Fentress County’s American Legion Post 137 celebrating its centennial anniversary of serving local veterans and continuing a legacy established by Sergeant Alvin C. York.
Adjutant Rodger Guest said the American Legion originally formed in France following World War I. The goal: to ensure that service members returning home received better care and advocacy than those who served in previous conflicts.
“They wanted to make sure that the veterans were taken care of,” Guest said. “Not like what happened in the Civil War, it didn’t happen as much. So they wanted to make sure there was an organization that took care of veterans’ issues.”
Guest said the Fentress County post was founded by a group of 15 men that included Sergeant Alvin C. York. Guest said York was involved with the formation of the American Legion from its earliest stages in France in 1918 before helping establish the local post.
“Alvin York was part of a group of approximately 14 men that started a Legion post,” Guest said. “And from what I gather from his grandson is that we, he was even at the beginning over in France when they formed the American Legion.”
Guest said the local post carries out its mission by building wheelchair ramps for veterans regardless of whether they are members of the Legion. Guest said the organization also maintains an honor guard to perform services at funerals and during holiday events for Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
“To follow in Sergeant York’s footsteps, it’s something that he wanted to impart on the local veterans, and it’s a great thing to do,” Guest said. “It would be nice if more veterans joined; it gives us a bigger voice in Washington. Um, you know, instead of saying, ‘Hey, we got 25 guys that say this isn’t right,’ you get thousands of veterans who are pushing the government to do right for the veterans that are out there.”
For Guest, he said the legion goes beyond the historical legend of York, it is personal. Guest said the legion works with the community’s youth to spread their message, just like his father and his father’s father did before him.
Guest said the post funds its community programs and veteran assistance projects by hosting public dinners on the second and third Saturday of every month. Guest said the organization serves fish on the second Saturday and chicken on the third Saturday to raise the necessary capital for their initiatives.
Guest said the legion plans to keep on trucking, and maintain the same level of dedication to their local veterans they have always shown, as well as the camaraderie they built together.
Guest said the American Legion also works with JROTC units at Clarkrange and York Institute to connect with younger generations. Guest said the organization hopes to expand its reach in the future by becoming more involved with groups such as 4-H, the Boy Scouts, and the Girl Scouts.
