From 1981 to 2012 there was no American Legion in Tidioute.

The original Tidioute Legion was formed in 1922 by World War I veterans. They named their post after a fallen comrade, Elzie E. Lynch, who was killed in action on Sept. 29, 1918, in France.

The post was retired in 1981.

Thirty years later, Tom Heenan and Ken Williams campaigned to reinstate the charter — they “decided it was time to return the charter to its home of origin and to restore the honor and memory of the original charter members, many of them WWI combat veterans,” Heenan wrote.

That effort was successful in 2012 when a temporary charter was issued. “In 2015 our permanent charter was reinstated,” Heenan said. “After 98 years, our membership includes sons and grandsons of some of the original charter members.”

Heenan said there were four other Tidioute men who left to serve in World War I and made the ultimate sacrifice. Henry Cummings III was lost at sea when the Antilles was torpedoed. Oliver Summerton died of typhoid fever at Fort Hancock, Ga. Like Lynch, Robert Dewey Shaw and Ernest Cridler were killed in action.

The post application by the World War I veterans stated that they had leased the third floor of the Grandin Opera House — “with its large stage and round, three-sided balconies it was ideal for post activities and social events,” Heenan said.

The Legion is no longer in the opera house. Through Sept. 2015, the group met at the St. John Center. “A few weeks later, in Oct. 2015, we were made aware that the Limestone Township property, long-time home to Northwest Engineering, was for sale,” Heenan said. “A special meeting was called and it was decided to make an offer to buy the property. With the backing of Northwest Bank, members who became investors, and donations from established veterans posts, including the American Legion posts in Youngsville, Sharon, Sugar Grove, and Warren, and the Servicemen’s Home Corp. of Tidioute, the sale was completed and we finally have a permanent home.”

The Legion’s membership has grown from 43 to 115 and counting and “ended 2016 as the fastest growing Legion post in Pennsylvania and number one in our district for new members.”

“Our ladies auxiliary post has a membership of over 100 and they are also the fastest growing unit in the state,” Heenan said. “We also have an enthusiastic group of members in our newly formed Sons of the American Legion.” The Legion is accepting new members and has plans for a grand opening in April.

“As members of the Elzie E. Lynch American Legion Post, we take great pride in what we have accomplished in a relatively short time frame with a group of dedicated veterans who have so graciously volunteered their time and energy,” Heenan said. “Our greatest pride comes in returning the original charter to its home of origin and restoring the honor of those men who so bravely served their country nearly a century ago.”