The American Legion will observe its 90th anniversary on March 18. The legionaries of J.C. Price American Legion Post 107 are planning a gala celebration, Commander Ollie M. Carroll announced.
Charlie Rankin will lead the committee to direct the local observance, which will feature a patriotic program, a birthday cake and other refreshments and a ceremonial initiation of new members. The keynote speaker will be District 11 Commander Patricia Harris from Raleigh.
The American Legion Queen will receive a special plaque for meritorious service.
Major Queenie Williams, OIC of the N.C. 20069 AFJROTC at Salisbury High, from Post 342, has been invited to share special remarks.
The festivities are part of a celebration at the more than 16,000 American Legion Posts throughout the United States and in many other parts of the free world.
The American Legion was founded on March 15-17, 1919, in Paris at the close of World War I. Representatives of the various units of the American Expeditionary Force of World War I were present for the first meeting. The organization now includes veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, the Lebanon/ Grenada periods, Operation Just Cause in Panama and Desert Storm, Carroll explained.
She invites all eligible veterans of Rowan Community to become legionaries.
“The American Legion continues to concern itself with major issues facing America’s veterans, as well as our fellow citizens,” she said. “Of particular concern to the Legion is the well-being of families of armed service personnel serving in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf. At the same time, we are also an organization deeply rooted in the fundamentals of service to the community. Our most important accomplishments occur here in Rowan County. We sponsor events for our youth and provide volunteer service to the VA hospital. Our post also sponsors events for crime prevention with our youth. Our post sponsors Halloween, children and Easter events for our youth.”
The nation’s largest veteran’s organization, the American Legion fought for passage of legislation creating a Department of Veterans Affairs and for passage of the Veterans Reassurance Act, designed to correct existing inequities in veterans’ claim procedures.
The legion sponsors Boy Scouts, Boys’ State programs, Student Trooper programs, American Legion baseball and the National High School Oratorical Contest.