Herbert Williams American Legion Post 202

600 S. Legion Lane

Columbia, MO 65205

 

Veterans History Project

The Missouri Veteran Stories program honors Missouri’s military veterans by capturing their stories on DVD, to be preserved for future generations.

Missouri has over 500,000 military veterans living in the state today. However, each day more of our military veterans pass away; and their stories go with them. Missouri Veterans Stories collects these stories from our veterans and displays them for the benefit of our veterans, our state and our country. The program is open to all men and women currently residing in Missouri who have served in any branch of the United States military.

Special Request:  If you served or know of someone who served on active duty in WWII, please consider being interviewed or having them interviewed as soon as possible.  The interviews are videotaped in a friendly, easy environment, and take about an hour to do.  Each interviewee will receive a copy of the videotape to share with his or her family.

Post 202 members who have already been interviewed are:  Harry Ackerman, Harold Brake, Jim Cunningham, Tom Hovey, Jake Jacobs, Jim Meyer, Karl Miller, Ken Mountjoy, Don Rowland, Jackie Sapp, and Urban Wussler. 

You can watch a 5 minute excerpt of their interviews or get more information on the program at: http://missouriveteranstories.org.

For more information, contact Mike Trial at 573-447-1956 or Tommy Highbarger at 573-443-1016.

 

Memorial Day Ceremony, May 31, 2010

 

Following the Memorial Day "Salute to Veterans Parade" in downtown Columbia,  a ceremony honoring veterans of WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and the War on Terrorism was held at the Veterans' Memorials at the Boone County Court House.  A number of distinguished active military personnel and veterans were Honored Guests. American Legion Post 202 placed a wreath at the memorials during the ceremony. 

A special thanks to Deatra McGary for making the monogrammed sash on the wreath.  She did this free of charge because it is her way of suppporting the military.

 

Memorial Day Parade 2010

 

  

Post 202 used two vehicles in the parade, a 1940 Ford vintage farm truck renovated and driven for us by George Montgomery, Montgomery Pecan Farm. 

 

Several members of the University Missouri Student Veterans Club joined us for the parade.  These young veterans of the Gulf War literally ran along side the truck handing out candy to children on the route.

 

Other members of Post 202 rode in the bath of luxury on the Trolley (air conditioned) provided to us by White Night Limousine & Sedan Inc.  White Knight enjoyed the parade so much that they are putting us on their calendar for next year!

Post 202 members who participated in the parade.

Vietnam Memorial prepared by a Boy Scout troop.  

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  My Miracle Marine

At the March, 2009 meeting, John McClellan, USMC, and his mother Connie McClellan talked about John’s wounding while on active duty and his subsequent recovery. John was wounded several times while serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Despite very severe wounds he is making a full recovery.  Connie said faith and the support of friends and family were the key to his miraculous recovery. She wrote a book ‘My Miracle Marine’ which has full details of the ordeal. (www.mymiraclemarine.com).

                        

Coincidentally, Post 202’s own Pete Jones, had served in the same unit as John in Afghanistan.   After the presentation several post members, all former Marines, asked to be photographed with John.