The Lincoln times., 1955-03-07


ton, writes:
According to a book written
by George S. Wheat and publish
ed in May 1919. many men mad
been thinking of an after-the-
war organization but 1t. Col.
Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., is gener-
ally credited with being the per-
son most responsible for getting
an organization actually under
way.
In midsummer of 1918. ac-
cording to Wheat, there was a
conversation outside Base Hospi-
tai ? in Paris that started Roose-
welt to thinking about such an
outfit.
A sergeant of the Goth U. S.
Infantry was asked by an officer,
What will We do when the Ger
mans really are licked?"
Go home and start a veterans
organization for the good of the
country, sir" the sergeant answ-
cred.
| Col. Theodore Roosevelt was
the officer and Sgt. William Pat
terson, later killed in action. was
the enlisted man.
Wheat goes on to say that Col.
Roosevelt told him that it was
the first time he tRooSevelD had
heard the subject of a veterans
association mentioned.
On February 16, 1919, Col.
Roosevelt talked the proposition
ever with 20 officers at a dinner
in Paris. A month later the cau-
Gus was held in Paris, attended
by both officers and enlisted men
| from many outfits. This caucus
is credited with being the actual
birth date of The American Le-
gion, for it was at this three
day meeting that the name THE
American Legion, was adopted y
! According to records at Ma
tional Headquarters, the Paris
caucus was attended by the fol-
lowing North Carolinians:
Ernest C. Cheek, captain, 8lst
Division, from Durham;
Leland S. Harris. 1st 1t. 81st
Division, from Raleigh;
Henry NJ. Wilson, captain, 80th
Division, from Raleigh;
H. w. Loving. major. Paris
Command, from Charlotte.
Shortly thereafter, The Ameri-
can Legion began to form in the
United States. Gale K. Burgess
Raleigh attorney, was named
State Chairman for North Caro-
lima and he is credited with being
the organizer of The American
Legion Department of North
Carolina.
Past Department Historian. A
L. Fletcher of Raleigh, now al
work bringing the Department
History up to date, in his first
history - 1919 20 wrote:
ITO Gale K. Burgess, who hao
seen service in the 18th Fielc
Artillery of the Thirtieth Divi-
sion, in all of the grades from
private to 1St 1t, goes the credit
for iniating the organization work
in this State
Burgess returned to Raleigh or
April 15. 1919, following his dis
charge from the Army and be-
gan his work for the organiza
ton. He and R. w. Glenn. OF
Greensboro, attended the ST
Louis Caucus, May 10, 1919
where Burgess was designated
State Chairman.
A Charter for State Orga1i,
zation. for the State of North
Carolina" was issued to Chair
man Burgess on May "a, 1919
with authority ''for the forma-
ton of a State organization o.
The American Legion in NORTH
Carolina"
The first Post was organized
in Raleigh on July 20, 1919, ano
assigned number "l". When fifty
Posts had been organized, the
first convention was held in Ra-
leigh on October 20, 1919. Johr
Beasley, newspaper man of Mon,
roe. was elected the first De-
partment Commander.
On August l, 1920, permanent
charter was issued to The De-
partment of North Carolina.
On the 36th anniversary of The
American Legion there are 401
Posts in North Carolina with
paid-up membership for 1855 il
excess of 10000 members with
10000 more expected before the
end of the year.
LEGION PROGRAMS -
OBJECTIVES
The American Legion in
North Carolina now interests
itself in Rehabilitation of vet
Grams and has a staff of full
time paid people who assists
veterans and their dependents;
child welfare in which the
needs of children are met by
the financing of their families
during emergency periods;
High School OratOrical Con-
tests to promote juvenile study
of the American Constitution
and Bill of Rights; Boys State
to interest teen-age boys in the
principles of good government:
Junior Baseball in which the
objectives are to teach boys the