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American Legion Menzo Widle Post 381
511 Main Street
P.O. Box 415
Lost Nation, IA 52254-0415
Phone: 563-678-2447

The hall can be rented for family get-togethers, weddings, meetings, and many other events. Most cooking utensils are available with the rental. For further information, please call 678-2124.

John Alden and Darrell Paulsen installed three new energy efficient doors at the Legion Hall this week. The carpenters took advantage of the unusually warm temperatures to replace the old doors. The steel doors will hold up to weather and wear, provide security and protect the building from severe storm damage.

Grant money from the Clinton County Board of Supervisors provided most of the funding.

Article & photos by Lois Lane. Thanks!

Over one hundred fifty people enjoyed the All-you-care-to-eat breakfast at the Legion Hall on Sunday. Pancakes, French toast, eggs, potatoes, sausage, gravy and drinks were served from 7:00 a.m. until noon.

The Auxiliary held a bake sale to raise money for local community projects. The next breakfast and bake sale will be Sunday, February 12.

Article and photos by Lois Lane. Thanks!

LN Legion Receives INS Grant

(l to r) INS representative Joe Craig, Commander David Burmeister, Jody Holtz of Lost Nation - Elwood Telephone Company, and Legion member Ken Brady

Joe Craig of the Iowa Network Services presented Commander David Burmeister with a $1,075 check on Friday to replace American flags and poles damaged in a storm last summer.

INS created this charity grant program to increase its service and support to the communities it serves and to help bring INS closer to its customers.

INS presents this award in conjunction with Lost Nation - Elwood Telephone. Lost Nation-Elwood Telephone Company provides service to the area and supported the grant application submitted by the American Legion Post 381.

Article & photo by Lois Lane. Thanks!

An all-you-care-to-eat breakfast was served at the Legion Hall Sunday from 7:00am-noon. The menu included hash browns, sausage, gravy, pancakes, orange juice, omelets, & scrambled or fried eggs. The next breakfast will be January 8, 2012.

Article & photos by Lois Lane. Thanks!

Glenn C. Myatt is a World War II veteran who served in the Navy. His parents had to sign a paper to allow him to enlist at age 17. Glenn wrote this letter to the Editor and it was printed in the Maquoketa Sentinel-Press.

Veterans' Day is close upon us. Many veterans' organizations will have a ceremony or a supper to honor the occasion.

The Lost Nation Legion Post 381 will have a supper on November 11 at their post in Lost Nation. Seventy-six deceased World War II members will not be in attendance. There are only five of us remaining.

Four Lost Nation natives lost their lives in World War II and three were prisoners of war for more than two years. We will talk about how proud and privileged we are to be able to fly "Old Glory."

There are many startling war death statistics that many folks might not be aware of.

In World War II, from 1941 to 1945, 450,000 lives were lost, an average of 112,500 per year. Germany didn't attack the United States and Hitler was never caught.

In the Korean War, from 1950 to 1953, 55,000 lives were lost, an average of 18,334 per year. North Korea didn't attack the United States.

In the Vietnam War, from 1965 to 1975, 58,000 lives were lost, an average of 5,800 per year. Vietnam didn't attack the United States.

A Veterans' Day Soup Supper was held at the Legion Hall on Friday evening. Fifty-six veterans and their guests enjoyed the chili and oyster stew.

Commander David Burmeister recognized three WW II veterans in attendance: Glen Myatt, Melvin Duwa, and Ed Sheldon. The Robert O'Hara Award was presented to Al Schroeder, Finance Officer.

Justine Janssen and Emma Dickman were chosen by Auxiliary #381 to attend the annual session of Girls' State. They were two of approximately three hundred young women that attended Girls' State in Ames last June. They set up their own city, county and state government processes. The girls heard several motivational speakers along with local and state government officials.

Janssen, a senior at Calamus-Wheatland, is the daughter of Stephanie and Meelyn Schocker. Dickman, a senior at Midland, is the daughter of Paula Stoneking and Robert Dickman.

