NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — An organization that had its beginning in Gravette 91 years ago may soon cease to exist.
I’m referring to the John E. Tracy American Legion Post which was organized just three years after the end of World War I and held its first public community activity on Armistice Day, November 11, 1921.
The Gravette News Herald reported on that Friday, 91 years ago: “In conformity with the President’s proclamation, the John E. Tracy American Legion Post 151 asks that the church bells of Gravette be rung from 10:45 until 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, followed by silent prayer, and that the flag be placedat half mast.”
Can you imagine the bells from Gravette’s five churches, Presbyterian, Methodist, Christian, Baptist and Holiness resounding throughout the small community?
A week later the newspaper reported: “Gravette’s War Time Colors (the flag) was presented to the newly formed American Legion which received it with ‘deep appreciation’ and it will be used by the post for all patriotic occasions.”
The post was named to honor the only Gravette boy who made the supreme sacrifice on the battlefield during that horrific trench and poison gas struggle. Pvt. John E. Tracy enlisted and was trained in Missouri. He joined an infantry company in Europe in March, 1918. He was killed during the Argonne offensive on Oct. 3, 1918, just slightly more than a month before the war ended.
The post was rechartered as Post 25 in 1930, a designation that remains today; and in 1935 the Legionpartnered with the school and the city in building an auditorium/gymnasium/ Legion Hut. That original building is now the Gravette Civic Center.
For many years the Legion sponsored the annual Gravette picnic and carnival in Old Town Park, land which the Legion had leased.
Most recently, through efforts of one of its members, Harold Glenn, the Legion developed the Avenue of Flags in Hillcrest Cemetery. Almost one hundred flags were dedicated on Memorial Day, 1994. The flags have flown every patriotic holiday and at other special occasions including the annual Gravette Day celebration. The 18-year tradition is now in jeopardy.
Time has taken its toll, particularly on the flagpoles. Time has also taken a toll on the Legion and its dwindling membership. Boy Scouts and other volunteers have helped with the flag project in recent years. Raising and lowering a hundred flags is time and energy consuming.
The Legion was the first organization formed after World War I exclusively for veterans. Men and women and those in succeeding generations have helped preserve the organization, but in recent years the Legion seems to be taken for granted during our hurried and worried rush.
The Gravette Legion is not the only such organization that faces or has faced challenges. Posts that were active in many area towns have alreadyfolded their tents and heard that solemn sound of “Taps.”
A letter in this issue (below) explains where the Legion is today. It is not a pretty picture, rather a sad picture about the organization which has fostered patriotism, assisted veterans and participated in local humanitarian and educational programs, such as sponsoring youth to Boys and Girls State and awarding scholarships.
Now the Legion needs help, support, participation. Tuesday, April 17, the last remaining Legion members will attempt to hold a meeting in the CivicCenter, a building the organization helped erect more than 75 years ago.
Please read the letter. Then, hopefully, you will respond in a way you are challenged.
As an afterthought, if too few local vets are challenged to respond, perhaps there are enough residing in the Eagle Observer area to form a collective group who will carry on this proud American tradition.
Dodie Evans is editor emeritus of the Westside Eagle Observer. He can be reached by email at [email protected].
Opinion, Pages 6 on 04/04/2012