EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS A STORY Volunteer State Attractions The American Legion of The War Memorial Building in Nashville, erected to the memory of World War I veterans, was dedicated during the 1925 Legion department convention and hosted its latter part. TENNESSEE Post 99 in Sparta houses the American Legion Veterans Museum in its post home, where it has been located since 1947. It includes photos, The American Legion, the world’s largest veterans service organization, was founded by World War I veterans in 1919 on uniforms and other artifacts from World War II, Korea and more. the Four Pillars of Americanism, children and youth, veterans affairs and rehabilitation, and national security. There are The new Tennessee State Veterans 191 local American Legion posts, organized into 10 districts and three divisions. Today, the American Legion Department Cemetery in Parkers Crossroads is estimated of Tennessee has a family of over 50,000, consisting of more than 33,000 Legionnaires, and 17,000 Auxiliary and Sons of to have 5-7 funerals each day. Funeral honors will be performed by an honor guard from The American Legion members. A number of those 50,000 are also members of the Legion Riders program, for motorcycle a new American Legion post, Post 286 of enthusiasts to fundraise, provide honors at funerals and more. Parkers Crossroads. The hero of Pall Mall Tennessee and the Legion Legionnaires ennessee’s Alvin York, the most celebrated soldier of World War I, was also an T early member of The American Legion. He attended an organizational meet- ing in Paris in 1919, and helped found Mark Twain Post 137 in nearby Jamestown, n Post 4 in Livingston makes its home in a Howard Baker spent 18 years in the which got its charter in 1926. World War II-era Quonset hut that is on the state U.S. Senate, was a White House chief And as York supported the Legion, the Legion supported him. Part of his massive and national registers of historic places. of staff and presidential candidate, number of speaking engagements on the importance of education involved address- and spent time as ambassador to n Post 19 in Columbia has a restored M41A3 ing Legion conventions. The Department of Tennessee passed a resolution concerning Japan. He received the Legion’s Walker Bulldog tank outside its post home. the Pall Mall school York was Distinguished Public Service Award in n 1984, the last year of his Senate term. attempting to stand up, recom- Post 34 in Waverly is located in a former Presbyterian church; the post bought the building in He was a member of Scott County mending that local posts contrib- 1934 from the church, which moved across the street. Post 136 in Oneida. ute funds to “establish this much n Former U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander attended Tennessee Boys State. needed institution.” The depart- ment also vowed to assist with n The uniform cap worn by Legionnaires in the Department of Tennessee features an image Desmond Doss, who earned a state cooperation and assistance, of Andrew Jackson. He was chosen because of his stature as a president of the United States – Medal of Honor during World War II and gave money on its own. and because they couldn’t get permission to feature Elvis Presley. for rescuing approximately 75 soldiers during the Battle of Okinawa, was a member of Summers-Whitehead Post 14 in Chattanooga. Post 257 in Collegedale honored him as its namesake. Luke Lea was both a U.S. senator and a founder of The American Legion, who served as co-chair of the first Legion Legislative Committee and helped the organization get its Legend federal charter. He attended the first U.S. Legion organizational caucus in Legion posts TN Legion St. Louis. He was an initial member of Department Post 5 in Nashville, founded in 1919. Headquarters 1920 1925 1932 1937 1942 1955 Post 78 in Manchester When 168 acres near Tennessee Both the department Roane Waring is elected The predecessor of is established. They Pressmen’s Home is Legionnaires secure and posts render national commander of today’s Post 73 in name the post after donated for a children’s 4,000 jobs for the assistance and relief in The American Legion, the Erin builds a roller the Gold Star Mothers home or trade school, unemployed. the major floods of the only Tennessean to hold skating rink for area of Coffee County. the department donates Ohio, Tennessee and that office. He was also children in the old funds for building Mississippi rivers. the department’s first high school gym. construction. commander. Post-9/11 TN LEGION Serving one’s country in the armed forces means sacrifice, putting others in the nation “ahead of one’s self. Being ready to be placed in harm’s