Griswold American Legion Auxiliary Post 508

11/06/2026

Have you heard about Operation Green Light for Veterans? Operation Green Light for Veterans is a nationwide collaborative initiative that aims to spark conversation and connect veterans with local, state, and federal support programs. The green light represents hope, renewal and well being and serves as a visual reminder to transitioning service members that they are seen, appreciated and supported! This even runs from the 4th through the 11th which is Veterans Day. To learn more about this event in Cass County and other surrounding areas here is a link to counties in Iowa that are participating -

https://www.naco.org/program/operation-green-light-veterans

Also, go to the Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (A.R.I.S.E) page to see the buildings in Atlantic that are participating. You might have seen some of these but didn't know what it was for!

During the week leading up to Veterans Day, counties shine a green light to show support for veterans, raise awareness of benefits available to them and call for action on federal policies that support veterans and their families.

11/06/2026

Tomorrow night is the night! Come and join us at the Griswold Community Building for the Charles W. Smith Post 508 Legion Fundraising event! A free will donation meal of Pork Loin, cheesy potatoes, baked beans and a dessert will be served from 5 to 7. During that time there will also be a Silent Auction with a lot of great items up for auction! After the dinner there will be a DJ and social event so you can hang around and socialize with your friends and our fantastic Legion members in honor of Veterans Day which is next Wednesday. Hope to see the town there as we all come out to support our Legion members!

10/04/2026

Our October Legion Auxiliary meeting is next Sunday the 11th at 2:00 p.m. at the Legion! Hope to see all of our members there. Lots to discuss and plan!

07/13/2026

✨ What. A. Day. 👑💙

Yesterday’s Griswold Old Soldiers Reunion Queen Contest was one for the books! Our six incredible candidates - Adaline Gade, Airika Palmer, Amanda Houser, Brystol Wyman, Carsyn Adams, and Sadie Gohlinghorst - represented our community with confidence, kindness, and poise. We couldn’t be more proud of each of these outstanding young women!

A huge congratulations to Brystol Wyman, our 2026 Queen, and Adaline Gade, our 2026 Princess! We can’t wait to see all you accomplish as you represent Griswold over the coming year. 💙👑

A heartfelt thank you to our outgoing 2025 Queen, Josie Millikan, for her exceptional leadership, dedication, and service throughout the past year. You have represented our community with grace, and we are so grateful for all you’ve done!

A special shoutout also goes to Camden Rossell for keeping the event running smoothly as our fantastic emcee. You helped make the afternoon one to remember!

None of this would be possible without the continued support of our amazing sponsors: American Legion Post 508, The Griswold American & Tee Box, and Griswold Communications. Thank you for investing in this cherished community tradition year after year.

And to our wonderful community, thank you for filling the seats, cheering on our candidates, and helping keep this tradition alive. Your support means the world!

Congratulations again to all of our candidates for an unforgettable afternoon!

07/11/2026

Thanks to everyone that came out tonight to the Legion park! After that event Auxiliary member Delores Bice presented Legion member Steven Kimpson with a Quilt of Valor ❤️🤍💙

07/07/2026

Just a few more days until the 144th Griswold Old Soldiers Reunion kicks off!

As we count down to another wonderful reunion weekend, we wanted to share a few photos that were donated to the Legion from reunions and parades of years gone by.

We don't know who everyone is in these pictures, so we'd love your help! If you recognize someone, please share their names in the comments. We would love to help preserve the history of our community by putting names with these special memories.

It's always fun to look back at past reunions and see the smiles, traditions, and memories that have made the Griswold Old Soldiers Reunion such a cherished part of our community for 144 years.

Enjoy this walk down memory lane, and we can't wait to celebrate with everyone this weekend! 🇺🇸❤️

07/06/2026

Make sure and save some time to visit the Cass County Historical Museum: Griswold, IA this weekend! The museum houses a lot of historical information regarding the Old Soldiers Reunion including how it was first started by the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) in 1882 as a reunion of civil war veterans. A little history lesson for those who do not know what the GAR was. They were a fraternal and veterans organization composed of men who fought for the Union during the American Civil War. One of the GAR's most accomplished legacies was the establishment of Memorial Day which they did in 1868.

In Griswold the first official GAR Post No. 9 was established in 1883 and it came about while the Old Soldiers Reunion got its start. The first soldiers reunion of the GAR in this part of the country was held in the grove on Jon R. Schofield's farm about 5 miles northwest of Griswold in the summer of 1882. Schofield was a war prisoner during the Civil War and invited fellow prisoners to his farm for a 2-day reunion. The reunion served as a social anchor for local veterans and helped start a legacy that still stands today.

In 1920 the GAR officially transferred the oversight of the reunion to the Griswold American Legion Post. If you are interested in the history of this wonderful annual event that holds so many fun memories for our town go to the museum and check out their fantastic exhibit that explains it!!

Step back in time during Old Soldiers Reunion with a visit to the Cass County Museum!

On Saturday, July 11, we’ll be open with extended hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., inviting you to explore the people, stories, and treasures that make Cass County history so special.

Be among the first to see the Eleanor Tietz Collection, featuring beautiful historic clothing from the late 1800s through the 1960s. As a special tribute to Eleanor, we’ll also be serving homemade cookies in her favorite flavor!

While you’re here, don’t miss our newest exhibit showcasing items recovered from the 1994 Griswold time capsule—a nostalgic look back at a piece of our community’s history.

📍 Cass County Museum
410 Main Street • Griswold, Iowa

🗓️ Saturday, July 11
🕙 Extended Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

🎟️ Free admission (donations appreciated)
❄️ Air conditioned
♿ Handicap accessible
🚻 Restrooms available

Bring your family, enjoy a sweet treat, and discover the stories that have connected our community for generations. We look forward to seeing you!

07/06/2026

This fun event is happening on Saturday and is being hosted by East Of Omaha and sponsored by the Charles W. Smith Post 508 Legion! If you would like to enter a car in the Show & Shine let them know. Judging starts at 2 and the awards are at 5!

07/06/2026

🎉 **Happy Old Soldiers Reunion Week!** 🇺🇸

There are lots of fun events happening, beginning this Friday!

Throughout this week, the Auxiliary will be sharing the history of our beloved Griswold Old Soldiers Reunion, along with photos and memories from reunions past.

We also encourage everyone to take a moment to thank any Veteran or active-duty service member you see, not only for their service to our country, but also because this incredible reunion has continued year after year because of the dedication and commitment of our local Veterans. We owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude!

You can start by joining us **Friday evening at 6:00 p.m.** at **Griswold Legion Park** (next to the library on Main Street) for a special celebration honoring all Veterans.

Then, from **6:15 to 8:00 p.m.**, stop by the Charles W. Smith Post 508 Open House. Celebrate our heroes at the park, then come visit with our Legion members at the Legion building afterward.

We hope to see so many of you there as we kick off another wonderful Griswold Old Soldiers Reunion weekend! ❤️🤍💙

06/24/2026

Last night the American Legion, 7th District Commander, Mitch Brahms, came to our Be The One awareness event and while he was in town presented the Charles W. Smith Post 508 with a membership award. Legion member Kenny Robberts was on hand to accept the award for their membership numbers which currently stands at 105% of the goals the Legion set for membership. Congratulations Post 508! Mitch said he loves coming to Griswold and spending time with our Legion members!!