TULSA, OK (KJRH) — Tuesday, June 18 marks a celebration 100 years in the making for Tulsa-area veterans. The oldest continually-operated American Legion in the country celebrates a century helping vets.
The post's history started in 1919 after WWI. Those who have taken part for the past half-century say the building became the pinnacle of the American Legion in Oklahoma.
Post 1 is one of the five oldest American Legion posts in the country, and has been pivotal in helping green country’s veterans, and fighting for efforts like the G.I. Bill after WWII.
Today’s veterans hope the help American Legion Post 1 has given them continues for generations to come.
"I’m hoping they last another hundred [years]," said U.S. Army veteran Michael Zeigler. "As long as we have wars and we have veterans, we need American Legion Post 1.”
Today, George Hedrick works alongside Frank Martinez as part of the team that helps more than 150 veterans every month to get the help that they both need and have earned.
“You never leave a wounded soldier on the battlefield," Hedrick said. Both he and Martinez are U.S. Army veterans themselves. "You don’t leave a soldier; so this is where they come to.”
This building’s history includes packed houses on Friday and Saturday nights, dedications to fallen soldiers, and even stories of a ghost who’s said to still live in the post.
The June 18 birthday ceremony includes a celebratory dinner starting at 6:30 - all are invited.
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