Juanita Erickson of Ashland Kelly-Johnson Post 90 became 11th District commander (the first female district commander in the state) in 1954. She was a Marine veteran of WWII. In 1956 she was elected department vice commander, a first for women to attain such a high position in any Legion department.

Wilbert “Bill” Leppien of Madison Severson-Cairns Post 501 portrayed Uncle Sam in parades across the United States for more than 25 years, including five presidential inaugural parades. He estimated that he marched in over 1,000 parades and handed out more than 100,000 American flags. His uniform is on display at the Smithsonian.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur was a life member of Milwaukee Alonzo Cudworth Post 23. He received the American Legion Distinguished Service Medal in 1942. His Legion cap is on display in the museum at American Legion National Headquarters in Indianapolis.

EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS A STORY

WISCONSINThe American Legion of

Since its first organizational meeting at what was then the Milwaukee Electric Railroad and Light Company, the American Legion Department of Wisconsin has been supporting communities across the state. During the growing years, posts were formed within major businesses like Milwaukee’s Schlitz, Pabst and Blatz Brewery. The resolution to make the poppy The American Legion’s official flower came from Wisconsin, as did the idea of affiliating VA hospitals with medical schools and the resolution to support the Vietnam Women’s Memorial in Washington, D.C. The department has connections with, and has supported, the Wisconsin National Guard, Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and University of Wisconsin.

WI Legionnaires

Badger State AttractionsCamp American Legion

amp American Legion on Lake Tomahawk is a piece of heaven located in the American Legion State Forest in northern Wisconsin. The camp

is a place for Wisconsin veterans, military and their families to come together in a safe environment for recuperation or to complete their physical and psychological readjustment.

In 1924, the Legion persuaded the state legislature to authorize the Bureau of Veterans’ Affairs to purchase Camp Minnewawa (originally a high-school girls camp). The camp was purchased for $50,000 using money from the Soldiers Rehabilitation Funds. The camp has since been leased to the Legion for $1 per year, with the Legion assuming responsibility for management and maintenance. The camp’s name was officially changed to Camp American Legion in 1945.

Additional acreage was secured from the state and used to construct a handicapped-accessible nature trail by the “Combat to Construction” apprenticeship program for military veterans. The trail is named “Gary G. Wetzel Way.” Wetzel, a member of Post 434 in Oak Creek, received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War.

C

Barbara Pelarski started working for the department in 1950, and is still there 69 years later. She has served as executive secretary and administrative assistant, serving three adjutants and 51 commanders. She was the exclusive department-convention meeting planner and went to all national conventions. She has served four department service officers.

Joe McCarthy was a two-term U.S. senator from Appleton Olney Johnston Post 38. In the 1950s he began a three-year reign as the nation’s most visible and loved/hated anti-communist crusader. The “McCarthy era” caused some controversy among Wisconsin Legionnaires and proved traumatic for the department.

The first organizational meeting of the American Legion Department of Wisconsin begins in Milwaukee.

Aug. 31, 1919

The Electric Post 228 band wins the Lemuel Bolles Trophy for top Legion band, and an international award in Berne, Switzerland.

1929

The first Sons of The American Legion squadron in Wisconsin is formed at South Milwaukee Post 27.

1932

Chippewa Indian James Montreal “Mike” Gordon of Bayfield travels to the Legion’s national convention in Miami by canoe, an 85-day trip.

1934

The first session of high-school government program Badger Boys State is held at St. John’s Military Academy in Delafield; 484 boys attend.

1939

Fort McCoy in Monroe County is a U.S. Army installation used primarily as a military training center. It was formerly Camp McCoy, a name Wisconsin Legion delegates to the national convention successfully petitioned for in 1926, after Maj. Gen. Robert B. McCoy. The Wisconsin American Legion Law Enforcement Career Academy is held on base.

The Highground Veterans Memorial Park in Neillsville is a 155-acre manned memorial park that pays tribute to the fallen and honors the survivors, their service and their sacrifices.

Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee is named after Gen. Billy Mitchell. Shell Lake Post 225 led the four-year fight for the 1942 restoration of his honors and rank of major general.

Volk Field Air National Guard Base and Combat Readiness Training Center in Juneau County is named in memory of 1st Lt. Jerome A. Volk, the first Wisconsin National Guard pilot killed in combat during the Korean War.

WI Legion Department Headquarters

Legend

Legion posts

Legionnaires from the Badger State are proud

to show off a badger on the front of their covers (caps).

The Badger nickname originally referred to the lead miners of the

1830s. They lived not in houses, but in temporary caves cut into the hillsides.

These caves were described as “badger dens” and the miners who lived in them

as badgers. Before the national American Legion organization standardized uniform

caps, the Legion Badger looked more like a red rat; today’s smaller version is friendlier.

Past Department Commander Harvey Higley is appointed head of the U.S. Veterans Administration, a post he fills until 1957.

1953

LEGION BASEBALL

Did you know?

