8 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
100 years of caring for vets
Ilwaco museum exhibit
celebrates American
Legion’s history
By JONATHAN WILLIAMS
COAST WEEKEND
LWACO, Wash. — When most people
think of the American Legion, they pic-
ture veterans in parades, on Flag Day
and at Veteran’s Day celebrations.
But what some may not know is the mis-
sion of the Legion.
The exhibit, “Coming Home: World
War I and the Centennial of the American
Legion,” at the Columbia Pacifi c Heritage
Museum in Ilwaco, hopes to remedy that.
Chartered by Congress in May 1919, the
Legion is a veteran’s organization dedicated
to helping soldiers and their families.
“Many people don’t really have any idea
of what was sacrifi ced and what they’ve
done and this is to help them remember,”
said 10th District Commander Dick Wal-
lace, 74.
I
Beginnings
Soldiers had few benefi ts when they
returned home from war and there weren’t
any services for veterans with injuries or
“shell shock.”
By October 1919, Ilwaco formed Legion
Post 48 and named it after Don R. Grable,
the only man from the town to die in World
War I. Washington state Sen. Dean Takko is
Grable’s descendant.
The Legion was able to get the fi rst Vet-
eran’s Assistance bill through Congress.
They also helped get the GI bill through
Congress after World War II, which pro-
vided educational benefi ts.
In the exhibit, museum executive direc-
tor Betsy Millard wanted to show the
American Legion is an active ahistorical
organization.
“I loved digging into the different his-
tories and fi nding the stories of the original
guys,” Millard said.
The exhibit features memorabilia that
spans the history of the American Legion.
There are poems, newspaper articles from
the Ilwaco Tribune and Chinook Observer,
stories on the wall that detail local World
War I history; including women from
Ilwaco who served in the Red Cross, veter-
ans’ groups, prohibition in Pacifi c County ,
Liberty Bonds and clothes people wore.
It also shows the history of where the
Jonathan Williams
ABOVE: From left: 10th District Commander
Dick Wallace, Pat Donnelly, World War II
veteran James “Buck” Donnelly, Columbia
Pacifi c Heritage Museum executive director
Betsy Millard and Ilwaco Legion Post 48
commander Ron Robbins on Armed Forces
Day. LEFT: A group in Ilwaco at the end of
World War I in November, 1918.
IF YOU GO
Coming Home: World War I and the
Centennial of the American Legion
When: Now through July 6
Where: Columbia Pacifi c Heritage Muse-
um, 115 SE Lake St. Ilwaco, Wash.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday-Sat-
urday
Admission: Adults $5, Seniors 55+ $4,
Children 12-18 $2.50, Children 12 and
under free, Thursday free admission.