American Legion Post 43
Jackson (Hole), Wyoming
Official Website

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Website courtesy Walt Farmer, www.theastrocowboy.com

We have lost our good friend and former post commander (1983-6), Clyde "Bob" Kranenberg, a WWII Seabee and forever Jackson resident,  on 3/22/07.  Jane had a memorial service for him on June 30th at the Baptist Church.

Quick Links to other pages on this site:

Building and Restoration Fund                                             Forget-Me-Not Charity Thrift Shop
           Former Commanders                           Historic Photos
Rental Agreement                                                                Photos from Veterans Day 2004 events
               State Historical Status Page                         Other Groups that use or have used the building
2006 Jackson Military Holiday Party

Announcements:

* Wyoming servicemembers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Click on the name for their story.

       Iraq
1.    Marine, 2Lt. Therrel Shane Childers - Powell, 30, 3/21/03
2.    Marine, Sgt. Brendon Reiss - Casper, 23, 3/23/03
3.    Army, Pfc Joseph Mayek - Rock Springs, 20, 4/14/03
4.    Army, 1Lt Leif Nott - Cheyenne, 24, date unk.
5.    Army, Capt. Robert Lucero - Casper, w/WNG, 34, 9/25/03
6.    Army, Spec. Michael Deuel - Cheyenne, 21, date unk.
7.    Marine, Pfc Chance Phelps - Dubois, 19, date unk.
8.    Marine, LCpl Kyle W. Burns - Laramie, 20, 11/11/04
9.    Marine, SSgt Brian Bland - Newcastle, or Weston, 26, 1/26/05
10.  Army, SSgt Michael Parrott - Timnath, CO w/WNG, 49, 11/11/05
11.  Army, Pfc James Arellano - Cheyenne, WY, 19, 8/17/06
12.  Army, Spc. Jason J. Corbett - Casper, WY, 23, 1/15/07
13.  Army, Pfc Scott Miller, Casper, WY, 20, 6/9/07
14.  Army, SSgt Brian Long, Burns, WY, 32, 6/10/07

      Afghanistan
1.   Army, Ranger Spec. John Edmunds - Cheyenne, 20, 10/19/01

Killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom by 4/15/05: 1,545                          Operation Enduring Freedom by 3/11/05: 179
                                                    by 7/25/05: 1,772                                                                        by 7/12/05: 214
                                                    by 11/4/05: 2,035                                                                        by 11/2/05: 249
                                                    by 8/13/06: 2,616                                                        by 8/13/06: 319
                                       by 11/11/06: 2,875                                                      by 11/11/06: 328
 Start of 5th Anniv. in Iraq:        by 3/19/07: 3,218                                                                      by 3/13/07:  368
 

It's late Sept. now, 2007, and our dead in Iraq is over 3,800.  Coalition forces, over 4,000.

How many died at the Pentagon, United Flight 93 & in the World Trade Centers including those on the aircraft? There are of course, conflicting numbers, but most agree the total to be, just a few under 3,000.

*  To write an email to request support for or against a piece of pending legislation, or to advise your elected representative (Rep. Barbara Cubin, R-WY)of your views on issues or their service, click on this LINK.  To contact one of our two U.S. Senators, Enzi or Thomas (both R-WY), click HERE.

*   The Post supported a commemoration event on the 10th anniversary of the crash of an Air Force C-130 on Sheep Mountain in 1996.  Family members of the 8 Air Force crew members & one Secret Service employee were invited to attend on Aug. 19 & 20, 2006.  For more information about this event, supporters, sponsors, description, images, etc., goto this LINK.

*    If you have been a member of the post for over one year, we want to hang your picture on the wall.  ALSO, if you know of someone who died while a member of our post, we would like to hang their photo as well, and if possible, acquire their service cap for remembrance at the hall.

*   Ongoing reminder to contact ________ with your military history information and an 8 x 10 photo for our Wall of Honor as well as to provide items for the display case at the hall for military memorabilia from our own members.  Please contact _________ if you have any items to display by loan or gift.  We'd also like photos of deceased members.

Another ongoing reminder - of our flag deposit box just under our fundraising thermometer for flags in need of honorable destruction.  During the winter, the box is often covered with snow & inacessible.

***If you have items that should be announced here, please let ____________  know so they can be included.***

Our members do what they do in a sense of volunteerism. For services rendered to our post, we would like to thank the following:

Gary Bourassa at Quality Cleaners. Gary has been cleaning our uniforms/gloves/etc., comp, for about 5 yrs. now and it is appreciated...Ralph Gill covers a landscaping company to do our yardwork during the summer...Dave Coulter for demilitarizing our souvenir M1903-A3 w/the help of Wedco. Tim Day, Jesse O'Connor - buglers. Dave Macfarland - piper.

Officers, elected 5/2007:
Commander: David Bentlage

List of Former Commanders from 1920

Post phone number: 307.739.7143 Mailing address: Box 4121, Jackson, WY 83001

3-D photo of members at Legion meeting can be viewed via this webpage.

