Kansas birthday event brings Legion Family together
The Department of Kansas celebrates The American Legion's 100th birthday at Post 17 in Manhattan, Kan., on March 16, 2019. Photo by Katie Moore/The American Legion

Kansas birthday event brings Legion Family together

When American Legion Department of Kansas Commander Dan Wiley thinks back on the Legion’s legacy over the past 100 years, he recalls two areas where The American Legion has “left its mark on the care of veterans” – the Department of Veterans Affairs and the GI Bill.

In 1922, just two years after The American Legion’s founding in 1919, the Legion’s advocacy efforts resulted in the creation of the U.S. Veterans Bureau, the precursor to the Veterans Administration. And in December 1943, Kansas native and American Legion Past National Commander Harry W. Colmery drafted the original GI Bill, which was signed into law in 1944 as the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act.

“(The GI Bill) raised an entire standard of living for an entire generation,” said Wiley during his remarks at the department's 100th American Legion birthday celebration at Post 17 in Manhattan, Kan., on March 16, which was hosted by the department Auxiliary. Wiley added that without the Legion, he doesn’t believe VA would have ever recognized the harmful effects of Agent Orange, burn pits, post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury. “Those are things directly the result of the existence of our organization. People like you.”

Wiley added that the impact The American Legion has had on the Department of Veterans Affairs is visible in the Department of Kansas. The Colmery-O’Neil VA Medical Center in Topeka is named after Colmery (1929-1930 department commander) and Ralph O’Neil (1925-1926 department commander and 1930-1931 national commander).

Post 17 was filled with American Legion Family members for the birthday luncheon, including department leadership – Wiley, Department Adjutant/Past National Commander Jimmie Foster, National Executive Committee David Warnken, Sons of The American Legion Detachment Commander Terry Davis and Auxiliary President Karen Hastings.

The Auxiliary planned and executed the entire birthday celebration, from decorations, to food and dessert, to the program’s agenda and printing of programs. “It’s our celebration to the (Legionnaires),” said Marcia Cottrell, District 4 Auxiliary vice president.

Hastings, who has been an Auxiliary member since she was 4 in honor of her father’s World War II service as a fighter pilot, added, “It’s a real family. We work together, we play together, we have a good time together and we get a lot accomplished. These men and women of our Legion have done incredible things throughout the years. I think that makes me the proudest is that we do work together. To us it’s really exciting … 100 years.”

Inside the printed program was a list of the three national commanders from Kansas, the department commanders since 1919, and several accomplishments of The American Legion’s Children & Youth pillar.

“We really embrace our children, and we know that they’re our future,” Hastings said.

The Auxiliary presented the department leadership with a 100th American Legion banner to hang outside headquarters in Topeka, along with a proclamation signed by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly declaring March 15, 2019, as Kansas American Legion Day.

“The Auxiliary did a great job with the birthday celebration; we have such a good Legion Family here,” Wiley said. “We have a lot of posts that if not for the Legion Family as a whole … the Sons, Auxiliary and Riders … they wouldn’t be a successful post. We have a good family relationship here in the state of Kansas because we value that.”

Many of the women in attendance were dressed like the 1920s era, including 93-year-old Virginia Ball, a real Rosie the Riveter.

Ball worked for Boeing right out of high school, between 1943-1945, to “do something for my country. I was a really good Rosie the Riveter,” said Bell, a member of Unit 81 in El Dorado. Virginia married her high school sweetheart after the war, George Ball, a World War II Marine veteran and 1991-1992 Department of Kansas commander.

“The Legion had been our life,” said Bell, who has been traveling the state with Hastings, bringing back memories of when she traveled it during her husband’s time as commander. “(My husband and I) didn’t get into the Legion until later in life, but it’s meant so much to me to be a part of this. I just love it.”

Harris, in his remarks, thanked his late parents for getting him involved with The American Legion at the young age of 8. “These two people I wear on my lapel (and Legion Riders vest) gave me the privilege to be here with you all today. And for that, I’m forever grateful,” Harris said. His late father was a World War II and Vietnam veteran, and his mom was a Korean War veteran. “I try to honor them wherever I go. It’s never about me, and that’s the way I’ve always been.”

Prior to the birthday luncheon, the Department of Kansas hosted its Oratorical Contest, with eight contestants speaking on the U.S. Constitution. Mark McAllister of Americus won and received a $750 scholarship, as well as department representation at the National Oratorical Contest in Indianapolis April 6-8. McAllister, who is sponsored by Post 5 in Emporia, is a 2018 American Legion Kansas Boys State and Boys Nation alum. “I can’t thank The American Legion enough,” said McAllister, who ran for governor at Boys State but was beaten out by Chayne Dessaso of Leavenworth, who placed second at the Oratorical competition and won a $500 scholarship. “The American Legion has done more for me, sponsoring me to Boys State and now the Oratorical Contest, and kids like me in the state of Kansas.”

As The American Legion and the Department of Kansas prepare for its second century of service, its legacy and vision “adds more confirmation to The American Legion’s ability to continue what they’ve done for 100 years,” Foster said. “We want this to be a continuance, and it’s just great to see the camaraderie. Kansas is a Legion-oriented family.”

To that, Hastings reiterated, “I think the most important thing is that we really believe that we are a family. If you need anyone, they’re there. When my husband passed away, the first people at my house were Auxiliary members. To me that says a lot about who we are.”