Our History
A BRIEF HISTORY OF POST 111
           During the several months prior to March 1st, 1933, Legionnaires from James Adrian Howze Post No. 87, Shrewsbury; Goff-Moll Post No. 101, Brentwood; Shaw-Stephens Post No. 103, Maplewood; Cecil-Ritchey Post No. 212, Vanita Park; and Oliver Guy Vasser Post No. 143, University city; talked about consolidation.  Because of the depression, it was believed that more unity of purpose to the Veterans of WW-I could be attained.

         Representatives were appointed by these Posts to meet and formulate a consolidation.  The Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the American Legion, St. Louis County, was assigned as the moderator and the District Committeeman was the Legal Advisor. At their first meeting on March 5, 1933 they elected a Chairman and a Secretary.  Sixteen points were discussed and voted on to be brought forth at the next meeting.

           At their second meeting, on March 26, 1933, the moderator and the Chairman and Secretary again led the meeting.  The representatives of most of the posts reported that their posts had voted approval of the consolidation.  However, Post 212 did not have a final post action and Post 143 did not have a vote. Those present made the decision to immediately consolidate Posts 87, 101, and 103 but leave the door open for Posts 212 and 143 to follow through by the next meeting scheduled for April 11, 1933.

    The first Consolidation Meeting was held on April 11, 1933.  The name of the Post was authorized to be The St. Louis County Memorial Post, the number 111 was available from the Department of Missouri as the lowest open number.  The Consolidation on that date was completed with the full membership from Posts 87, 101 and 103.  There were eight other members from Posts 212, 222, 143 and 338 who transferred in at the meeting to start the new Post with a paid 1933 membership of 110 from the 196 who were paid in 1932 membership in their original posts.  Post 111 eventually grew to over 500 members but as membership grew and conditions changed. Posts 101, 103 and 143 reopened in their original communities and are active today.  Post 111 currently has over 350 members.
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN LEGION
            The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization. Focusing on service to veterans, service members and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Membership swiftly grew to over 1 million, and local posts sprang up across the country. Today, membership stands at over 2 million in more than 13,000 posts worldwide. The posts are organized into 55 departments: one each for the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines.

       Over the years, the Legion has influenced considerable social change in America, won hundreds of benefits for veterans and produced many important programs for children and youth. Following is a chronology of significant dates in Legion history:

1919
March 15-17
Members of the American Expeditionary Force convene in Paris for the first American Legion caucus.
May 8-10
St. Louis Caucus. "The American Legion" is adopted as the organization's official name. The Legion's draft preamble and constitution are approved.
June 9
The National Executive Committee adopts the Legion emblem.
Sept. 16
Congress charters The American Legion.
Nov. 10-12
First Legion convention convenes in Minneapolis. The Constitution and preamble are adopted. Delegates vote 361-323 to locate the Legion's national headquarters in Indianapolis, instead of Washington. A resolution is passed in support of Boy Scouts of America. Today, the Legion is the chartering agency for more than 1,700 Scouting units made up of approximately 64,000 youths.