Veterans’ names needed: American Legion Auxiliary planning “Wall of Military Heroes” for Veterans Day
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WALL OF HEROES — Members of the Auxiliary of the Russell-Toycen American Legion Post 131 of Colfax have started gathering veterans’ names for the Wall of Heroes display at the Viking Bowl in November. The annual Veterans’ Day Supper on November 11 will be held at the Viking Bowl this year. Pictured here are Legion Auxiliary members Arlene Scheidecker (on left) and Kathy Dunbar. —photo by LeAnn R. Ralph
By LeAnn R. Ralph
COLFAX — The Auxiliary of Russell-Toycen American Legion Post 131 of Colfax is asking for your help.
The Legion Auxiliary is planning a “Wall of Military Heroes” display at the Viking Bowl for Veterans Day on November 11, said Kathy Dunbar, a member of the Legion Auxiliary.
“(We) are planning to honor our military men and women, living or deceased, by placing stars with their names on the ‘Wall of Military Heroes’ at the Viking Bowl,” she said.
“Amy Prince has generously allowed us to use the wall in the dining area,” Dunbar said, adding, “We need your help.”
This year, the Veterans Day supper on November 11 will be held at 6 p.m. at the Viking Bowl.
“We are starting now to accept names of veterans so we can get them placed before the dinner,” Dunbar said.
The Legion Auxiliary plans to leave the display in place for the entire month of November from the first to the 30th.
“We want to honor all veterans, whether the service dates were wartime or peacetime, whether the veteran is living or deceased,” Dunbar said.
Information needed
Here is the information needed to honor the military veterans:
• Full name of the military veteran (legibly printed).
• Branch of service and years served (if known).
• Tell us about their military service: what, where, etc. Tell us if they met someone famous or someone from our area when stationed overseas.
• Your name and telephone number (where you can be reached if there are questions).
• If you wish to contact by e-mail, the contact person is Arlene Scheidecker. Her e-mail address is scheideckerarlene@gmail.com.
• If you would like to call with your information or have questions, contact Kathy Dunbar at 715-962-4128.
• You can also mail your information to Kathy Dunbar at P.O. Box 155, Colfax, WI 54730.
• The cutoff date to get veteran information to Arlene or Kathy is October 26.
Free of charge
Including the names of veterans on the Wall of Military Heroes is free of charge.
Any donations that are received will be given to Northwoods Quilts of Valor or to the Veterans Memorial the American Legion is planning at Evergreen Cemetery, as you wish.
Legion Auxiliary members will place the stars at the Viking Bowl.
“We plan to have a notebook near the stars to tell of the military service of each veteran, if known,” Dunbar said.
Legion Auxiliary members are asking that you plan now to attend the annual Veterans Day supper at 6 p.m. on Monday, November 11, at the Viking Bowl in Colfax.
This year’s Veterans Day supper will not be potluck but instead will consist of a pork slider bar with au gratin potatoes, a vegetable, and cake for dessert.
The cost for each meal is $15, which includes tax and tip.
Reservations are not required but will be appreciated.
“We hope you will contact us soon with your veterans’ names and plan to attend the dinner in November,” Dunbar said.
“Let’s fill the wall with stars in honor of our veterans,” she said.
1920s
Back in the 1920s, the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary met at the “Odd Fellows Hall” and at the Colfax Municipal Building Auditorium.
Unfortunately, no mention of the Auxiliary’s formation or charter could be found in the Colfax Messenger archives.
But there is a history in the Messenger of the early American Legion.
In the November 13, 1919, Colfax Messenger, an article was published under the title “Closed: No Place to Go.” “A glance about Colfax would have given the appearance that Armistice Day, November 11, had already been declared a national holiday. The circulating of a petition on Monday, signed by a large majority of the citizens of the village, including practically all of the returned soldiers, sailors and marines, was effective in closing almost every business activity on the following day, and also the schools.”
The article goes on to say, “The fact is, Armistice Day has not been declared a legal holiday. In Colfax, there seems to be a difference of opinion as to the wisdom of the move locally.”
The article ends by saying, “Such decisions mean much to Colfax in the way of dollars and cents. In justice to the greatest number, there should be earlier notification to not only residents of the village but farmers as well. In spite of the awful condition of the roads and the winter-like weather, quite a number of farmers came to town Tuesday morning to find the village isolated as far as business activity was concerned. Imagine their thoughts!”
In the November 27, 1919, Colfax Messenger an article is published under the title of “Branch of American Legion,” “On Thursday evening of last week, the organization of the local branch of the American Legion was perfected. It will be known as the Orrin Russell Post.”
Orrin Russell was killed in World War I.
The article goes on to list the officers of the Colfax American Legion and to say the next meeting will be held at the Colfax Municipal Building Auditorium on December 4 at 8 p.m.
The American Legion Auxiliary was not mentioned.
1950s
In the early 1950s, the American Legion Auxiliary had grown to about one hundred members, including several junior members, who learned about the flag, other countries, and made tray favors for shut-ins.
Articles in the Colfax Messenger from the 1950s also note that the American Legion had 170 members at that time.
The American Legion Auxiliary still continues to support the objectives and activities of the Russell-Toycen American Legion Post 131.
The Auxiliary participates in a variety of events throughout the year, including distributing red paper poppies made by disabled veterans at rehabilitation centers; marching and/or riding in the annual Memorial Day Parade that ends with a program and ceremony at the Colfax Evergreen Cemetery; and sponsoring the November 11 Veteran’s Day Supper.
