On Aug. 24 -30, 2018, I had the opportunity to attend the American Legion National Convention in Minneapolis, as a delegate representing China Post 1. This was the 100th anniversary of the first convention, which coincidentally took place at Peavey Plaza, only two blocks away from this year's site.
The American Legion is one of the oldest veterans service organization in the United States and is sustained by individuals like yourselves who continue to serve the post. We each took an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States” and swore a creed to leave no man behind. Perhaps this partially explains the success the post and the Legion enjoy. Whatever the reason, the historical significance of this year's convention was not lost on me.
During a break from our busy schedule, I took the time to visit the site of the first convention. The plaque says: “ ON THIS SITE WAS HELD THE FIRST NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN LEGION November 9,10,11 1919”. Pictured left to right is Kerry Kilburn, CP1 JAG, John Shanahan, and Scott Riebel, CP1 Vice Commander.