Let start this article with a quote from General George Washington; The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.

World War I was called the war to “End all Wars”. America tried to stay out of the war, but on April 6, 1917 President Wilson declared war on Germany after two- and one-half years of war in Europe. By the end of hostilities on November 11th 1918 the United Stated had nearly 4.8 million men and women under arms. Of these 2.5 million served overseas. Of the 4.8 million in uniform nearly 3 million were draftees. When the war ended the United States had suffered over 320,00 total casualties including more than 116,000 dead.

One of those wounded in the war was Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt Jr. After the war he was deeply concerned of the morale among the troops. He was not alone as Senior Chaplain of the American Expeditionary Forces; Bishop Charles Brent started an organization called Comrades in Service. After talks with General Pershing on the low morale Roosevelt and Lt. Col. George A. White invited some twenty officers all of whom were Army Officers to a dinner in Paris. After the dinner Roosevelt presented a plan for a new organization to mobilize those nearly five million veterans of the War. Out of the informal dinner came a Committee of Twenty to promote the idea throughout the AEF.

Two organizational meetings were proposed, one in Paris and one back in the United States. Roosevelt became an agent of liaison between those officers still in Europe and those who would be working in the United States. The informal dinner would ultimately lead to the establishment of a veterans organization called The American Legion.

The early efforts were not without opposition. There was concern that The American Legion would be dominated by Officers. It was also noted the lack of representation of the Navy and Marine Veterans. However, with the work of the twenty officers the Paris Caucus convened on March 15, 1919 and nearly 1,000 officers and enlisted men of the AEF were present. At the Paris caucus the provisional constitution was hammered out opening membership to ex-servicemen and women whatever rank or branch of service.

The caucus in America was held in St. Louis from May 8-10, 1919. At this caucus the “Preamble to the Constitution of The American Legion” was adapted. It has change little since 1919. The Caucus also decided that Legion Posts would not be named after living persons and thus the General Pershing Post 1 was changed to George Washington Post 1. It was also decided that The American Legion would be a non-partisan organization. Directing its efforts towards the welfare of Veterans rather than political views. Thus, the start of The American Legion the world’s largest Veterans Organization. The Lafayette County Legion will have more on Veterans and the 7 American Legion Posts in the County in future articles.

— The Lafayette County American Legion will regularly print updates and information from local chapters.