The American Legion is turning 100, and Clearwater American Legion Post 323 is celebrating their 100th Anniversary along with it. The year-long celebration runs through Veterans Day 2019.

 

The Clearwater Beatty-Humphries American Legion Post 323 submitted their application for charter in 1919, and is one of the earliest posts charted in Minnesota. The organization as a whole traces its roots to the aftermath of World War I, when it was federally funded on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans’ affairs, and Americanism and youth programs.

 

Today the American Legion has grown to more than 13,000 posts around the world with more than 2.2 million wartime-veteran members. Combined with the American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion, membership in the “American Legion Family” is over three million.

 

Its legacy to date is made up of numerous accomplishments, including helping create the U.S. Flag Code, helping start the Veterans Administration, drafting and getting the GI Bill passed and helping veterans receive benefits for health-care conditions based on honorable service.

 

Clearwater American Legion Posts 323 is named after Harry Pond Beatty and Ralph George Humphries. Beatty, who lived near Clearwater for three years, was in the Marines, and died from wounds received during WWI in the battle of the Marne in France in 1918. 

 

Humphries was the first person from Clearwater to enlist in the military. Enlisting on April 4, 1917, he was an apprentice seaman, and died of pleurisy at the Naval Hospital, Great Lakes Training Station near Chicago, IL, May 9, 1917.

 

The Clearwater Legion building was erected in 1957, added on to in 1981 and again in 1992. Before 1957, veterans met in the Masonic Building.

 

The Clearwater Legion has fulfilled the American Legion’s commitment to service in numerous ways.

 

“I think there’s often confusion in the community as to what the Legion does,” said Clearwater Legion Commander Ron Lashinski. “People aren’t aware of what goes on behind the scenes, they think it’s just a bar. The average citizen doesn’t know everything we do and support.”

 

Many organizations and projects have benefitted from the Legion’s generosity over the years, including local organizations and churches, youth organizations, senior and veteran activities, the St. Cloud VA Medical Center, Eagle’s Healing Nest, college scholarships and individuals with financial and medical hardships.

 

The Legion has also donated money to the Clearwater Library, Heritage Days and for the Clearwater Fire Dept., including $10,000 in 1990 towards the department’s building fund. 

 

The majority of the organization’s fundraising comes from charitable gambling, but money is raised in other ways such as their Sunday breakfasts and annual fish fry. The Legion’s bar and kitchen is open to the public, and they host weekly events like bingo and trivia night.

 

“I’ve been a member of the Legion for 31 years,” said veteran Wally Westerberg. “I joined to give back to the community and help other vets.”

 

Annually, American Legion posts across the country donate more than 3.7 million hours of volunteer service in their communities, provide assistance on more than 181,000 VA benefits claims and cases and award more than $4 million in college scholarships.

 

“We’re helping to carry on the legacy of the Legion in Clearwater,” said Lashinski as to why he’s active in the Legion. “Generations before us advocated for veterans’ causes and rights, it’s our turn now. Hopefully the younger generation will continue.”

 

The Clearwater American Legion meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. New members are always welcome.