Department of Missouri finalizing May event honoring 1919 organizational meeting.
The American Legion’s first U.S. organizational meeting is approaching its 100th anniversary in early May, and the Department of Missouri is planning a two-day event to mark it.
The 100th Anniversary Celebration of the St. Louis Caucus will be held in St. Louis May 9-10, directly after the Spring Meetings May 6-9 at American Legion National Headquarters in Indianapolis. May 9 will see a reception at the downtown Soldiers Memorial at 6 p.m. The GI Bill exhibit that has been traveling the country will be present for a few weeks’ residency there. An American Legion Monument dedicated in 1942 stands nearby; plans for the celebration include a wreath-laying at the site. On May 10 at 10 a.m., a formal celebration at Soldiers Memorial will be followed by a luncheon at the downtown Missouri Athletic Club; part of the 1919 caucus took place at the club. Speakers will include the leaders of the three American Legion Family organizations: National Commander Brett Reistad, Auxiliary National President Kathy Dungan and Sons National Commander Greg "Doc" Gibbs.
The entire Legion Family is welcome at the celebration. A room block has been reserved at the Missouri Athletic Club. Reservations for the luncheon are $35 per person; RSVPs are needed by April 18. Visit the department’s events page for more information on making arrangements.
Department of Missouri Adjutant Lowry Finley-Jackson, a member of the Legion’s national 100th Anniversary Observance Committee since its formation in 2011, said that the purpose of the caucus event is twofold: “Remembrance of what went into starting the Legion – the Preamble was adopted here – and celebration of the future.”
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