Mike Woods and Kevin woods presented about the history of the Hahn-Howard American Legion Post 480 at the adult speaker series at Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center.
Mike said that he got his interest in American history due to the work of American history teachers who were veterans themselves.
Mike outlined Joseph Dvorak’s military service, a great uncle to Mike and Kevin who was wounded in the Argonnes in World War I and passed away from his wounds a couple days later.
At roughly 1917, when the United States entered the war, there were only 200,000 soldiers enlisted in the Army. By 1918, that number had ballooned to 2 million soldiers and at the conclusion of the war, troops numbered more than 4 million.
When that war concluded Nov. 11 at 11 a.m., the United States now had 4 million veterans returning from the war.
Theodore Roosevelt came up with the idea of starting the American Legion at that time, as a way to keep these men with military training and knowledge of weaponry busy.
There were two meetings held in the United States, one at Saint Louis, Mo., and another in Minneapolis, Minn., about this idea for a new organization, and the charter for the American Legion was created in 1919.
The Hahn-Howard Post is named after two local soldiers – Ralph Hahn and C. Roe Howard.
One of the first actions of the Hahn-Howard Post came about when Joseph’s family brought his body back to the United States to be buried.
Dvorak was buried at Saint Peters Cemetery. He laid in state at Mount Vernon City Hall before he was finally buried. The local legion had an honor guard for him while he laid in state, then escorted his body from city hall to the church and then the cemetery.
“Many of those who were part of the honor guard didn’t know who he was,” Kevin said. “Much like many of us in the American Legion don’t know all the veterans we hold military rites for before they are put in the ground, either.”
Mike said that the charter for the American Legion has changed over the years. Originally, the organization was started for World War I veterans, and then eventually changed to allow World War II veterans. In 2018, that charter changed to include anyone who has been honorably discharged can be an American Legion member.
Mount Vernon’s membership is roughly 30 members currently. At it’s historic height, that was more than 200 people who were members locally.
Mike said their largest priority is that every veteran receives a proper send off. And he wanted to clear that myth up – You do not need to be a member of the American Legion to have military rites conducted at your funeral, and the group does not charge for those services.
Kevin spoke about the work that went into the Mount Vernon Memorial, which was dedicated in 2016.
Kevin said that Ruth Reckling had asked for the creation of a memorial for Mount Vernon veterans at the cemetery.
The American Legion had the land for the memorial in the cemetery, and worked with local architect Jim Baty to design the memorial.
Kevin said the design looked like it would cost roughly $100,000, and in the two years that they fundraised, they raised $40,000 for the memorial.
The local post had significant donations from Kelly Concrete and Elite Stone Fabrications for elements of the memorial which kept the price to $70,000 overall.
Kevin said that when it came to the donations and support, the community of Mount Vernon were generous and beneficial to Mount Vernon.
Another portion of the fundraiser was a brick pavers campaign, which Mike said the post will possibly be bringing back again sometime soon to collect memorials to other family’s of veterans who want to add a brick.
Kevin said when it comes to why he is an American Legion member and does what he can to honor other veterans who have passed on – it comes down to his own service.
“I had a relatively benign and unmemorable service,” Kevin said. “I’ve read the accounts of others and what they witnessed at wars, and if I have to give up a few hours here and there to make sure they have the rites they deserve, that’s important to me.”
When it comes to adding new names to the memorial, the post waits until it has several names before those names are added to the stones, as each time the stones are carved it costs $600.
History of American Legion presented
Nathan Countryman, Editor
June 6, 2024
About the Contributor
Nathan Countryman, Editor
Nathan Countryman is the Editor of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun.