Post History
Our Beginnings
How a group of Kalamazoo veterans came home from the Great War and built something that would last more than a century.
FOUNDING STORY
The Charter of 1919
American Legion Joseph B. Westnedge Post 36 was chartered on June 5, 1919 — less than seven months after the guns fell silent on the Western Front. The men who founded it had just returned from the most devastating war the world had ever seen. They had served in the trenches of France, survived mustard gas and artillery barrages, and watched comrades fall. Now they were home, and they were determined to stay connected to one another and to serve their community.
The American Legion itself had been founded just weeks earlier, in March 1919, in Paris — organized by veterans of the American Expeditionary Forces who wanted to preserve the bonds of wartime service and advocate for those who had answered the call. Post 36 was among the earliest posts chartered in Michigan, a testament to the energy and commitment of Kalamazoo's veteran community.
The post was named in honor of Colonel Joseph Burchnall Westnedge, the Kalamazoo native who had commanded the 126th Infantry Regiment of the 32nd "Red Arrow" Division and died on November 29, 1918 — eighteen days after the Armistice — from complications caused by mustard gas. Naming the post after him was both a tribute to his sacrifice and a promise to keep his memory alive.
CHARTERED
June 5
1919
American Legion
Joseph B. Westnedge Post 36
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Colonel Joseph B. Westnedge
Post namesake · 1872–1918
FROM BIRTH TO LEGACY
A Timeline
Joseph Burchnall Westnedge is born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on August 16.
Westnedge joins the Michigan National Guard while attending Kalamazoo College.
Westnedge stars as halfback on Kalamazoo College's undefeated football team.
Westnedge serves as a captain during the Spanish-American War.
Colonel Westnedge volunteers to lead the 126th Infantry, 32nd "Red Arrow" Division, to France.
Colonel Westnedge dies November 29 in Nantes, France, from mustard gas complications — 18 days after the Armistice.
American Legion Joseph B. Westnedge Post 36 is chartered on June 5 by returning Kalamazoo veterans.
Colonel Westnedge is reburied at Riverside Cemetery. Thousands line the streets. West Street is renamed Westnedge Avenue.
Post 36 continues to serve veterans, families, and the Kalamazoo community — more than a century after its founding.
THEN AND NOW
A Century of Service
From its earliest days, Post 36 has been a gathering place for veterans and a force for good in the Kalamazoo community. Through the Great Depression, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and every conflict since, the post has welcomed home new generations of veterans and worked to ensure they receive the support and recognition they deserve.
The programs have evolved over the decades — scholarships, Boys State, veterans assistance, community events, and advocacy — but the mission has never changed: to serve veterans, to strengthen the community, and to honor those who gave everything in service to their country.
Today, Post 36 meets on the third Monday of every month at 1920 East Kilgore Road in Portage. New members are always welcome. If you or someone you know has served, we invite you to join us and carry this legacy forward.