3 days ago
Morton Grove American Legion Post 134 celebrates centennial
American Legion Morton Grove Post 134 recently celebrated a century of serving military veterans and their families with an anniversary party.
Post 134 Commander Andy Haszlakiwewicz told Pioneer Press the May 4 event at the American Legion Memorial Civic Center, which is owned by the village, drew about 140 people including Legionnaires and their family members in the Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion.
'I think everyone enjoyed themselves. They enjoyed getting together and having the fellowship.
Some of us were pleasantly surprised how well it turned out,' Haszlakiwewicz said about attendees who were primarily from Morton Grove, Niles and Skokie.
He said the event included the color guard presenting the flag, a reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer by Post 134 Chaplain George Vail, of Palatine and applause for Morton Grove resident Joan Kopinski, 95, a member of the Auxiliary since days after her birth.
Haszlakiwewicz, 78, said a pin drop could be heard when Major General James Mukoyama, of Glenview, gave a keynote address about moral injury to attendees – who previously served in the U.S. Army, Marine Corps and Navy, and were primarily fellow Vietnam War veterans.
'Many military personnel join the military and it doesn't occur to them that they are a fighting force, and by virtue of having to exercise that force they suffer from moral injury because they may not agree with killing but they have to because they're in the service,' Haszlakiwewicz said.
Department of Illinois American Legion Commander Joe Lampert also spoke at the centennial celebration, which Haszlakiwewicz said included a catered dinner and a DJ playing oldies.
'Actually, Joe is a member of our post so we're very privileged and honored to have him as a department commander,' Haszlakiwewicz said. 'He talked a bit about Be the One, which is a program we expound for suicide prevention.'
According to Haszlakiwewicz, 16 men who are World War I veterans from the Morton Grove area loosely organized in 1924 to form an American Legion post and conducted their first meeting in January 1925 when they submitted an application for a charter.
'Basically, from the time they sent in the charter they considered themselves already a post. It probably didn't have a number yet because it would be assigned by the national American Legion,' Haszlakiwewicz said.
Janine Witko, the new mayor of Morton Grove, touted the Post 134 and its 100-year existence.
'The village is fortunate to have a strong voice for veterans in American Legion Post 134, which has been a pillar for the community for 100 years and hopefully continues to be part of Morton Grove for the next 100 years,' Witko said in a statement.
A Legionnaire for more than 25 years, Haszlakiwewicz became a member of Post 134 in 2020 after the Peter Huerter American Legion Post 46 in Wilmette – where he served as commander – disbanded.
Haszlakiwewicz said Post 134 has 740 members, including about 300 from the Morton Grove, Niles and Skokie areas, and more than 100 who live out of state.
'The American Legion as a whole continues to recruit new members as much as they can, and we do that also to bolster our membership,' Haszlakiwewicz said.
Haszlakiwewicz explained that the post's youngest member is in his 30s and the oldest member is a 104-year-old woman.
'Even though we have a large membership, we still struggle to have people involved,' Haszlakiwewicz said.
Former Morton Grove mayor Dan DiMaria, who presided over his last Village Board meeting as mayor on May 13, shared his support for Post 134 with Pioneer Press.
'Morton Grove is made stronger by the American Legion who advocates for all veterans, service members and their families who have protected this nation and I want to congratulate them on celebrating their 100-year anniversary in the village,' DiMaria said in a prepared statement.
In addition to community outreach, Post 134 offers a full-service bar for members who may bring a guest, and does a Queen of Hearts raffle drawing on Tuesdays.
Haszlakiwewicz said he is looking forward to Post 134 hosting for the Adopt-A-Sailor program on Thanksgiving – for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began – where about 50 recruits from Naval Station Great Lakes come to Morton Grove for a meal, games and a chance to make phone calls to loved ones.
'There are a number of benefits for veterans from American Legion and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,' Haszlakiwewicz said. 'We're like a conduit for those who need help.'
Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer.
