News Flash

Mayor Joe Gibbons, on behalf of City Council, read and presented a resolution (see below) to Post 29 Commander Irv Eurto and post members Wayne Mihelich, Mike Mizak, and Bill Oxford. Mr. Oxford is a former American Legion National Commander. Mayor Gibbons also gave Post 29 a framed City of Lenoir flag, which Mr. Eurto said would hang in the Post 29 headquarters in Lenoir.

"We appreciate all you do for our community," Mayor Gibbons said.

Post Commander Eurto spoke to Council on behalf of the members.

"We'd like to thank you for the recognition, we're looking forward to another 100 years," Mr. Eurto said. "We really appreciate the efforts of the whole community. Thank you very much."

Dysart-Kendall American Legion Post 29 100 Year Anniversary

WHEREAS, The American Legion was founded in 1919, the year after World War I ended, with the purpose of improving morale among our soldiers and providing services and support to American military veterans; and

WHEREAS, Caldwell County American Legion Post 29 was organized in 1919, the first American Legion post in the county, with 103 charter members from the ranks of the Army, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard, and

WHEREAS, in November 1921, Post 29 members voted to change the post name to honor Private Charles E. Dysart and Corporal J.E. Kendall the first two soldiers from Caldwell County to die in World War I; and

WHEREAS, Dysart-Kendall American Legion Post 29 was officially chartered on July 11, 1922; and

WHEREAS, in 1924, Post 29 members donated band instruments to Lenoir High School and WWI Veteran and Legion member Captain James C. Harper founded the Lenoir High School Band with the donated instruments; and

WHEREAS, in the run up to World War II, Post 29 members helped recruit and register men for Selective Service, raised money for the victims and families of the Pearl Harbor attack, and raised funds to purchase a $75,000 aerial ambulance for England; and

WHEREAS, on June 18, 1943, Dysart-Kendall American Legion Post 29 purchased a two-story house at 401 North Main St. to serve as post headquarters and later demolished and built the current building at the same location in 1948; and

WHEREAS, Post 29 members have served veterans and the community in Lenoir and Caldwell County for 100 years through banquets, dances, fundraisers, oratorical contests, Toys for Tots, Legion Baseball, Boy’s State, volunteering, and so much more;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, I, Mayor Joseph L. Gibbons, on behalf of the City of Lenoir City Council, thank Dysart-Kendall American Legion Post 29 members past and present for serving and supporting each other, for giving your time and talents to Lenoir and Caldwell County, and for your military service to this great nation, the United States of America.

This the 2nd day of August 2022.
Joseph L. Gibbons, Mayor

Pictured from left: Post 29 member Mike Mizak, Councilman David Stevens, Post 29 member Wayne Mihelich, Councilman Ralph Prestwood, Mayor Joe Gibbons, Councilman Kent Greer, Post 29 Commander Irv Eurto, City Manager Scott Hildebran, Post 29 member  and former American Legion National Commander Bill Oxford, and Councilmen Ike Perkins and Jonathan Beal.