2005 - 2006 Scrapbook

The American Legion
Leyden-Chiles-Wickersham Post No. 1
Denver, Colorado

Introduction

   On March 20, 1919 (just three days after the adjournment of the Legion founding caucus in Paris, France) a group of Denver Veterans organized the Leo Leyden Post of World War I Veterans to honor the first Colorado hero to pay the "supreme sacrifice." This group became the first Legion Post in Colorado and the fifteenth to be chartered in the United States. The charter is dated June 17, 1919 and was signed by thirty members. This charter now hangs in the Post Commander's office.

   J. Hunter Wickersham Post # 51 was organized October 18, 1919, at the home of W. S. (Bill) Rathbun with twenty seven charter members. In 1921 and 1922 many small Legion Posts found the going tough and early in 1923 the following six Posts; Proctor, Preston, Hewitt, Steele, Rickard and Sharp abandoned their charters and joined forces with the Marcellus H. Chiles Legion Post # 41 and became known as Columbine Post # 41. In 1925 Post # 41 restored the name Marcellus H. Chiles.

    The Leyden, Chiles and Wickersham American Legion Posts consolidated and Leyden-Chiles-Wickersham Post 1 was chartered on August 20, 1931 in loving memory of Private Leo T. Leyden, Captain Marcellus H. Chiles and Lieutenant J. Hunter Wickersham all of whom gave their lives for their country. Read More

Preamble To The Constitution Of The American Legion

We associate ourselves together for the following purposes:

   To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and goodwill on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness

2005 - 2006 LCW Post 1 Programs And Activities

Adjutant Presents Check To Colorado State Nursing Home
   Post #1 Adjutant Brandt Erickson presents check for $2,455.32 to Mike Gilbert (a resident) and Melissa Blair (Activities Director) at the Colorado State Nursing Home at Fitzsimons. $1,014 of that came from Post #1’s Auction/Sale held on February 19th, including a $304 donation from our SAL.

New Members Initiated
   At the November 22, 2005 post meeting several new members were initiated in a ceremony led by the Post Commander Frank McCurdy.  

2005 Memorial Day
   2005 Memorial Day pictures

2005 Veterans Day Parade
   2005 Veterans Day Parade pictures

Halloween Party October 29, 2005
   This year's Halloween Party was held on October 29th. A good time was had by all.
   2005 Halloween Party pictures

2005 Annual Children's Christmas Party
   This year's Children's Party was held on Saturday, December 17th.
    2005 Children's Christmas Party pictures

Valentines Day Sweetheart Dance
   The annual Valentines Day Dance was held on February 10th. This years King and Queen Kitty and Kevin Keator were crowned. Music was provided by Perfect Harmony.

National Commander Luncheon April 10th At LCW Post #1
by Frank McCurdy
   Colorado’s own Tom Bock, American Legion National Commander 2005 through August 2006, visited Post 1 on April 10, 2006. As National Commander, Tom has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. He has visited our troops in Iraq and Korea. Our Commander has spoken with Legionnaires throughout the world about their concerns and problems. Commander Bock interfaces with the Bush Administration in Washington and has testified before Congressional Committees.
   Today there is no one in the American Legion who possesses the breadth of contemporary knowledge concerning the numerous issues facing our veterans and troops. The word is, “Tom does an outstanding job representing the interest of the American Legion.”
   Representing 2.7 million veterans is not easy! Trying to reach out and be available to everyone is a difficult task. Therefore, why has Tom chosen to visit Post # 1? Jeff Luginbuel, our Alternate National Executive Committee Member and Post #1 member, was and is the “Tom Bock for National Commander Campaign Chairman.” Also, our Post consistently assisted Tom during his two year campaign. Tom simply wanted to stop by and say “Thanks”.

Eddy Smith Honored With Extraordinary Service Award
   Leyden-Chiles-Wickersham Post 1, at our January 24, 2006 meeting, established the Eddy Smith Extraordinary Service Award. The purpose of the award is to recognize for perpetuity Legionnaires who have served our Post and veterans, not for years, but rather decades. The Legionnaires nominated for this award are names easily recognized by all and respected for their almost lifelong service. We have established a plaque to be displayed in a prominent location to honor these men and women who set the example of dedication and service to the American Legion’s causes.
   Why did this award surface now? We were sad to report to our membership that Eddy Smith has passed away. Our members were in shock because his death happened so quickly. Eddy Smith is both the inspiration and the poster child for this award. We have lost a Legionnaire who simply cannot be replaced. Eddy was like an army of volunteers!
   Eddy’s service to our Post extends over a period of 57 years. During that period, he was Commander twice and held most other offices more than once. He served on almost all committees for over three to four decades. Eddy also took on most of the House type jobs that required enormous time daily and nobody else wanted. We will miss Eddy, but we must not forget Eddy.
   We believe it is appropriate that Eddy be the first LCW Post #1 Legionnaire selected for the “Extraordinary Service Award.” which is named after him as Eddy always put the Post first. I believe we can honor him by selecting him as the first “Extraordinary Service Award Recipient. “Eddy, if you can hear us, you have set the benchmark for volunteerism and dedication!”

Post General Membership Meeting April 25, 2006
   The agenda included nominations for the May Post elections, new member initiation, awarding Certificates of Participation (50 and 60 year), presentation of the Eddy Smith Extraordinary Service Award and a guest speaker. The guest speaker, Navy Captain Pul Sherbo, has spent two tours in Iraq. Paul served on both joint staffs (Army, Navy, and Air Force) and combined staffs (US, British, Polish; etc) in Baghdad and other locations in the Middle East. As an 0-6, he had a perspective that we had not heard before. Captain Sherbo gave a 30 minute presentation that included a slide presentation and video.
   2006 April 25th Membership Meeting Pictures

Presentation Of The Eddy Smith Extraordinary Service Award
To His Daughter And Family

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