Gladbrook American Legion Auxiliary President Jeanne Paustian presents Commander Ron Busch with a traditional cake to celebrate the anniversary date of the American Legion’s founding in 1919. A local gathering was held at the Gladbrook Memorial Building to honor the occasion. The following is a historical brief from the American Legion website: The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization. Focusing on service to veterans, servicemembers and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Membership swiftly grew to over 1 million, and local posts sprang up across the country. Today, membership stands at nearly 2 million in more than 13,000 posts worldwide. Over the years, the Legion has influenced considerable social change in America, won hundreds of benefits for veterans and produced many important programs for children and youth.