Legion Family involved in first local Fourth of July event since late 1980s.
One of the oldest American Legion posts in the nation used the opportunity of America’s 250th birthday to reach out to its community’s youngest residents and their families.
Rainbow Post 2 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, was established on March 20, 1919. It is named for the Army’s 42nd Infantry Division, which local soldiers among many others were assigned to during World War I; according to the post’s Centennial Celebration page, “One story has it that Maj. Douglas MacArthur, chief of staff … upon witnessing the spectacle of a multitude of flags/guidons representing 26 states and the District of Columbia, quipped that the scene reminded him of a rainbow.” The post has been part of the community ever since, from marching in local parades and holding meal nights to its yearly Army-Navy Game party.
One focal point of post activities is honor and remembrance of area veterans, whether through the annual Veteran Resource Festival at the local VA hospital, flag/dog-tag ceremonies at area nursing homes and other facilities, or its very active honor guard at funerals. But, according to Marine Corps veteran and Post Commander Patty Holeton, they have also been doing more family-friendly events recently and when it came time to think about how to mark America turning 250, they “wanted to do something for the kids … the Legion is all about family.”
The post went to Council Bluffs Mayor Jill Shudak to ask for use of a local park, but she instead connected them to a developing event being organized by the 100 Block Community Collective for a community celebration on the historic block of the city’s Broadway. Post 2 took responsibility for a Kids Zone that would, Holeton offered, serve a dual purpose: give local children a fun space of their own, while reaching out for membership to the younger veterans who may be their parents.
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A block jutting off the main celebration was fenced in and staffed by Legion Family members; Holeton stated that 15-20 volunteered in all. One member constructed a Hot Wheels racetrack. There was pavement soccer in an inflatable ring, and a water hydrant party with local firefighters in attendance. There were hula hoops and other toys, chalked hopscotch and four-square, and prizes. Outside booths included balloon animals and face-painting. There was also a DJ, who after the celebration opened at 3 p.m. played the national anthem at 4. Also on hand to offer support were cadets from the local Air Force JROTC unit; instructor Amanda Sill said the unit and post have partnered for “a long time,” and the latter reaches out for “anything they need extra hands for.”
During her visit to the Kids Zone, Mayor Shudak stated that Council Bluffs had not had a Fourth of July celebration since the late 1980s. She knows The American Legion well, having worked at the Coralville post on the other side of Iowa in college, and praised the post’s involvement: “The Legion has been great partners.” Navy veteran and Past Post Commander Brad Powell said the post placed U.S. flags along the 100 Block prior to the event.
Jenny Smith and her family, which has a rich military history, made good use of the Kids Zone. She discovered the 100 Block event on Facebook, and “I thought it looked fun.” Promotional posters could be seen all over the block, featuring a well-dressed Chipper, the city’s black-squirrel mascot. What did Smith think of the event once they were there: “This is great.” Young London agreed; she liked “the water. And the snow cones.”
The event was set to include live music, food stands and community organization tables throughout the day, plus a drone show after dark. But the weather, which wreaked havoc on Fourth of July and America 250 activities across the nation between heat and storms, rained it out at 5:30. Holeton said there are discussions to reschedule, adding that “according to those present, they thought it was a very well-organized event and the kids were having so much fun.”
Post 2 is in a rebuilding phase after a difficult few years brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. In financial straits, they leased out part of their building as a pool hall; they recently regained it, but it’s rather the worse for wear. According to Powell, the post’s Riders chapter donated $1,500 for a new floor. The Council Bluffs America 250 event was an opportunity to remind the community of what the Legion is and does, and Holeton took it – but not alone. “We made some goals,” she said, “and people kept coming up with things, coming out of the woodwork … They want to see the post survive.”
- USA250