Wiley B. Murray Post No. 27 Part 7 of 10
Despite the town not observing Armistice Day, the Legion always remembered. There were two important dates each year on the calendar, Memorial Day and Armistice Day. Each year the Legionnaires would coordinate the selling of poppies for Armistice Day and honoring the war dead on Memorial Day at the various local cemeteries in the county. This tradition continues to the present day.
The week of June 11-18, 1939, was KEEP AMERICA OUT OF WAR. Officially the American Legion was against the country becoming involved in another world war. However, the Legion encouraged the community to be prepared, militarily and spiritually. In January 1941, at their stated meeting, the post organized Co. “D”, Home Defense Guard in San Saba. Also, working with the Universal Production Co., the post was able to wrangle a contract for the sound picture of “Golgotha,” a passion play presenting the life and death of Christ. It was shown to the various local school districts in the county and later in the public theater.
World War II, Korean War and Beyond After war was declared, the Legionnaires supported the war effort in various ways. War is expensive, and WWII was very expensive. Each weekend the men and the Ladies Auxiliary operated a Defense Savings Stamp Booth located on the main (Wallace) street. The sale of war bonds were also critical. During the war, Lynn C. Ward served as post adjutant. He was also appointed the county chairman for the war bond drive responsible for a sizable quota assigned to each community. Overall, San Saba County was assigned a quota of $290,000 and a quota of “People’s Bonds” of $149,000. Ward was so successful that in 1951, he received an Award of Merit from the US Treasury.
At the start of the WWII, the question of accepting GI’s into membership of the American Legion was debated. After the Great War, the Doughboys believed they would be the country’s last wartime veterans, and there was some resistance to accept them. In 1942, Congress made it official, and the American Legion charter was amended to accept the GI’s after the war or receiving an honorable discharge. With this action, the American Legion would never self-extinguish as did the UCV.26
TO BE CONTINUED
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