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State Legion convention kicks off here July 9-12
The National Commander of the American Legion, David Rehbein, will be the featured speaker at the 91st State Convention of the Legion's Department of Idaho, being held in Mountain Home July 9-12.
The event is being sponsored by both American Legion Posts in Mountain Home, Post 26 and Post 101.
The American Legion Auxiliary will hold its own parallel convention here at the same time.
Rehbein of Ames, Iowa, was elected National Commander of the 2.7 million-member American Legion on Aug. 28, 2008 in Phoenix during the 90th National Convention of the nation's largest veterans organization.
A U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam era, Rehbein served as an infantryman with the 4th and 1st Armored Divisions in Germany from 1970 to 1971. After leaving the Army, he attended Wayne State College and Iowa State University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in metallurgy. Following graduation, he accepted a position as research metallurgist at the Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, where he remained until his retirement in July 2008.
State Legion Commander Tom Mattice and state Legion Auxiliary president Pearl Bentley will lead a contingent of approximately 400 Legionnaires from the 104 posts and nine districts in Idaho who are expected to attend the four-day event in Mountain Home. They will be joined by the nearly 500 members of the American Legion from the two sponsoring posts in Mountain Home for a weekend of conducting state Legion business, handing out awards, and general fellowship.
Post No. 26 is one of the oldest Legion posts in the country, formed in November 1919, shortly after the national organization was created following WWI. It currently boasts 385 members. Post 101 was created in December 1995 and currently has 108 members. Overall, the American Legion has 12,267 members on its rolls in Idaho, and 2.6 million nationally. The auxiliary has 1.4 million members nationally and the Sons of the American Legion, an auxiliary organization, has 600,000 members.
Activities during the state convention will be held primarily at the American Legion Hall and the junior high school. The event is not open to the general public. All dinners, for convention participants only, must be pre-paid at registration.
The highlight of the convention will be the Commander's Banquet Saturday evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at War Memorial Hall. Rehbein will be the featured speaker for the dinner, during which a number of awards recognizing individuals from throughout the state will be handed out, including Legionnaire of the Year, Eagle Scout of the Year, Firefighter of the Year, Police Officer of the Year, Paramedic of the Year and Educator of the Year, as well as several media awards.
The convention officially begins Thursday, July 9, with the Commander's Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at War Memorial Hall followed by registration beginning at 8 a.m. Some business activities will take place during the morning, with the 40&8 Lunch at noon. The Sons of the American Legion will meet at 3 p.m. and at 5 p.m. the Legion will host a social hour and spaghetti dinner.
Friday, July 10, opens with an Americanism Breakfast at 6:30 a.m. at War Memorial Hall, followed by registration at 7:30 a.m. and the joint Legion and Auxiliary opening ceremonies at the junior high school.
Mayor Tom Rist, a representative from the 366th Wing, and the local post commanders, Jim Suprise of Post No. 26 and Felicia Wadsworth of Post No. 101, are expected to offer some brief remarks, followed by the presentation of some awards to the Legion by several state agencies.
Beginning at 10 a.m. a variety of Legion committees and subgroups will meet at War Memorial Hall to conduct Legion business, and at 5 p.m. the attendees will break for a social hour preceding the Commander's Barbecue at 6 p.m.
Saturday, July 11, registration for the day's activities begin at 7:30 a.m. at the junior high with the main convention activities and voting on various measures taking place during the day at War Memorial Hall beginning at 8:30 a.m. A social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. preceding the 6:30 p.m. Commander's Banquet at the hall.
The convention will conclude on Sunday, July 12, with a Past Department Commander's Breakfast at 8 a.m. at War Memorial Hall, followed by a "God and Country" event at 9:30 a.m.
The leaders of the local Legion posts this year are:
Post No. 26 -- Commander Jim Suprise; First Vice Commander Richard McMahon, Jr.; Second Vice Commander David Beberios; Adjutant Thomas Coesten; Finance Officer Carol Paulisz; Chaplain James Blanton; Judge Advocate Wade Baumgardner; Sergeant at Arms Wiliam Binion III; Assistant Sergeant at Arms Roman Kunkel; Service Officer Frank Fritz.
Post 101 -- Commander Felicia Wadsorth; First Vice Commander Harold Booth; Finance Officer Chuck Eckenrod; Chaplain Josh Mattson; Sergeant at Arms Joe Molney; Adjutant Scott Schenk; Judge Advocate Danny Garland; Service Officer Mark McClain; Historian Ken Anderson; Past Commander Mike Thurlow.
For more photos see the Mountain Home News Photo Gallery