After World War I ended on November 11, 1918, thousands of servicemen returned home wanting to do more to preserve and protect the values for which that they had fought. They decided to form a national organization called the American Legion. Membership would be granted to those who served during wartime regardless of whether they served at home or overseas.
The founders stated that this organization would be founded on four pillars: Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism (obedience to law and order and respect for the U.S. flag), and Children and Youth. The United States Congress chartered the American Legion on September 16, 1919.
One hundred twenty-six Veterans wanted to start a post in Naperville. They were the 43rd post to be chartered in the State of Illinois and received a national charter on September 28, 1920.
Throughout the years the members of Post 43 have worked to support the four pillars. They helped secure funds for the Doughboy Statue near the train station to remember the Naperville servicemen who died while serving in World War I. In the 1940’s they hosted carnivals to raise funds for local needs, including purchasing a Rescue Squad for the Naperville Fire Department.
To this day, in conjunction with Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3873, they place flags at the gravesites of veterans for Memorial Day and coordinate the Memorial Day activities for the city of Naperville.
Through the years, members of Post 43 have served not only at the local post level but also at the County, District and Division level. A current member, Wayne Fischer, has served at all these levels and has been selected as the Illinois State Commander for this year. Commander Fischer is a proud member of the Naperville Marines and served as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He has always supported the four pillars of the American Legion. He also has worked diligently to ensure the success of the Boys State and Girls State programs.
In 1935, the Illinois American Legion started the Boys State Program to provide young men a weeklong learning experience about the democratic form of government. Today all 50 states have a Boys State program, but Illinois is proud to have the designation of Premier Boys State. The first Illinois Girls State program was held in 1940. Two participants of each state program are chosen to go to Boys Nation or Girls Nation, a weeklong program in Washington D.C. Past participants have listed their involvement in this program on college applications and have received scholarships from the colleges they have chosen to attend. Colleges recognize that this program helps build leadership skills in the youth of America.
Boys State and Girls State are held in separate weeks in June at Eastern Illinois University. The cost, usually around $300 for the week, is covered by the American Legion Post 43, sponsoring local youth who wish to participate. Normally participation is limited to students who have completed their junior year of high school, but this year it is open to students who have completed either their junior year or senior year. (The 2020 program had to be canceled because of COVID concerns.)
To apply for sponsorship, young men can contact Jorge at jayh1624@gmail.com and young women can contact Eileen Lass at eklass3@wowway.com.
To learn more about Boys State, visit illinoisboysstate.org. To learn more about Girls State, visit alaigs.org.
If you know youth outside of Illinois who might be interested in participating in this program, please ask them to search online for the program in their state.
