Fulton County Ohio Media

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Yesterday afternoon, blessed with near-perfect weather, the Murbach-Seifert Post #479 of the American Legion in Swanton, celebrated the 100^th anniversary of its founding in 1924.  The American Legion was established in March 1919 at Paris, France, by officers and men of the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.). In September 1919, it was chartered by the United States Congress.  The Swanton American Legion was established approximately four years later.

The committee tasked with organizing the event put on a great celebration that included the Color Guard of the 180^th Tactical Fighter Wing presenting the colors as Melissa Geckler performed a stirring rendition of our National Anthem.  There were speeches by Legion Commander John Schmidt, Swanton Mayor and Air Force veteran Neil Toeppe and Ohio State Representative (81^st District) James Hoops. The traveling display of Wreaths Across America was on hand as were several food trucks, bouncy houses, and displays from the Flag City Honor Flight, Fulton County Veterans, HOOVES Ponies and a demonstration from the Springfield High School Junior ROTC Drill Team.

Among the many attendees, the most special was United States Navy veteran of 31 years and Swanton resident Billy Chinnis, who served America during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.  Billy, at the age of 101, actually outdates the Swanton Legion and will turn 102 on the 19^th of September.

Mayor Toeppe read a proclamation from the Village of Swanton honoring Post #479 for its years of service to the community.  Prior to the proclamation, Commander Schmidt welcomed everyone to the event and gave his speech as follows:

Today we celebrate the 100^th birthday of the Murbach-Seifert Post #479 of the American Legion.  More than 100 years ago, Dr. Louie Cosgrove and 15 other World War I veterans from Swanton, gathered together and formed a local organization based on the Four Pillars of the newly Congressionally chartered American Legion: Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism and Children and Youth.  Their Mission: To support veterans, active-duty sailors, soldiers and marines and their families; promote patriotism and good citizenship and foster peace and security.

Four years later, the reason for the time span is not known, the Murbach-Seifert Post was chartered as an official Post of the American in the Department of Ohio.  The Auxiliary Unit 479 was actually chartered a few months before the Legion Post.

Over time, the American Legion family grew to include the Sons of the American Legion and, much later, the American Legion Riders.  Over the years, our Post has suffered some setbacks, such as a fire that destroyed the building, to a pending sale of the property as Post 479 languished dur to falling membership numbers and economic hard times.  But through it all, the mission continued, and so did the dedication of the members to the Four Pillars.

And so today, our Legion family begins the next century of service to veterans, active-duty military and their families, and children and youth.  After all, we are “Veterans Strengthening America.”

I want to thank the people involved in putting this celebration together, the committee that worked for a year to make this birthday party an event to remember for the next 100 years.

Click on the link above to access photos from the celebration. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Swanton Mayor Neil Toeppe delivers a proclamation with Legion Commander John Schmidt behind.