A gala birthday celebration is being planned by the Altenthal-Joerns Post 158 of The American Legion in Jackson, Missouri as part of the Legion's world wide observance of its 79th anniversary in March, Post Commander Jack Latimer announced today.

Under a special Committee directed by Bill Poe the 79th birthday of the American Legion here will be observed with a Social Hour at 5:30 p.m. followed by a dinner served by the American Legion Auxiliary at 6:45 p.m. at the American Legion hall. Other members of the birthday observance committee are Jack Latimer, Tom Sperling, Jim Nelson, Milton Nitsch and Mike Procter.

Distinguished guests will include representatives from the V.A. Regional Office of St. Louis, Missouri, the John J. Pershing Medical Center of Poplar, Missouri and Raymond Brodzinksky Commander of the Missouri Department of the American Legion, County Commissioners, City Council and other guests.

The American Legion was founded March 15-17, 1919 during a caucus in Paris, France and was attended by various representatives of the American Expeditionary Force of World War I. The organization has since opened its ranks to members of World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Panama, Grenada, and those involved in Desert Storm Commander Latimer explained.

The birthday banquet will complete the 1998 membership drive for Post 158. We hope to top our last year's membership of 651 members. Commander Latimer extends an invitation to all eligible war veterans of the area to become Legionnaires and be a part of the complete program of "We Help America Work."

Post meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 8 p.m. in the Legion Hall on North High Street and Mary Street in Jackson, Missouri.