Stratford Directory Stratford Iowa

Legion

Frederick W. Sonksen American Legion Post #575


Legion Officers

Commander - Weldon Swedlund
Adjutant - Carl Berglund
Finance Officer & Membership Chairman - Dale Kane
Service Officer - Dale Ahrens


Legion Membership

Dean AhrensC. Richard AndersonRobert Young
Pete AngstromNorman ArnoldStephen Anderson
Philip BerglundAlvie BergmanHarold Berglund
Robert C. BergmanOrville CarlsonHoward Bergman
Trevor CarlsonPhillip CarrollRobert L. Carlson
Dean CoulterHalbert CrimRobert Conklin
Harold FisherGale GrahamClaude Dally
Derald HansonDale HarrisLloyd Gripp
J.D. HookFrancis HoshawWilliam Henderson
Ronald IlesRobert JacobsenMurlin Iles
Marvin E. JohnsonRichard JohnsonKim Jensen
Floyd KarrMyron KentJohn Kane
Wayne LarsonAlf LeeHerman Larson
Fred OsbornKenneth PattersonPaul Neese
Donald PaulDarvin PevestorfLoren Patterson
Robert PoulsonHarris PutzkeLawrence Phillips
Lyle RicheyLarry RunyanGilbert Schwering
Lyle SeiserLynn SheltonGarnet Silvey
Jesse SilveyMarvin SimonsonDannie Sonksen
Edward SpurlingMarvin StakeyGlenn Stevens
Neil SturtzLavern UlrickDean VanLangen
Lyle WahmanRichard WidmanKeith Williams
James Willits

Post Activities

The American Legion posts and cares for Avenue(s) of Flags at local cemeteries (over 140 flags in 1999). Purchase of flags and poles is not limited to veterans and/or their families, so anyone may purchase a flag in honor/memory for a loved one. The Post provides color guards for parades and also assists with the "burial of veterans." Community Memorial Day Services (average 175 in attendance) are the responsibility of the Post. The American Legion and Auxiliary provide a program for the local 4th of July celebration. The Post sponsors a junior boy to Boys State. Legion members conduct a "First Day of School" flag raising and cosponsor with the American Legion Auxiliary two community blood drives each year. Members have done repair work at cemeteries for several years. Legion members are visible throughout the community--helping deliver Congregate Meals; working with and supporting the local Boy Scouts; volunteering at school (flag-burning ceremony held in 1999, assisted by 5th grade students); work with Stratford Nursing home in visiting male residents.

Special programs for 1999 included sponsoring Meet Your Candidate night (open to public); sponsoring the Hamilton Co. Sheriff who spoke to members and guests on Drug Usage; hosting a speaker on the organ donor program; and helping promote American Education Week at our local school (gifts to school staff).

The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary hold joint monthly meetings (except for January). The membership of these two organizations makes them the largest service organizations in the community (over 150 members). Their purpose is to support the local veterans and their families. In addition, they readily support community activities, especially those concerning Americanism, our youth and education. The two organizations meet on the first Wednesday of each month (normal meeting time 7:30 p.m.) at the Shakespeare Center, with a few meetings held at local churches where there is room for a larger attendance.

The American Legion organization was chartered by Congress in 1919, and membership is open to all veterans (both men and women) whose dates of service in the Armed Forces fall within the eligibility dates as set by the Congress of the United States.

Contact webmaster@stratfordiowa.com