DEPARTMENT OF FRANCE HISTORY

THE DEPARTMENT OF FRANCE

Correspondence dated 30 September 1919 and October 1919 between Mr. Reynolds,the Managing Editor of the Chicago Tribune, and Mr. Henry D. Lindsley,Chairman of the National Executive Committee of the American Legion, was some of the first writings regarding the organization of the American Legion in France. This correpondence

designated LTC. Francis E. Drake as the organizer.

On 9 November 1919 LTC. Francis E. Drake was Accredited as the Commander of the Department of France by the National Headguarters of the American Legion. LTC. Drake remained Commander of the Department of France from 1919 till 1921 with Norman B. Coster as the Department Adjutant. Department status at this time was that of Accredited Only.

The actual approval of the Department of France ocurred at the National Executive Committee meeting held on 7 February 1921 in Washington D.C But considerable discussions were held on chartering American Legion Department and Post in foreign

countries. Since the fact that the idea of the American Legion itself was born in Paris, France; it was deceided to charter American Legion Department and Post in foreign countries and the Department of France was created. With Posts in Belgium, France,

Germany, Poland, and Turkey.

At the American Legion National Convention held in Kansas City, Missouri; From 31 October 1921 till 2 November 1921 it was decided to assemble the Posts in Europe under a new title The Department of Continential Europe. At this time there were six Posts: Paris Post # 1, Paris, France; Brussels Post # 2, Brussels, Belgium; Amaroc Post # 3, Cologne, W.Gewmany; Warsaw Post # 4, Warsaw, Poland; Constantinople Post # 5, Constantinople, Turkey and Garden of Eden Post # 6.

At the National Executive Committee held on 14 October 1923, in San Francisco,California. A resolution was submitted to the National Executive Committee by Paris Post # 1, requesting that the Department of France be reconstituted that because many of the Post that made up the Department of Continential Europe had ceased to exsist and that Paris Post # 1 was the only Post remaining. It was decided by the National Executive Committee to approve the Reestablishment of the Department of France.

The present Department of France Charter was conferred on 12 February 1924 with the geographical area covering Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Spain and Sweden. The Department of France is divided into districts, the District of France and the District of Germany.

At The Department of France Convention held on 22 - 25 June 1991, in Bitburg, Germany; The delegates voted and approved the Eifel Tower as the symbol of the Department of France.The Department of France today makes its home in St. Avold, France.