Finalize entries for post history contest

Finalize entries for post history contest

Post historians who have spent the last membership year chronicling the activities of their post should start finalizing their entries for the first round of judging in the National Post History Contest, which will take place during department conventions this spring and summer.

Entries in the One-Year Post Narrative and One-Year Post Yearbook categories will be judged by the department historian during the convention. Only the first-place finisher in each category, certified as such by the department historian, will be sent to National Headquarters in Indianapolis where it will be judged by a group of past and present department and national historians during Fall Meetings, Oct. 12-15. All department-winning entries must be postmarked to National Headquarters by Sept. 15.

The National Department History Contest for the best narrative and yearbook entries by department historians will also take place during Fall Meetings and those entries must be postmarked by Sept. 15 as well.

Now is also a good time to start planning a narrative or yearbook for the next membership year. They can serve as references and templates for future post members to continue the activities and community service that make your post special. Guidelines and advice can be found in the Post Officer’s Guide beginning on page 145 here.

Fun fact: The National Post History Contest was first approved by the National Executive Committee in 1928 and the first competition was held in 1930. Post 41 of Norwalk, Ohio, won the Legion’s first contest. Then Post 41 historian Clark Tucker was credited for his 200-page entry, beating out more than 50 entries in the last stage. His prize was a "motion picture camera" according to the September 1930 issue of The American Legion Magazine.