Contact The American Legion of WisconsinAmber Nikolai – Department Adjutant2930 American Legion Dr.; P.O. Box 388Portage, WI 53901

608.745.1090 www.wilegion.org

Join The American Legion www.legion.org/join

n the summer of 1919, E.L. “Curly” Lambeau convinced his employer (a local meatpacking plant) to purchase uniforms for

a football team in Green Bay. Curly then visited the commander of Sullivan-Walden Post 11 and asked the local Legion to sponsor the team. The post membership voted to support the team, which proved to be one of the best decisions the post ever made, giving it credit for backing one of the greatest professional football teams in history.

In the early days, admission was not charged, and the team and post were lucky to collect $25 by passing the hat. As the team’s fame grew, Legion members helped as ticket takers, ushers, game police and color guard. The Packer ticket office from 1922-1929 and 1935-1949 was in the American Legion Building on Walnut Street. During football season, hundreds of fans could be seen filling the grounds in front of the building waiting to get game tickets. The tenure as ticket office ended with the opening of new Packer offices at the corner of Washington and Crooks in 1949.

When the Packers’ corporation papers were drawn in 1923, they stated that Post 11 was to receive the team’s yearly profit. When the Packers’ articles of incorporation were filed in 1935, Post 11 was named beneficiary if the franchise were to be sold.

During the 1950 Packer stock sales, the post acquired 112 shares. Team stock certificates issued prior to 1997 included a statement that if the Packer Corporation would be dissolved all assets would go to Sullivan-Wallen Post 11 for the purpose of creating a soldiers memorial.

In 1956, Post 11 campaigned hard to help get the vote to build the new stadium (Lambeau Field), and were very involved in the Sept. 28, 1957, dedication parade. The post operated 15 concession stands and had a float in the parade. The post received special permission to use four Chicago Cubs jerseys on their float.

If you have the privilege of attending a game at Lambeau Field, you will see members of Sullivan-Wallen Post 11 continuing the almost 100-year tradition of presenting the nation’s colors on the field.

The Legion and the Packers

Post-9/11 WI LEGION

Wisconsin became active in the Legion’s Junior Baseball program in 1926, with the first team originating in Appleton. By 1928 Wisconsin was regularly sending teams to national tournaments. By 1953, The American Legion completely took over management of the association.

The Department of Wisconsin has worked closely with Milwaukee’s two Major League Baseball teams – first the Braves, then in 1970 the Brewers – to promote Legion Baseball. An American Legion “All Star” game is held annually at Miller Park following one of the regular-season games, at which the department commander traditionally throws out the first pitch.

Ken Keltner, former All-Star third baseman with the Cleveland Indians who stopped Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak, was a member of Milwaukee Cudworth Post 23. He also served as the vice chair of the Baseball Day Commission. Burleigh Grimes (Hall of Fame pitcher with the Brooklyn Dodgers) was a member of Wiley David Post108 in Clear Lake.

Popular announcer Bob Uecker played for Milwaukee Federal Post 203 in the 1950s.

James Fialkowski is a 20-year honorably retired U.S. Marine Corps

veteran. He served in Iraq as a gunnery sergeant in 2003. He is a member

of Greendale Post 416. James serves as the department service officer, and has the pleasure of working

closely with the veteran community every day. He comments that whether he is at at veterans center, a college or simply walking in a parade, he enjoys representing The American

Legion. He is honored and proud knowing that veterans, surviving spouses and orphans will receive their due benefits, and possibly a

college education, because the Legion was able to help.

I

In 1919, Legionnaires from Racine Post 76 created the “Spirit of ‘76” float depicting Revolutionary War soldiers for the annual Fourth of July parade. The tradition is now carried on by Post 310, and is said to be the longest consistently entered yearly float in any Fourth of July parade.

Legionnaire and former congressman Melvin Laird is appointed Secretary of Defense, a post he fills until 1973.

1969

The first American Legion College is held in Marshfield to train future organizational leaders in Wisconsin.

1974

Posts across the state open their doors to be used during the swine flu epidemic as part of a massive public program of immunizations.

1976-1977

Keith Kreul of Fennimore is elected national commander of The American Legion during the national convention in Seattle.

1983

David Faust of Cross Plains is elected national commander of the Sons of The American Legion.

1988

Denise Rohan of Verona is elected The American Legion’s first female national commander at the national convention in Reno, Nev.

2017

n In 1923, the Beaver Dam post band included actor Fred MacMurray (of “My Three Sons” and many movies).n Famous Badger Boys State alumni include jazz singer Al Jarreau, U.S. Congressman William Steiger, actor Daniel Travanti and Wisconsin governors Martin Schreiber, Scott McCallum and Scott Walker (whose son was elected Boys State governor).n Three American Legion national conventions have been hosted in Milwaukee, in 1941, 2000 and 2010. Milwaukee also has the contract for the 2022 national convention.n Wisconsin has had six American Legion Auxiliary national presidents: Adalin Macauley (1926-1927), Elanor Smith (1943-1944), Pearl Behrend (1987-1988), Barbara Kranig (1997-1998), Jan Pulvermacher-Ryan (2007-2008) and Diane Duscheck (2017-2018).n In 1919, Mary Hanecey of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1 was distributing coffee and donuts to returning troops when she had the idea of distributing poppies to raise funds for rehabilitation. In 1930, she was recognized as the founder of the Legion’s national Poppy Program.