SLS 19RS-2113 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 112
BY SENATORS JOHNS AND MORRISH AND REPRESENTATIVES ABRAHAM,
DWIGHT, FRANKLIN AND MOSS
COMMENDATIONS. Commends W.B. Williamson American Legion Post No. 1 of Lake
Charles on its one hundredth anniversary of serving Southwest Louisiana veterans.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To commend and congratulate W.B. Williamson American Legion Post No. 1 of
3 Lake Charles, Louisiana, on the occasion of its one hundredth year of service to
4 Southwest Louisiana veterans.
5 WHEREAS, on May 20, 1919, a group of World War I veterans met at the
6 Lake Charles City Hall to discuss founding an organization of veterans to continue the
7 comradeship established during the war with Lt. Col. Bret W. Eddy, newly arrived from
8 France, as the guest speaker; and
9 WHEREAS, the organizational committee, which included Dr. J.G. Martin,
10 Capt. John Martin, and David R. Rosenthal, decided to affiliate with the newly formed
11 American Legion; and
12 WHEREAS, the fifteen men who applied for membership were James O. Dolby,
13 Thomas F. Porter, Bret W. Eddy, Randall A. Gormly, Leslie E. Damon, David R. Rosenthal,
14 Eddie King, R.K. Lake, M.J. Dugan, Gordon T. Lake, Ernest S. Clements, James L.
15 McCabe, Elmer Perry, Remi Bordelon, and A.C. "Burt" Anderson; and
16 WHEREAS, the American Legion accepted the application of the group and the post
17 was chartered as Louisiana Post No. 1, the first in the state of Louisiana; and
18 WHEREAS, the members of Post No. 1 chose to name the post in honor of Major
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SLS 19RS-2113 ORIGINAL
1 William Burke Williamson, who was a member of the Army Judge Advocate General's
2 Department, and who died in Tours, France in 1919; and
3 WHEREAS, among the many prominent local members of the post were former
4 Governor Sam H. Jones and Murphy Moss, who both served as state commanders of the
5 American Legion; and
6 WHEREAS, besides its numerous services to local veterans, Post No. 1 has been
7 active in recognizing local outstanding students, sponsored the Boys State program in local
8 schools, and American Legion baseball; and
9 WHEREAS, the post also participates in parades, memorials, dedications, and
10 sponsors such youth groups as the United States Naval Cadets Corps, LaGrange High School
11 NJROTC, and Boy Scouts of America; and
12 WHEREAS, the post home is located at 1530 9th Street in Lake Charles on property
13 donated in 1931 by Mathilda Grey Estates for the sole purpose of use for the post.
14 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana hereby
15 commends and congratulates American Legion Post No. 1 on the occasion of its centennial,
16 and expresses enduring appreciation for all the services it provides for Southwest Louisiana
17 veterans and the entire Southwest Louisiana community.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
19 American Legion Post No. 1.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
SCR 112 Original 2019 Regular Session Johns
Commends American Legion Post No. 1 on the occasion of its centennial and expresses
enduring appreciation for all the good it does for veterans and the entire Southwest Louisiana
community.
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