Article & photos by Lois Lane. Thanks!

An all-you-care-to-eat breakfast was served at the Legion Hall Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to noon. More than one hundred sixty guests filled up on the eggs, hash browns, sausage and gravy, pancakes, and French toast. The next breakfast will be served December 11.

The Auxiliary held a bake sale from 8:00-11:00. Profits from the sale will be used in sponsoring community projects. The next bake sale will be January 8, 2012.

Article & photos by Lois Lane. Thanks!

The Lost Nation Legion is serving its monthly breakfast of the season on November 13 at the Lost Nation Legion Hall. Serving will be from 7:00 a.m. until noon. The all-you-care-to-eat-here breakfast consists of eggs to order (including omelets), pancakes, French toast, sausage, hash browns, biscuits and sausage gravy, toast, coffee, milk and orange juice.

The cost is $7.00 for adults, $4.00 for children under 12, and pre-school is free with a paid adult.

The Lost Nation Legion served its monthly breakfast on October 9 at the Legion Hall from 7:00 am until noon. The all-you-can-eat-here breakfast consisted of eggs to order, pancakes, French toast, sausage, hash browns, biscuits and sausage gravy, toast, coffee, milk and orange juice. The next breakfast and bake sale will be Sunday, November 13.

Photos & article by Lois Lane. Thanks!

The Lost Nation Legion is having its semi-annual Catfish Fry at the Lost Nation Legion Hall on September 30. Serving will be from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The meal costs $9.00 per person and consists of: a Catfish, Baked Potato, Green Beans, Corn, Cole Slaw, Rolls and Coffee. Additional Catfish are available for $2.50 each.

An all-you-care-to-eat breakfast as held on Father's Day at the Lost Nation Legion Hall. The Sons of the American Legion served eggs to order, pancakes, French toast, sausage, hash browns, and biscuits and sausage gravy from 7:00 a.m. to noon to over two hundred guests. The next breakfast will be held in September.
Story & photos by Lois Lane. Thanks!

The last breakfast for this season was served on Sunday, April 20 from 7:00 a.m. - noon in the LN Legion Hall. Diners enjoyed the pancakes, French toast, eggs, sausage, gravy, potatoes and orange juice. The next breakfast will be held on September 9.

The Auxiliary sponsored a bake sale from 8:00 -11:00 a.m. Proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Lost Nation Summer Reading Program.
Photos & information by Lois Lane. Thanks, Sandra!

Post #381 held a Smelt and Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry at the Hall Friday, April 1. Guests dined on French fries, cole slaw, smelt, oysters, and rolls from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Smelt are small fish found in the Great Lakes. They run in large schools along coastlines during their spring migration to their spawning streams. It is one of the few fish that sportsmen are allowed to net.

To Native Americans, the return of the smelt meant the beginning of spring and a renewed food supply, literally saving lives and earning them the name "salvation fish." They were the first fish to arrive in the river after a long, cold winter when most of their stored food supplies had been depleted.

Smelt earned the nickname "candle fish." Smelt are so full of oil that when dried, placed upright, and lit, the fish would burn from end to end like a candle.

Some macho folks will fry these silvery fish without cleaning, since the fish have eaten nothing while on their migration to spawn. The Legion members have cleaned and rinsed their smelt. The smelt will be lightly breaded, deep fried and served with cocktail sauce. Most people can eat 15-20 smelt before calling it quits.
Photos and information by Lois Lane. Thanks!

The Lost Nation Legion Hall was filled with hungry people for the Catfish Fry on Friday night. The menu included a catfish, baked potato, green beans, cole slaw, rolls and coffee.

Watch the Lost Nation web site for pictures of the Smelt and Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry that will be held at the Legion on April 1.

Story & photos by Sandra Brady (aka Lois Lane). Thanks!

The SAL sponsored a breakfast at the Legion Hall on Sunday, March 13. The menu included eggs to order, pancakes, French toast, sausage, hash browns, biscuit and sausage gravy, toast, coffee and orange juice.

