POST HISTORY
Delavan American Legion Post 95 was named after five men who died while serving our country:
WORLD WAR I
George Rutledge
William Rutledge
WORLD WAR II
Walter Boviall
KOREAN WAR
Douglas Schauf
VIET NAM WAR
Thomas Madison
Delavan American Legion Post was chartered December 4, 1919. The first commander was Charles Sumner. Since then the following have served as Post Commander:
Charles Summers Charles Boardman Thomas Kelley Frank Miller Alfred Ryan Thomas Morrissy Frank Clark Jesse Clapper Glen Sheldon Merle Clapper Robert Liddle, Jr. Walter Vonghechten Edward Munger Charles White Roland Mitchell McKinley Hodge Robert Cline Harrison Gevaart Edwin Arnold Howard Fernholz Robert Ferber Albert James Eugene Williamson Perry Burns Martin Moran Garfield Collard Eula Grames Leon Babcock Ernst John Watts Lawrence Scharine Joseph Sturtevant Frank Spoerle Joseph Walters Francis Lyons Robert Brooks Laudie Kostelecky Donald Johnson Robert Hauffe Carl Ramsey H. Darrell Dunbar Lawrence Crary Louis Rodriguis Merlin Case Jerry Peters Merlyn Dahl Raymond Logterman Roger Davis Charles Schmailing Gerald Rowland Lawrence Malsch Hugh Dahl Paul Flynn Van Brown Franklin Stoneburner Donald Seuser Allen Buzzell Ray Woods George Ballman Leroy Himebauch John Allen Larry Malsch Lisa Loomer Ron Grair John Loomer Robert Penniman Lewie Lindloff -Present Commander
FIRE DESTROYS LEGION HOME MARCH 8, 1978
After a 3 hour battle with the fire, Chief Brad Little declared the building "a total loss". At that time, Jerry Peters, reported that the post's cemetery flags and other equipment were destroyed but that many pictures and trophies were saved. The building was about 150 years old and had served the Legion since the mid fifties. The birthday dinner, scheduled for Saturday, March 12th was held in the municipal building. The cocktail hour was eliminated.
PRESENT LEGION HALL CONSTRUCTED
Immediately after the fire the Legion developed plans for a new building. Fran Lyons was the chairman of a very sucessful fund drive. C. C. Condon and Allen VanDeBogert were Legion construction supertindents for the new building. Dedication was held on Saturday, October 11, 1980. At that time Roger Davis was Commander of the post and Mary Holden was the Auxiliary President. In 1998 and addition was added.
FLAG LINE
In the lower level of the Delavan American Legion Post Post at 111 South Second Street is a distinctive and serene chamber know as the Flag Lounge. Its name is derived from the 52 United States flags on standards, positioned against the north wall, one for each of the Delavan veterans who died while serving in the armed forces during the nation's wars of the 20th century.
A metal railing in front of the flag line contains plaques with the names of the deceased veterans. Special lighting enhances the flags against a black background. Many ceremonies, including funeral services, have been conducted in front of the flags.
The flag line was installed many years ago. It was the idea of Wilma H. Lauterbach who had been a staunch supporter of the American legion programs for a number of years. She also made a substancial financial contribution to subsidize the project. Francis Lyons, a past commander of the Delavan Legion Post, assumed a leadership role in implemening the flag line. Post members Allan VanDeBogert and Claire C. Condon were assigned the task of designing and installing the proposed flag memorial.
The flag line was dedicated in 1980, following completion of the present American Legion facility, which replaced the former building destroyed in the 1978 fire. The flags are dedicated to the following veterans who died in service and are listed alphabetically:
WORLD WAR I
William Cummings
Thomas H. Flintcroft
Ernest Franzen
DeWitt B. Grenell
George Gustafson
Harold J. Hobbs
Martin Keller
James L. Liddle
Charles Milligan
Peter Peterson
Myron Richards
George W. Rutledge
William H. Rutledge
Donald M. Sage
Walter Schulz
Carroll L. Thomas
Walter Thomas
Fred Wilkins
WORLD WAR II
Raymond Barker
Leo Bedsted
Walter Boviall
William Boyle
John Delaney
Alton Goff
Phillip Harris
Vernon Kelley
Marvin Knecht
Lloyd Lobdell
Francis Los
Oscar Mueller
Donald Neidel
Bennett Recknagel
Raymond Scanlon
Thomas Scheurell
Horace Slater
Albert Wwacina
Martin Van Liere
William Winters
William Woolsey
W. Douglas Yadon
Howard J. York
KOREAN WAR
Earl Belk
Harold Carlson
Douglas Schauf
VIETNAM WAR
Allan Decker
Gary DuCharme
Robert Grebby
Carl Hallberg
Lester Kersten
Thomas V. Madison
Louis Pavlacky
Jon W. Thomas