Community Service
We deeply care about America, Veterans, their families, our nation's youth, and our beautiful city of Longmont. Over the years, there have been many worthwhile service projects sponsored by Post 32: In the past, we sponsored Legion Baseball and Golf, and Junior and Women’s Rifle Clubs. Presently, we sponsor annual student oration contests and scholarships, Boy Scout Troop 67, Christmas baskets for the needy, Boys’ State, the Veterans’ Stand Down to help homeless veterans, and many other service projects.
History of Post Locations
Meetings were first held in the old Farmers’ National Bank on Main Street. In 1924, the Post purchased a former church building in the 300 block of Collyer Street. At that time, there were 60 members, and they met there for the next 22 years.
In October, 1945, the building at the corner of 3rd and Main Streets was purchased using a combination of cash and a bond issue. In July of 1960, plans were made to move the club rooms downstairs into what had been a bowling alley area. Post Commander, Cal Maier, stated, “We then started to remodel the upstairs, and this was all done by volunteer labor, except for the building front, the lobby, and the heating.” By October 1, 1964, the major bond issue covering the major remodeling was completed, due in part to Grace Buckley Stapp (Lt. Buckley’s mother), returning her bonds marked as “paid.” A note-burning ceremony was held in November, 1964.
In the November, 1988 newsletter, there was a notification from Wayne Kluck that a committee of three had been appointed to look for a new location to house the Post. He said, “As Committee Chairman, I feel that this is a must for the continued growth and survival of our Legion in Longmont.”
Long-time post member, Pat Patrick, recalls, “The move to our present location at 315 S. Bowen Street began in September, 1990, and it took a few months to complete the move.” There were two main reasons for making the move from Main Street to S. Bowen: 1. There were too many stairs for the older post members to safely and easily navigate. 2. There was insufficient parking with no hope for any new available space there in the middle of the city.”
A Historically Notable Member
While we are proud of all our veterans’ service, there is one in particular who should be mentioned. Sgt. Allen Dale June (1921-2010) was one of the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers who served in the US Marines during World War II. Sgt. June received the Congressional Gold Medal on December 21, 2000. He, along with some of the other original Code Talkers, helped develop the code based on his native Navajo language. Their work totally confounded the Japanese. The Code Talkers took part in every assault the Marines conducted in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945. They sent thousands of messages without error on Japanese troop movements, battle tactics, and other communications critical to the outcome of the war. Their role in the military was not declassified until 1968. After the declassification, Mr. June did not like to talk about it much, because he considered it to be bragging. Those who knew him well here at the Post called him, “Pops.” In 2008, Sgt. June was honored as an Honorary Veterans Day Parade co-Marshal along with Colonel Dan Straight.