John Phillip Hand was born on a farm near Louisburg, Kansas on April 5, 1892, the fifth and only son of Charles Edgar and Mary Belle (Cole) Hand. He worked as a painter and was know for his sense of fun. John enlisted in the United States Army on June 5, 1917. After the armistice, November 11, 1918 Charles, Belle, and the girls waited patiently for their beloved son and brother to come home. On Sunday, November 24, 1918 the official telegram arrived from Washington. John was the first local soldier killed in action during World War I on October 14, 1918. He was buried at the Muese-Argonne American Cemetery in Romange, France. The cemetery coincedentally began on the same day John was Killed in action.
The American Legion Post received their charter at a special meeting on October 5, 1932 It was named the John P. Hand American Legion Post 250. The charter was presented by Kansas State Adjutant Earnest Ryan to the 62 veterans of World War I. The Legionaries had been active as a subsidiary post for a year on their own. There were 62 surviving veterans of World War I that became post members. The American Legion Auxiliary followed on March 29, 1938 with 40 women as members. The Sons of the American Legion was established in 1987. The Legion Riders were developed after that and our post has a combined membership of more than 650 men and women who have played an active role in support of our community, youth, and most importantly all veterans and theirfamilies.
