Legion Post honors long-time members with total of 175 years of membership
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Boots-Dickson Post 174 American Legion this past week honored three members who have accumulated a total of 175 years of membership in the Palmyra organization.
Legion members gather behind Jim Boettcher (seated, right) who received his 75-year membership certificate at Maple Lawn Nursing Home Friday. Sitting beside is his brother, Lester.
During a regular meeting last Wednesday, the post honored C.B. Keller and Carl Hathaway for 50 years of membership.
Then, on Friday, more than 20 members and friends gathered at Maple Lawn Nursing home to honor Jim Boettcher for 75 years of membership.
In paying tribute to Boettcher, Bob Ravenscraft, a Legion member, said he estimated that Boettcher had been a member during the terms of 51 post commanders, including himself during his 75 years of membership, and had been involved in over 400 burial services for veterans.
Posts Commander Rick Hoenes (right) reads the 50-year certificate presented to C.B. Keller (left) and Carl Hathaway (center) during a post meeting last Wednesday.
“That’s a lot of cemetery engagements,” Ravenscraft said.
Boettcher, 95, is a veteran of World War II having served in a United States Army tank unit in the European theatre.
Keller served in a United States Army artillery unit in Germany from 1962 to 1964, reaching the rank of captain before serving in a reserve unit in Quincy, Ill. for five years.
He started out in the University of Missouri ROTC.
Hathaway served in Korea as a member of an United States Army combat engineers unit from 1950 to 1952, reaching the rank of private first class.
He finished at the top of his class at tractor scraper school.
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