News : Vinton's American Legion Celebrates 100th Birthday

As Vinton's Legion Commander Brad Anderson said, "Behind every good man is a good woman, and there is a great group of women that organized and put the party together for the Legion Members tonight."

As the Legion's 100th birthday neared, the American Legion Axillary ladies began planning and preparing for the event. They decorated and served a meal, prepared the Legion for the festivities and honored the veterans who served and recognized each branch for their service. A beautiful cake bearing the Legion emblem was created by Susan Meyer of Vinton. (photos of the event can be seen here.)

The first step toward Benton County having its very first Legion was on May 16, 1919, John W. Tobin with the first meeting of ex-servicemen was held on June 14, 1919, in Vinton.

The first big event that the Legion had as the George G. Luckey post was a "smoker" where all the men met at the Vinton Commercial Club while an orchestra played and quartets sang. (The question was raised, and those of us that love history want to know. Does anyone know where the "Vinton Commercial Club" might have been located?)

Sandy Driscol and Vicki Streeter sewed quilts for each branch of the military, drawing a name from each of the branches of the people that were present. The quilts all had the symbol of the branch they represented in the center, as well as blocks that were designs specifically for that branch of the military.

Appropriately the first name drawn went to an Army veteran Jason Laton, the son of Vicki Streeter and Sandy's nephew.

The Navy quilt was awarded to Brad Anderson the Legion Commander for Benton County and winning the Marine quilt was Bruce Lange of Vinton.

Bertha Pohlman won the Air Force Quilt and the group ribbed the only Coast Guard member who won the quilt for his branch, Alan Woodhouse. His quilt had a Coast Guard Emblem that was embroidered because the ladies could not find the symbol. The center emblem took 5 hours to create on Vicki's embroidery machine. The quilts were indeed an act of love and appreciation for our veterans.

Among the speakers were Iowa State Representative Tom Gerhold, who presented the Legion with a proclamation from Governor Kim Reynolds. Others who spoke were the Department Commander James Kessler, as well as the Vinton Legion Commander Ron Albright and Brad Anderson the County Commander.

The event was attended by area veterans and their families.