American Legion
The American Legion organization was established on March 16, 1919. It was founded by the fighting men of the American Expeditionary Forces. The principal purposes of the Legion at the time of its inception were to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States; maintain law and order, foster and perpetuate Americanism, and preserve memories and incidents of associations in the World War.
The local post of the Legion, Homer Dahringer Post No. 281, was organized in the spring of 1919 soon after Waukegan veterans returned from the war. The post name pays tribute to 1st Lieutenant Homer Dahringer, the first Waukegan man to give his life in World War I.