Paris Post 1 honors Founders Day

Honoring 95 years of service, Paris Post 1 Commander Carl W. Hale led a ceremony celebrating the birth of The American Legion from where it all began, at 14 Rue Ernest Psichari. The original location was a Parisian circus hall called "Cirque d'hiver" at which from March 15-17, 1919, about 300 members of the American Expeditionary Force met during the first caucus meetings to establish a veterans service organization to care for widows and orphans, to be finally named "The American Legion."

Hale laid a wreath together with Comrade John Aust. He then made the following comments: "We are gathered here today (March 15, 2014) to honor the men of the American Expeditionary Force who were here from March 15-17, 1919, to begin organizing what would become The American Legion. The Legion was formed to take care of the veterans, widows and orphans resulting from The Great War. Today The American Legion continues to care for America's veterans and their families. Paris Post 1 thanks our French veteran organizations and French community leaders who continue to support us in keeping alive the memory of service and sacrifice. France and America have been together since the birth of our nation, and we are still together as NATO allies, together for peace and security. Thank you."

After the ceremony, members and friends of Paris Post 1 proceeded to the post home at 22-24 Boulevard Diderot for the post membership meeting, continuing plans for Memorial Day, Normandy and Independence Day ceremonies.

For more information about ceremonies in France planned by The American Legion Paris Post 1, contact the post commander at crlhl@hotmail.com.

Photos (http://www.legion.org/fodpal/photos/220419/paris-post-1-honors-founders-day) by Jean Marc Cresson, Paris Post 1