The American Legion in Our Community - Boone Day
Posted by Steve Frazier
on Sep 13, 2011
Our Program on September 13th was presented by Boone Day, the vice-commander and manager of the local American Legion Post, named after local resident Clarence Clofer who died in WWI. Boone is a lifelong resident of Tonka Bay, and a 22 year member of the Legion. He has been very active in the organization, and has served as commander, vice commander, and chair of a number of club committees.
The American Legion was founded in March, 1919 and has its first organizational meeting in Paris, France. A second organizational caucus was held in St Louis in May of 1919, with the first (annual) convention held in Minneapolis MN November 10-12, 1919. Membership in the legion itself is restricted to those who served the United States in the armed forces during a period of conflict. There are also groups - SAL (Sons of the American Legion), and the Legion Auxiliary - where no military service is required to be eligible. Two of our Rotarians are members of the local post, but many more veterans in our group are eligible. Membership is $35.00 per year. Contacts are Glenn Froberg or Tad Shaw for membership info.
The local post is headquartered in an old converted farmhouse across Smithtown Road from the country club, and across Co. Road 19 from "Tonka Terrace". Because of the number of deaths of World War I veterans, the membership numbers in the legion are decreasing; the national total is about 2,300,000 members, a little less than 20% of those eligible. Membership in the local post has decreased also, from a high of 423 to the present 260.
The Legion has a number of programs designed to help veterans, including the new Legacy Foundation, which has provided funds for veterans' secondary education for those serving since 1990. The American Legion's baseball league program is well-known, with the Excelsior team one of the best in the nation. Locally, the Clarence Clofer Post is known as benefactor of a number of projects: Chris Lizee mentioned their help with the SouthShore Center, most of the playground equipment in the area parks was paid for by the post, and they help in hundreds of ways to make life better for residents in the area.
If you're eligible, why aren't you a member?
The American Legion was founded in March, 1919 and has its first organizational meeting in Paris, France. A second organizational caucus was held in St Louis in May of 1919, with the first (annual) convention held in Minneapolis MN November 10-12, 1919. Membership in the legion itself is restricted to those who served the United States in the armed forces during a period of conflict. There are also groups - SAL (Sons of the American Legion), and the Legion Auxiliary - where no military service is required to be eligible. Two of our Rotarians are members of the local post, but many more veterans in our group are eligible. Membership is $35.00 per year. Contacts are Glenn Froberg or Tad Shaw for membership info.
The local post is headquartered in an old converted farmhouse across Smithtown Road from the country club, and across Co. Road 19 from "Tonka Terrace". Because of the number of deaths of World War I veterans, the membership numbers in the legion are decreasing; the national total is about 2,300,000 members, a little less than 20% of those eligible. Membership in the local post has decreased also, from a high of 423 to the present 260.
The Legion has a number of programs designed to help veterans, including the new Legacy Foundation, which has provided funds for veterans' secondary education for those serving since 1990. The American Legion's baseball league program is well-known, with the Excelsior team one of the best in the nation. Locally, the Clarence Clofer Post is known as benefactor of a number of projects: Chris Lizee mentioned their help with the SouthShore Center, most of the playground equipment in the area parks was paid for by the post, and they help in hundreds of ways to make life better for residents in the area.
If you're eligible, why aren't you a member?
(Story by Tad Shaw and photo and posting by Steve Frazier)