A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
This photo of Carl Anderson hangs in the NorthEastern Saloon and Hotel, where the American Legion post named after Anderson meets now. The Legion marks a century in Cloquet with picnic Thursday.
Cloquet's American Legion Post 262 celebrates its 100th birthday this year, and members of the Post and Auxiliary will mark the occasion with a picnic and 50-year awards Thursday, Aug. 15.
The festivities start with a social hour at 3:30 p.m. at the NorthEastern Saloon and Hotel - the Legion's new home - followed by food and drinks outside at 4:30 and awards at 5:30 p.m.
Legion member Rick Maki said the local Legion is an important organization for veterans and others in the community.
"We don't own a building anymore, but we still have the Post and we meet every fourth Monday at the NorthEastern at 7 p.m.," he said, adding that the group sponsors a lot of fun activities, including a Smear league, a winter cribbage league, post-prom parties and pool teams. "Our Legion riders often escort at funerals and in parades, and we sponsor local young people every year by sending kids to Boys and Girls State, and through Legion baseball.
"We not only look after veterans, but we also support our youth," he said.
The Carl Anderson Post 262 was named after the first young man from Cloquet to be killed in action during World War II. A photo of Anderson and his story hangs inside the NorthEastern, next to an American flag.
An article in the Oct. 11, 1918 issue of the old Pine Knot newspaper told how Anderson, age 25, had attended high school in Cloquet, then worked for both the Bell and Zenith telephone companies before enlisting in July 1917. He died Aug. 12, 2018, in France. His parents received the telegram not long after receiving a letter from him, telling how he had just returned from the front line trenches and was unwounded and at rest camp.
The Cloquet American Legion was chartered in October of 1919 with 15 charter members. Today the post has 236 members, the post auxiliary has 100 members, the Sons of the American Legion has 30 members and the Legion Riders has 20 members. The Legion also co-sponsors the Cloquet Honor Guard with the VFW here.
American Legion Post 262 also supports veterans at the state and national level by donating money to American Legion Auxiliary programs including Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, the Child Welfare Fund, the Armed Services Center and more by holding local fundraisers like its taco and burger nights and other events.
New members, veterans, and active duty military are always welcome.
