Leader Lookback: Legion, birthday, fish hatcheries
Korea and Vietnam Join Legion Birthday Celebration Here
Six World War I veterans joined with Korean veterans and Vietnam veterans in attending the American Legion birthday dinner party Saturday night at the American Legion Hall. The party was given by the American Legion Auxiliary in honor of the Legion with which it has worked closely for almost the entire time since the Legion was organized here 51 years ago.
Clarence Apple, Legion Commander, announced the 51-year members of the Legion as James Clar, Russell Fisher, Elra Hudon, Carl Ike, Willis J. Kishler, Emil Marx, Edward Swartz and William Walters. Harold O. Parke is a 50 year member. Fred Doute was recognized as past dis
trict president.
Auxiliary charter members recognized by Mrs. Edwin Henning, president, are Nelle Baxter, Bernice Baxter, Florence Dixon, Beulah Dellinger, Henrietta Doute, Margaret Hudson, Clara Helmstetter, Alice Scheer, Naomi Ike, Mary Kishler, Floss Krogman, Mary Marx, Lucille Noble, Leota Swartz and Hulda Schmehl.
Life memberships were presented to them for meritorious service to the organizations. Only three, Swartz, Scheer and Hudson, were present to receive their certificates.
Mr. Apple introduced Myron Schilling, past district commander.
Merle Brady of Van Wert, past department commander of the American Legion and also a past national committeeman, recalled his first visit to the St. Marys Post in 1953 when he was second district commander; how pleased he was that there were 55 Legionnaires to greet him.
In his remarks to the Legionnaires and Legion Auxiliary members Saturday evening, Brady said the American Legion was founded with four basic goals: To promote rehabilitation of veterans, to further child welfare programs, to promote national security and to keep Americanism foremost. These basic principles are still foremost in the American Legion, Mr. Brady said.
St. Marys Fish Farm Prepares for Northern Pike Jar Hatchery Program
The water is being drawn down in the Northern Pike breeder ponds at the St. Marys fish farm. The fish will be removed early next week and stripped of their eggs.
The eggs, representing the ninth generation of Northern Pike to be hatched at the state fish farm in the 20 years the jar hatchery has been in operation here, will be placed in the jars awaiting them. Dean Now, superintendent of the state fish farm, says he anticipates 3.5 million eggs will be placed in the jars.
Some Northern Pike may be brought here from Killdeer and Clark lakes for the Northern Pike program. They are fish which originated at the St. Marys fish farm.
Eggs will be stripped from them too for hatching in the jars.
There are 54 jars at the St. Marys hatchery.
New Bremen Legion Auxiliary Will Give Post 241 New Electric Clock; District Officers Attend Birthday Fete
The American Legion Auxiliary will present Post 241 in New Bremen with a new electric clock for the Post Hall, but it hasn’t arrived yet, President Sherrie Lutterbeck told her husband, Commander Jerry Lutterbeck at the annual Legion Birthday Party Saturday night. The present clock will have “For God and Country” inscribed on top and the Legion Emblem mounted below.
A number of past and present officers of District II were present at the carry-in dinner planners around the fried chicken deliciously prepared by Mrs. Harold Suchland and her committee. Mrs. Suchland also donated two floral bouquets which were used as centerpieces on the speakers’ table and later awarded to Wilbert Will and Michael Suchland, as door prizes. The corsages of the president, Mrs. Lutterbeck and the chaplain, Mrs. Corinne Schwieterman were also donated by Suchlands.
Introduced were District Trustee Ray Knipple and Past District President Mrs. Helen Dammeyer of New Bremen; Clare DeVault of Spencerville; Commander of District II; Gerald Tapp of Bellefontaine; First Vice Commander of District II; Leonard Curtiss of Sidney, 2nd Vice Commander of District II; Harrison Arbogast, Past District Commander and Mrs. Maxine Arbogast, Presidnet of District II. They, in turn, introduced their husbands and wives. Each of the District officers spoke briefly. Mrs. Arbogast was presented with a beautiful floral arrangement from the New Bremen Auxiliary.
Mrs. Schwieterman introduced Tom Sprengs, of Fort Loramie, who entertained with three poems: “The Face on the Barroom Floor”, “St. Peter at the Gate” and “The Unknown Soldier”. The audiences showed their delight in the program by their tremendous applause.
The dinner was preceded with a cocktail hour arranged by Mr. and Mrs. Ahlers. Prayer was followed by a moment of silence in memory of the deceased. After the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem was sung.
During the meeting which followed the dinner, Lutterbeck announced that the American Legion will conduct a Flag Burning Ceremony on May 16 and anyone in the community who wishes to have their old, torn, faded flags properly destroyed is invited to call a Legionnaire for further information.
Lutterbeck also announced that the regular meeting of the Auxiliary is Monday night and each member is to bring her own sack lunch.
She said the Auxiliary will sponsor a card party for the public on April 21 and all members of the Post and Auxiliary are invited to the Little Brown Jug Dance of District II to be held on April 3 at the Allen Country Fairgrounds, near Lima.
In another announcement the president said the Spring Conference will be held in Spencerville on March 28.
The evening concluded with a public dance to music by the Don Burns Orchestra.