AMERICAN LEGION POST 13

Bayard De Hart

On July 19, 1919 fifteen former servicemen met and filled out an application to charter and organize a local branch of the American Legion. Robert Burns Nolan was Commander, Clyde L. Gibbons the Chaplin, H. A. Wilkins the Finance Officer, William Winterble the Historian and Theron Elliot the Adjutant. The decision to organize an American Legion post resulted from the conclusion of these veterans that the American Legion was the representative veterans' organization in this country. That conclusion has been proven true as today the American Legion is the largest wartime veterans' organization with nearly 15,000 local Posts throughout America and over 3 million members who care about America, veterans, their families and our nation's youth.

The Post is named for World War I veteran Bayard DeHart, the first soldier from Richland County to die in the service of his country. He was born April 6th 1886 and died June 6th 1918 in Belleau Woods near Chauteau Thierry, France.

His body was returned from France and the funeral was held on the Court House lawn, on July 25, 1921, where eight hundred or more citizens attended. After the ceremony, nearly all proceeded to the cemetery for the burial. A company of uniformed men escorted the body, the company being in charge of Lt. Robert Burns Noland, preceeded by Capt. C. F. Daughtery, the Post 13 Commander, Chaplain Clyde L. Gibbons and a small number of civil war veterans. The Richland Center band led the procession. The Pallbearers: Arthur Jones, Tracy Martin, Edward McGuire, Lyle Poole, James Clarson and Paul Brewer. The Firing Squad: Theron Elliott, Sgt., Harry Hubrick, Otto Hestetune, Asa Klingaman, D. Neefe, D.O. Chandler and D. Manley. Color Guard: Mr. Carberry was guarded by Louis SaLoutos and Lin Coffrin.