In addition, the Auxiliary held a Bake Sale from 8-11. The profits will be used for local projects.

Photos & info by Ken & Sandra Brady. Thanks!

Over two hundred people enjoyed the "Take Your Valentine to Breakfast" served Sunday at the Legion Hall. The Legion sends a big thank you to Jim Lee's Insurance Agency for purchasing the breakfast supplies.

The Legion Auxiliary held a bake sale to fund community projects from 8:00-11:00. Arrington Muhl, a senior at North Cedar High School, and Michaela Rickels, a senior at Maquoketa High School, helped serve the food and clear tables.

Two prep tables made by Robert Atkinson for use in making omelets were put into action during the breakfast.

Commander David Burmeister displayed the plaque given to the Legion to commerate the grant from the Clinton County Community Development Association which provided money for two new furnaces and two air-conditioners for the Legion Hall. The plaque will be on display in the Legion Hall.
Photos & story by Ken & Sandra Brady. Thanks!

Legion Post 381 hosted their annual Veterans' Day Soup Supper on Thursday, November 11.
Commander David Burmeister presented the 2010 Legionnaire of the Year Award to Lynn Smith. Although it seemed to be a rather smaller crowd this year, those present enjoyed the meal, program, and visiting with other attendees.

Drew Kabala gave a PowerPoint presentation on his experiences at Boys' State this year. He thanked the Legion members for sending him. Drew is the son of Charles and Sandra Kabala of Lost Nation and attends Maquoketa High School.

Melvin Duwa was recognized as the oldest Post 381 Legion member attending this year's Veterans' Day Soup Supper.
Pictures and information by Lynda Humphreys (filling in for Lois Lane). Thanks, Lynda!

Post #381 held their monthly breakfast Sunday, October 10. More than two hundred people enjoyed the all-you-care-to-eat meal. The Legion thanks the campers attending the Blue Grass Festival in Eden Valley for supporting the breakfast this month.
Story & pictures by Sandra & Ken Brady. Thanks!

Presently Post 381 has 94 members, of which about 30 are active, local members. Because the American Legion was designed to be a declining membership, if no more wars were started, the age of the Legionnaire would grow older.

To assist with the upkeep of the building and help the Legionnaires, the Sons of the American Legion has been established. Thanks to their help the following has been accomplished:

• a generator was purchase and installed
  • At the present, the post has been designated as a warming site for the community of Lost Nation in case of an emergency. If the city looses electricity, the post now has a generator to supply heat and light for up to 100 people. With money-raising projects such as breakfasts and grants, it is hoped that the building can be expanded in the future to include more toilets and showers and a new kitchen.
• a new grease exhaust fan is being installed
• new deep fryers are in the works
• Flag burning ceremonies are held for proper flag disposal

Regular meetings were held in the room above the old post office until 1929. The post then met above the Balster Furniture Store until 1936 when it purchased the Gilroy Store at 501 Main St. The post met there until 1981 when it built a new building at 511 Main St. The new hall was named The Straudouskis Hall after John Straudouskis, who was killed in action in the Viet Nam War. Post 381 is one of two Clinton county posts that still maintains its own building.

• In 1928, Post 381 located and marked all veterans' graves in the nearby area.
• In 1985 the Avenue of Flags was established at the Lost Nation Cemetery. Flags of Veterans are flown on Memorial Day, Veteran's Day and on special occasions. Nearly 90 flags are now flown for these events.
• In the 1970's, 80's and 90's the Post held weekly bingo sessions. These sessions helped pay the mortgage quickly and assisted some community organization such as the public library, the food pantry and Meals-on-Wheels.
• The Post now sponsors American Legion Boy's State, Cub and Boy Scouts, and the American Legion Oratorical Contest.

All design and pictures are the sole property of the owner, Leslie J. Schultz. Permission must be obtained to use any pictures or parts of this web site.