Post 137, Jacksonville

The American Legion was chartered by The United States Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help, war-time veterans organization. A community-service organization which now numbers approximately 4 million members, men and women, in nearly 15,000 American Legion Posts worldwide. These Posts are organized into 55 Departments, one each for The 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines.

The History of Post 137

A group of veterans working at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville, met together in 1945 to form an American Legion Post. They held meetings on the base until the US Government decided there was some conflict of interest. That area was known as Yukon, so when they moved into a building across from the base, our first name was Yukon American Legion Post 137. Our Club is still doing business as Yukon Legion Club, Inc.

From Yukon, the Post moved into Cumberland Park Housing which was later razed to build Kent Campus of Florida Community College of Jacksonville, FCCJ. For a short time the Post met in the Boone Park Center. Ten outstanding local business men and doctors put up 200 dollars each to purchase the city block along San Juan Ave. from Lakeshore Blvd. to Cedar Creek — four acres for 2,000 dollars. Two Camp Blanding buildings were brought in to form one large building facing Lakeshore.

Under the supervision of Robert M. Lewis, our first Life Member, a volunteer crew erected our first Post Home. The cornerstone was laid at the dedication of our current Post home by Congressman Charles Edward Bennett in 1958. An addition was built to our present home to house our business office and an executive business meeting room for the Post and Club. The business meeting room is named “The Spencer Room” after the first Commander, Albert I. Spencer, now deceased.

Programs Supported by Post 137

Post 137 maintains many programs for veterans and their families and descendants including, but not limited to:

Sons of The American Legion
The Sons of The American Legion was created in 1932 as an organization within The American Legion. The S.A.L. is made up of males of all ages whose parents or grandparents served in the United States military and became eligible for membership in The American Legion. Together, members of The American Legion, The American Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of The American Legion make up what is known as The Legion Family. All three organizations place high importance on preserving our American traditions and values, improving the quality of life for our nation's children, caring for veterans and their families, and perhaps most importantly, teaching the fundamentals of good citizenship and patriotism. Sons have always assisted Legionnaires with Legion Family programs.

Auxilliary
The women of the American Legion Auxiliary make a difference in the lives of all Americans. They educate children, organize community events and help our nation's veterans through legislative action and volunteerism. The American Legion Auxiliary is the world's largest women's patriotic service organization with nearly 1 million members in 10,100 communities. Auxiliary members are a unique group of women, joined in the fellowship of volunteerism, patriotism and dedication to veterans, young people and communities.

Boys State
Boys State is a comprehensive one week program in state and local government developed to offer youth a better perspective of the practical operation of government and to show that the individual is responsible for the character and success of his government. Delegates who are selected to attend this program will “learn by doing” as they progress through the various phases of government. As such, it is an activity of high school educational value, born out of the need for youth training and practical citizenship.

Junior Shooting
It’s a three part program that combines the Basic Marksmanship Course, Qualification Awards, and Air Rifle Competition. During the past decade of this program’s continued fast growth, thousands of male and female junior shooters have participated, with a prefect safety record of no reported gun-related injuries. Participants in The American Legion Junior Shooting sports Program can be of any gender, through the age of 18. Handicapped youth are encouraged to participate.

Legion Baseball
Since 1925, The American Legion has sponsored a nationwide youth baseball program. During these past eight decades, millions of young players have enjoyed playing baseball. The American Legion members have raised millions of dollars each year for players to learn the importance of teamwork, discipline, leadership and good sportsmanship.

Legion Riders
The American Legion Riders are members of The American Legion who are also motorcycle enthusiasts. They can be found participating in parades, partaking in motorcycling events, and supporting the communities in which they live, work, and play.

ROTC / Junior ROTC
The top leaders in tomorrow’s United States will come from today’s high school and college students. Among them will be those who have increased their chances for success even more by enrolling in the Junior / Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps. They will gain the ability to lead and inspire others to follow. JROTC / ROTC develop these qualities. The American Legion has a challenge to encourage these young Americans to help their country, and to prepare themselves for positions of leadership. The American Legion ROTC Medal Awards were established by National Convention mandate as a way in which The American Legion can show support for JROTC / ROTC programs throughout the nation. It is another way in which the Legion and the schools can work together in the development of our young leaders. The Legion is committed to this worthwhile community service. These medals, recognizing Military and Scholastic Excellence, are available for the presentation to Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force ROTC cadets at any college, university and high school.

Post 137 Officers and Appointments

Dennis Thompson, Commander
Eddie Dykes, 1st Vice Commander
Dan Grant, 2nd Vice Commander
Barry Congressi, 3rd Vice Commander
Lewis Gray, 4th Vice Commander
Myra Jowers, Finance Officer
Carl Jowers, Service Officer
Gene Odom, Chaplain
Ray Runyan, Sergeant At Arms
Bob McVeigh, Assistant Sergeant At Arms
Richard (Rick) Wiggs, Historian
Jerry Lepore, Judge Advocate

SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION SQUADRON 137
Bill Kelly, Squadron Commander
Craig Brown, Vice Commander
Jonathan Cooke, Sergeant At Arms

AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY UNIT 137
Jeri West, President
Sue Rewis, 1st Vice
Beverley English, 2nd Vice
Betty Lomax, Treasurer
Susan Sorrells, Hisotrian
Sandra Gentry, Sergeant At Arms
Sheryl Gentry, Assistant Sergeant at Arms
Anita Lee, Secretary
Nora Marcantel, Chaplain
Vera Stevens, Executive Committee Member
Janice Lane, Executive Committee Member
Emma La France, Executive Committee Member
Barbara Miles, Executive Committee Member
Nola Marcantel, Department of Florida Junior President

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Emory Austin
Bill Lomax
Carl Jowers
Tom Tercha
Bob Shupe

Membership Eligibility

Since the American Legion is a veterans service organization, The American Legion, The Sons of The American Legion (SAL) and the Auxiliary have the following membership eligibility criteria. Questions can be directed to the office at (904) 387-3373.

Website

Post 137 maintains a website, www.AmericanLegion137.com. In December 2006 the site was recreated by Jonathan Cooke.

Jonathan Robert Frank Cooke is the Sergeant at Arms and Webmaster of Sons of The American Legion Squadron 137. He is also a software engineer and has been in the Information Technology field since 1985, for many years as a Bulletin Board System Sysop running a recompiled version of RBBS-PC, then later, after the advent of the World Wide Web developing Intranet and Internet websites and web applications. He was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, England in 1969, the son of Pamela Bundy and Stuart Cooke. He grew up in Sleaford, Lincolnshire and Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, where he attended Saint Hughs preparatory boarding school then moved to Roosevelt Island in New York City in 1980 where he attended P.S./I.S. 217. He has lived in Stamford, Connecticut where he attended Dolan and Westhill schools, as well Upstate New York in the towns of Poughkeepsie, New York when he attended the Oakwood Friends School preparatory boarding school, New Windsor, New York where he attended Newburgh Free Academy, and Mount Kisco, New York. He currently lives in Jacksonville, Florida and has worked at a major healthcare corporation since 1998, where he is a web application developer and systems analyst. -- Jonathan Cooke joined the Sons of The American Legion through his stepfather, James White Towart, who proudly served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War.

Contact

Sources

• Jonathan Cooke, Sergeant at Arms Squadron 137