Hat's off to American Legion Post 32

The American Legion Post 32 Color Guard leads the annual Boulder County Fair Parade on Aug. 3, 2013. (Times-Call File)

By Ken White

Kiwanis Club of Longmont

American Legion's John Harold Buckley Post 32 of Longmont has an interesting history! Charter was granted Oct. 1, 1920, with 15 members. Its name was given to the charter because Buckley, born in Longmont in 1897, was killed in the First World War in 1918 by a military aircraft accident while attempting to penetrate enemy lines. Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora was also named after him. Buckley was granted the Purple Heart and WWI Victory Medal posthumously in 2003.

Post 32 of Longmont has grown from 15 original members to 778 today, one of the top four in Colorado. One early member of Post 32 was Sgt. Allen Dale, born 1921, died 2010. He was an original Navajo Code Talker during WWII, helping to confound the Japanese. Code Talkers work was critical to the outcome of that war. He was granted the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously Dec. 21, 2000, for his work.

In the early 1950s, a Color Guard was begun by Post 32, eventually to be known as "The Colorado Buckthorns." Many changes have occurred through the years, and in 1997 Ray Yakel began an Honor Guard unit served by Co-Captains Yakel and Bill Bohn. Dennis Sindelir eventually became Co-Captain with Bohn, and now the Color Guard has been absorbed into the Honor Guard, served solely by Captain Sindelir.

The Post is deeply involved in community service. They support Legion baseball and golf, junior and women's rifle clubs, annual student oration contest and scholarships, Boy Scout Troop 67, Christmas baskets for the needy, Boys' State, Veterans Stand Down for homeless vets, and have rendered an average of 90 military honors funerals each year over the last eight years and engaged in many more services!

They participate in Memorial Day events, Veterans Day, placing flags on veterans' graves, and the Boulder County Fair Parade, providing the Honor Guard with which that parade steps out. American Legion Post 32, Longmont has generously provided their Honor Guard for this parade for many years!

Many thanks to Post 32 of Longmont for their solid commitment to the memories of their lost friends, and to their continuation of important activities in Boulder County. My hat's off to you. We all thank you. And thank you for leading the Boulder County Fair Parade again this year.