The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) was formed of Civil War veterans. It was a popular and powerful organization, but faded away as the veterans died.
The American Legion was founded in 1919 by veterans of the Great War. Their mission was to provide service to veterans, active military, and communities. They lobbied to ensure that wounded and disabled veterans had adequate care.
Golden’s post was the twenty-first one to be organized in Colorado; thus, it was named Jefferson County Post No. 21. Colonel Joseph Taylor had been commander of the 115th engineers, which included the School of Mines students, and was the Post’s first Commander. Col. Taylor died on the 4th of July in 1943, and two weeks later, Golden’s American Legion post was renamed to the “Joseph C. Taylor Post No. 21 of the American Legion.”
When World War II started, the charter of the national organization was expanded to include veterans of all American wars.
78 Years Ago
The July 18, 1946 Colorado Transcript reported that Post 21 was accepting a new charter and a new name. To honor World War II veterans, the post would now be called Taylor-Miller American Legion Post No. 21.
Master Sargent James. S. Miller was a 1931 graduate of Golden High School and a 1937 graduate of the School of Mines. He was inducted in 1941 and received training in anti-aircraft gunnery. He was sent to the Philippines in September of that year, and his family heard no more from him. In December of 1943, the War Department informed them that he had died in a prison camp in Manchuria.
Thanks to the Golden History Museum for funding the online collection of historic newspapers.