            POW/MIA Page                 Flag Protocol Page          WY Medal of Honor Recipients

            WWII Memorial Page         theastrocowboy's HomePage

            National American Legion         Military Links                  Military Imposter Links

    The Legion Post invites the community of Jackson & Teton Co., to help us with our efforts to restore our historic building.  Several years ago when we had to consider removing the building to build a new facility, many locals urged us to try and save the building due to its historic past within the community.  The building is nearing completion of application for National Historic status and an assessment of costs necessary to bring the building up to modern standards has been accomplished.  Our Post needs to raise as much as $400,000. to that end and restoration has entered phase two.  We need everyone's help as this effort is not within the capabilities of the Post's coffers.  We encourage all to send whatever they can if they want to keep this building in Jackson's history, to the American Legion Post 43 Building Restoration Fund at Box 4121, Jackson, WY 83001.  All contributions are tax-deductible and some will provide for the donor's name to be honored in perpetuity at the hall.  Contact our fund raising chairman Larry North at 733.7329 to find out particulars or if you'd like a speaker to your club, business or organization.  We also have fund raising brochures that includes much of the historical information provided here below, that can be placed in local businesses to help.  Thank you for helping us save this historic Jackson property.  More at this LINK.
Further information about the history of this Post & building is given below...
    1919 - The American Legion was formed in Paris, France.
    1920 - American Legion Post 43 formed in Jackson, WY
    1922 - Land purchased where the Hall would eventually be built.
    1928 - Start of building construction w/$4k mortgage to Charlie Fox.
    1929 - 1st official meeting w/purchase of existing hickory chairs.
    1929 - July, Dedication of Post 43 home by Dan Sowers, WY Dept. Cmdr. Lou Probst & Post Cmdr. Ray Reed.  Capt. Felix Buchenroth was the Master of Ceremonies.
    1929 - Post 43 initiated and hosted Jackson Frontier Days to help pay down initial mortgage.
    1930 - Hall becomes a community center which held dances & other social events.
    1933 - Post is host to U.S. Senate hearings with/between John D. Rockefeller's representatives & the USG that led to the expansion of GTNP & the NER.
    1936 - Post 43 hosts first Jackson winter carnival.
    1938 - 1940 - Home to Teton Co. Library
    1939 - Post was home for Mrs. Sutton's kindergarten.
    1942 - Post appointed a blackout & civil defense chairman and support organization during WWII.
    1943 - Post initiated a town & county USO & US Bond drive.
    194? - Homer Richards donated funds for the commissioning & dedication of the town square Veterans Memorial which is still the Legion's responsibility.
    1948 - American Legion and the VFW combine their activities.
    1999 - Comprehensive Historic site survey prepared.
    2002 - Building cmte. chaired by Bob La Londe summarized their study.  Public meeting held & a vote resulted in a fund being established to restore & up-grade the existing structure.  Cmte. Chair now Larry North.
    2003 - Historic Post photo hung at Albertsons & plaque from Teton Co. Historic Preservation Board hung at front door of Hall.
    2005 - Dedication of new monument at corner of Gill & N. Cache.
        Legion has long been a sponsor for Boys/Girls State, American Legion baseball, scouts, high school scholarships, neighborhood meetings, weddings, anniversary parties, , Mormon Church, Veteran funerals, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Flag Day and more.  The building currently provides space for the local Christian Science church, Jazzercise, the Jaycees, private gatherings & meetings. Unfortunately, we can no longer rent the facility for parties/social functions.

IT WAS A BIG SUCCESS, SEE THE PICTURES HERE...Click on this link for information regarding 2005 Memorial Day Legion activities including the new Post Monument dedication ceremonies on May 30th.

Flag holidays are: New Year's Day, January 1st                            Inauguration Day, Jan. 20th
Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February                       Easter Sunday, date varies
Mother's Day, second Sunday in May                                           Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May
Memorial Day, (half-staff until noon), the last Monday in May     ***Flag Day, June 14th
Independence Day, July 4th                                                           Labor Day, first Monday in September
Constitution Day, Sept. 17th                                                         Columbus Day, second Monday in Oct.
Navy Day, Oct. 27                                                                         Veterans Day, Nov. 11th
Thanksgiving Day, 4th Thursday in Nov.                                      Christmas Day, Dec. 25th
AND, other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States; the birthdays of States, and on State holidays.

Our Post is honored to assist those who would like to have a Color/Honor Guard ceremony at a local event, convention function, or funeral ceremony.  Please contact the Commander at the above phone numbers or email to make those arrangements.  We do not accept payment for this patriotic service and honoring our comrades-in-arms, but any donations to the local Legion Post are gratefully accepted.

We have noticed that a number of local merchants, schools, and municipal/governmental buildings are displaying the flag improperly, especially at night.  Please refer to the link to the U.S. Flag Code for guidance regarding its proper display, lighting, or daily raising/lowering ceremony.  Likewise, we can accept your tattered/soiled/old American flags for proper disposal during ceremonies we conduct annually on Flag Day, June14th.  Contact the Commander to make those arrangements or simply leave your old flag in our drop box next to the sidewalk on N. Cache in front of Hall.  Acquiring flags for display around the Jackson Hole area can be made through local merchants, or as we'd prefer, from our Auxiliary.  To do so, please call Cile Lamb at 733.2942.