Post Messenger Recorder -

Congress first incorporated and chartered American Legion in 1919, as a service organization for Veterans and the community they serve. Returning Veterans from WWI in Belleville first charted a chapter in 1920. The name Duppler was the first local Veteran who died in WWI, and Smith was the first Veteran who gave his life serving in WWII.

We currently have 47 members, one in Illinois, one in Colorado, one who lives up north and one on active duty now serving in Alaska. That man is the third generation in his family, with all three holding membership in our Legion. That man’s father, th...