Left to right: Fred Stahl, 62 years; Phil Bertoni, Post 447 commander; Ron Matheny, 17th District commander. (Click on picture for larger image.)

Mount Pulaski Legion celebrates longevity, senior members [December 14, 2010]  MOUNT PULASKI -- At their recent December meeting night, veterans from Mount Pulaski American Legion Ryman-Fuiten Post 447, accompanied by their spouses, along with members of Ladies Auxiliary Unit 447 and Sons of the American Legion Squadron 447, dined on homemade chili, vegetable soup and desserts.

The highlight of the evening was the awarding of certificates for 50-plus and 60-plus years of membership. Ron Matheny, Illinois American Legion 17th District commander, was on hand to assist with the awards.

Matheny also gave an inspiring talk on the importance of all three organizations that make up the American Legion. He was impressed with the Mount Pulaski facility and was especially awed by the fact that the post is currently celebrating its 90th year, having been organized and chartered in 1920 -- only one year after the U.S. American Legion was organized and then chartered by Congress.

It was pointed out that Lt. Col. Ted Roosevelt Jr. helped organize the American Legion with some fellow officers and troops in Paris following the World War I armistice.

Paris Post 1 is one of these posts, organized in March 1919. The meeting, known as the Paris Caucus, adopted a temporary constitution and the name American Legion. The Legion had a second organizing caucus in St. Louis, Mo., in May 1919.

American Legion George Washington Post 1, which is in Washington, D.C., received its charter on May 19, 1919.

The Mount Pulaski Ryman-Fuiten Post 447 was organized on Jan. 12, 1920, and received its charter later that same year. Their American Legion Auxiliary was established and chartered in 1923, and the SAL was established and chartered in 1984.

The American Legion now numbers nearly 3 million members, men and women, in nearly 15,000 American Legion posts worldwide.

The following award recipients were recognized, with families of the deceased (D) to receive the certificate as a posthumous recognition.

50-plus years:

• Kenneth Brooker

• Sheldon Copeland

• Harold E. Donnan

• William A. Duhs (D)

• Robert F. Fuiten (D)

• Vernon Hassebrock

• Jame A. Horn

• Harry E. Manes

• Billy J. Mason

• Robert G. May

• George L. Meister (D)

• William A. Rentmeister

• Tom Romer

• Alan R. Roos

• Julian J. Schmidt

• Everett M. Streenz (D)

60-plus years:

• Charles L. Bohn

• Paul E. Fuhrer

• Walter E. Hagenbuch Jr.

• Earl Jackson

• Carl S. Patterson

• Fredrick W. Stahl

• Keith H. Wilham Sr.

• Everett R. Howe (D)

[Text from file received]