is important to our mission, but we all know the real benefits of membership come from the local American Legion post.”
Warner also provided a little history of the local post.
“Ulysses American Legion post was organized December 6, 1919, by a group of 16 ex-soldiers,” he said. “The application charter named the post at that time the Charles B. Hart American Legion Post for the first soldier from Ulysses who had been killed in World War II. The post was the 79th post in the United States. It was approved by the National Commander and adjutant on August 1, 1920, and issued on August 10, 1920.”
Original charter members for the post were: C.W. Hickok, first post commander; George Johnson, S. Grant Jones, Ora Byers, E.G. Zonger, Leroy Manley, Roscoe Byers, Earl Miller, Ben Oliver, George Brewer, Roy Hill, Everett Simpson, Olaf Anderson, Olie Anderson, James Pinegar, Earl Blake, and James Hickok.
Warner pointed out that many of the names of the charter members continue to be prominant names in the Grant County community today.
In 2004, the post was renamed the Dexter D. Harbour American legion post 79.
“(The name was changed to) honor Dexter D. Harbour, a young man, who right out of high school, enlisted and was sent to Vietnam,” Warner explained. “He was only 19 years old when he lost his life serving this country in Vietnam.”
The local post has always been involved with the youth in Ulysses.
“Sponsoring American legion baseball up until a few years ago, sending high school juniors to boys state, assisting Grant County Chamber and the Lions Club with their annual Christmas movie,“ he said. “The last few years we have participated in the annual Trick or Treat Trail downtown. The Legion Color Guard is always ready to assist organizations with providing the colors at meetings and events to include the annual fair parade and the Christmas parade. The Color Guard and rifle squad stand ready to provide military burial rites to any veteran in the area. We currently work with our high school band program to provide a trumpet player for the playing of Taps. This is a great tribute. The families of our departed veterans are greatly appreciative of our presence at their family members’ funerals.”
Other activities include Monday night bingo.
“It serves our post as a fundraiser, but it also serves as an enjoyable Monday evening. If they get lucky they go home with a little extra cash in their pockets,” Warner said.
The Legion hosts the Veteran’s Day luncheon, decorates the Ulysses Cemetery for Memorial Day and provides the Memorial Day program.
“We put out the white crosses,” Warner said. “If you have never been out to our cemetery on Memorial Day, I encourage you to go check it out. It’s very impressive. You look out across that cemetery and see the number of white crosses, the wreaths and the flags that are flying.... You realize for a small community like we are in Ulysses and Grant County, the number of individuals who have donated and served this country.”
According to Warner, Legion Post 79 continues to be a donor for numerous organizations.
“Two of our most recent projects are the veterans signs,” he said. “We have had them for a number of years (and) whether you come in from the east or the west you are greeted by those signs. We took on the project thanks to a number who donated funds. We have had a lot of great comments about the signs. We were now able to add ones on the north and south as well. We thank our veterans by posting them. We had several local Boy Scouts repainting some of the crosses that needed paint, and we had one student who helped put up the veterans memorial next to our building as part of his Eagle project with the understanding that the legion would pick that up and continue on with it.”
Approximately 20,000 young men participate annually in the Legion’s boys state program in Manhattan, Kan.
“It is a Legion program dedicated to promoting leadership,” Warner said.
Aaron Anderson, who is in charge of bingo and boys’ state activities, said ”every year the Legion sends a couple of young men to go.” He invited Maison Wiginton, Tyson Flores and Jaxon Keeler, to speak about what they had learned and experienced that week in June.
“It was a very fun experience,” Wiginton said. “We learned all about the Kansas government and did (mock) elections. We got to deal with the Kansas budget. We got to negotiate different budgets for each department. I’m very grateful for being chosen to do that. It was all paid for by the Legion.”
Flores thanked the Legion for selecting him.
“I think it was a great, fun experience,” Flores said. “I made a lot of friends there. I got a better understanding of our state and local governments. It inspired me so much, I applied to be a counselor for this year.”
Keeler said the experience was “by far the best week of my life.”
“I learned a lot about the government and how it works,” he said. “I worked as a member of the district court, so I was basically a lawyer. It was an amazing experience. I learned every single position in the government is important - even the small positions can be very helpful to get things done.”
Warner said the types of activities the Legion is involved in “couldn’t go on without the Legion Auxiliary supporting us.” He introduced Nancy Borthwick, chairman of the auxiliary.
“We appreciate you as a community,"Borthwick said. "We couldn’t do it without you. It takes a lot to bring today’s activities together. My deepest appreciation to all the veterans and auxiliary members who have provided their time and talents to make today successful.”
Borthwick read the auxiliary proclamation to those in attendance to help explain the mission of the organization.
“In the spirit of service, not self, the mission of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support the American Legion and to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military, and their families, both at home and abroad,” she read. “For God and country, we advocate for veterans, educate our citizens, mentor youth, and promote patriotism, good citizenship, peace and security. In fulfillment of our mission, the American legion auxiliary adheres to the following purposes: to support and advocate for veterans, active military and their families to support the initiatives and programs of the American Legion. To foster patriotism and responsible citizenship. To award scholarships and promote quality education and literacy. To provide educational and leadership opportunities that uphold the ideals of freedom and democracy and encourage good citizenship and patriotism in government. To increase our capacity to deliver our mission by providing meaningful volunteer opportunities within our communities. To empower out membership to achieve personal fulfillment through service, not self.”
She went on to read the preamble for the American Legion Auxiliary constitution, and the 10 principles which included to “preserve the memories and incidents of our association during the Great Wars.”
“Every member of the Auxiliary has close personal associations with the sacrifice of war, be it World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada/Lebanon, Panama, Persian Gulf, Operation Desert Shield/Storm or the Gulf War/War on Terrorism,” she read. “The associations and incidents of these struggles are to be remembered not only for their heroes, their victories for freedom, but also to remind us of the awful implications and inevitable tragedies accompanying war.”
Borthwick ended her portion of the program by advising what to do if someone wished to become members of either the Legion or the Auxiliary.
“If you would like to become a member of the American legion or the American legion auxiliary please get with anyone who has served you today,” she said. “We would love to have you join the organization.”
Borthwick praised efforts by the local Kiwanis Club.
“I will get on my soap box for just one second,” she said. “Today takes a lot. I walked outside my house and the American flag is setting at my curb. I’m thankful for the Kiwanis Club that brought it. I appreciate not only the veterans and the auxiliary ladies who work so hard to put this together, but as a sidebar, I thank the Kiwannis for getting out in the cold, in the wind, in the weather…. If you would like a flag to come to your house, get with a Kiwanis member, or call me, I will hook you up because it is amazing.”
Warner said he hoped the presentations at the luncheon had given everyone “a better understanding of what the auxiliary does and how important they are to support the veterans and this post in the community.” Warner directed the attention of those in attendance to a table.
“We always set a table - all gave some and some gave all,” he said. “We have some of our veterans who didn’t get the opportunity to come home for one reason or another. That is what the purpose of that table is, it sets there in hope, at some point, they will return. It is a chance to honor them and the families who sacrificed.”
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