way, regardless of personal or political thoughts, feelings or leanings is part of what is required. Being a part of The American Legion, like the military, is also a form of service we Legionnaires volunteer “ for. The fact that those in the military don’t have a voice politically means it’s up to us in The American Legion to be their voice. They stand up for us, and we stand up for them. Todd McKinley, adjutant (administrative head) of Hammond Post 3 in Kingsport. McKinley’s 20 years in the Army Signal Corps (1996-2016) took him to active duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and more. A 10-year member of The American Legion, he plans to pursue elected offices on the post and district levels. Traditions of youth excellence n Except for two years during World War II, Post 2 in Knoxville has sponsored the city’s annual he care and development of children and youth in the maintaining a mock government. Two participants are chosen to Veterans Day Parade since 1921. T United States – the next generation of citizens and attend Boys Nation in Washington, D.C., with their counterparts n Post 77 in Lexington works with the community to plant a massive field of flags each November servicemembers – is one of the four pillars of service that The from other states, to learn the workings of national government; that flies during the entire month. American Legion was founded on in 1919. To that end, the in 2016, Anighya Crocker of Springfield was elected president. FUN FOR A Department of Tennessee conducts several programs, many The Tennessee American Legion Auxiliary runs a similar program n In 1981, three Tennessee posts – Post 88 in Donelson, Post 5 in Nashville and Post 3 in offshoots of national Legion programs, intended to help mold for girls. Kingsport – boasted more than 2,000 members each. responsible leaders for tomorrow. The American Legion Oratorical Contest – a speech contest n Forty posts founded initially founded between the spring 1919 formation of The American Legion American Legion Baseball, a national mainstay of youth sports where high schoolers talk about selected topics related to the and late 1920 are still in operation today. GOOD CAUSE since 1925, includes 16 teams in Tennessee. A significant number U.S. Constitution, to promote a deeper understanding of it – is n In 1938, the Sons of The American Legion squadron attached to Post 90 in Jackson included as Since 2011, the Department of Tennessee has used a unique of today’s professional players and members of the Baseball Hall conducted at both the department level and the national, where members nine brothers from the Lawson family of McMinnville. way to raise funds and bring together the entire Legion Family of Fame played Legion ball. The Post 1 team in Memphis won the the state winners compete to crown a national champion. It during the department’s meetings. The weekend is opened with national American Legion Baseball World Series in 1968, and was has happened for Tennesseans three times: Albert P. Smith Jr. n In the run-up to U.S. entry into World War II, Gov. Prentice Cooper put a Legionnaire on each a bowling tournament open to bowlers of all ages and abilities. runner-up in 1963, 1972 and 1973. The Post 19 team in Columbia of Hendersonville in 1942, Daniel A. Duckworth of Cleveland of the state’s 133 draft boards; 360,000 young men of draft age were enrolled in one day. The formation of the Tennessee American Legion Bowling won the World Series in 2007. in 1956, and Nicholas Elledge of Knoxville in 2006. $7,000 in n During World War II, Sons members collected scrap metal for the war effort. League Rules and Fines Team, made up of Legionnaire, came Tennessee Boys State is the department’s version of a national scholarships is given each year at the department level alone. about to raise funds for the national American Legion command- Legion program instituted in 1935 to promote an understanding of, Local posts throughout the state sponsor Boy Scout units, and er’s project each year. and appreciation for, representative democracy. As the department each year the department presents an award and $1,500 scholarship The team creates rules that Department Adjutant Dean Tuttle puts it, their program is “designed to help youth gain an to the Eagle Scout of the Year. That name is submitted to National says “randomly pop into their heads. They have no guidelines or Contact The American Legion bylaws to follow. They just do it. The rules and fines are haphaz- understanding of the structure and operations of state government, Headquarters for consideration for the national award; Scott ardly done and, again, for fun.” and to impress the importance of teamwork.” Each year, an Moore Jr.