Members of American Legion Post 111 in Bluffton will celebrate the 104th anniversary of the founding of the American Legion Saturday, March 11, beginning with a catered dinner at 6 p.m.
The guest speaker will be Robert A. Oeth of Elberfeld, Ind., a member of American Legion Post 351. He is the leading candidate for Indiana Department Commander for 2023-2024.
Oeth was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1972 and later enlisted. After basic training and advanced individual training, he was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky. In 1974 he was reassigned to the 97th Quartermaster Battalion in the European Command in Pirmasens, Germany. While stationed in Germany he was named the Outstanding Soldier of the Year in 1975.
He has chaired and held numerous offices in the American Legion on the post, district, department (state), and national level. He will be accompanied Saturday evening by his wife, Debby.
Also attending Saturday evening will be the current Department Commander James Daube along with his wife Lois. Bluffton Mayor John Whicker and his wife Jolin will also be attending.
A high point of the evening will include recognition of members with 50 or more years of continuous membership at Post 111. The local Legionnaire of the Year will be announced, as will the Law Officer of the Year. The latter announcement will be made by Bluffton Police Chief Kyle Randall.
A donation to the city of Bluffton will be presented to Mayor Whicker maintain the display of American flags in the downtown business area.
Members are asked to RSVP the Post at 824-3815 by Thursday.
