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American Legion

    Victory Post No. 286, American Legion, Department of Iowa, Clarence, Iowa was chartered on November 9, 1919. Acting under this charter, the following veterans were elected as the first corps of officers of this organization: Lester Kelly-Commander; Clarence Bixler-Vice-Commander; J. M. Robinson-Adjutant; Arnold Ruther-Finance Officer; Clarence Davis-Sgt. At Arms; Arthur Bachman-Historian; and Harold Drake-Chaplain.

    Their Post Home has been owned by this organization since 1920. It has been remodeled a number of times. For short time half of it housed a theater and the other half was leased for a small war-related industry. Through the years this building has been a center of community activity such as dances, group functions, anniversaries, basketball and theater productions, wedding receptions, and, through the years, has been used as a meeting place by various organizations, large and small. The community, recognizing the need and benefits of such a facility, has come to the aid of our organization a number of times with monetary support. Recently, razing of the B and K Store building, necessitated extensive exterior work to make a joint interior wall into an efficient exterior wall with steel siding. The front of the building was also altered through the use of more appealing materials.

    In the years since it was charted, the American Legion has sponsored and participated in the programs of Boys State, Boy Scouts and Explorers, Legion Baseball, and supported the various Americanism, Ceremonials, Community Service, Rehabilitation, and Veterans Affairs programs as outlined by the State and National Departments.

    Membership had grown to 141 members by the Centennial date. Since that time …

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… duty in the Vietnam Conflict has made another age group eligible for membership and we now stand at 167 strong. The American Legion is probably the only organization in the community which can be proud and happy facing a decline of membership in the coming years. That loss of membership would mean Lasting Peace had descended upon us and there had been no more war with its resulting eligibility to join the ranks of The American Legion. God make it so!

    The decline is already making itself apparent as we honor those killed on the field of battle or who have died in hospitals during the various wars or have, since that time, answered one final roll call. The list of honored dead grows steadily each succeeding year at our Memorial Day Services.

    Currently; the leadership of this organization is rested in the following: Commander-Carl Kohrt; Adjutant-David Frahm; Finance Officer-Steve Wendt; Vice-Commanders-Larry Licht and Raldo Horman; Chaplain-Lawrence Ruther; Sgt. At Arms-Ronald Frahm.