Bennett American Legion
242 Main St.
Bennett, IA 52721
(563) 890-2554
The Bennett Legion Family consists of the Rixe-Lausen American Legion Post #104, Legion Auxiliary Unit #104 and Sons of the Legion Squadron #104. These three organizations meet the first Thursday of each month at 6 PM at the Bennett Legion Hall/Community Center. Following a luncheon, each group meets separately for their meetings. [No meetings are held in January, July, August.]
Membership: Membership in the American Legion is open to ALL veterans who have served. In 2019, the U.S. Congress opened membership in the Legion to all veterans who have served in the Armed Forces. Membership in the Auxiliary is open to all spouses, daughters, granddaughters, great granddaughters. Membership in the Sons of the Legion is open to all men and boys whose fathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers were veterans.
Bennett Community Center/American Legion Post #104
The Post has maintained the Bennett Community Center/American Legion building since it was built in 1975. The building is available to rent for receptions, anniversaries, birthday parties, business meetings, family gatherings, as well as many other community events. As one of the few handicapped accessible public buildings, voting for Inland Township has been held in the building for many years. Local non-profits and church organizations may rent the building at a reduced rental fee. The building is offered free for blood drives, flu clinics, and funeral luncheons, whether served by the Auxiliary, a church group or family/friends.
RENTAL INFORMATION: Inquiries concerning rental of the building can be made by contacting Marlene Perkins with an instant message to her through Facebook.
Rixe-Lausen American Legion Post #104
The Rixe-Lausen American Legion Post #104 was chartered August 26, 1919 and celebrated 100 years as a post in 2019. Membership in the American Legion is open to ALL veterans who have served. Contact any Legionnaire for more information on joining. The Legion is a not-for-profit community-service organization devoted to the support of all veterans, active duty military as well as their home communities.
Post #104 was originally called the Red Star Post for the road that ran from Bennett to Tipton. After World War I, the post was renamed in honor of Albert Rixe and Jesse Lausen who died during WWI.
The Legion held its early meetings in the old Knights of Pythias building on the corner of 3rd and Main. At various times since it was built in 1897, that building housed a bank, a grocery store, a restaurant, the post office and the Legion meeting rooms on the south in the front section. The Auxiliary began the first library in Bennett in the meeting rooms with donated books from members and the community. In the back section of the building was a large room and kitchen for community gatherings with a barroom on the upper floor. Many receptions and dances were held in those rooms.
In 1974, that building was torn down and a new building was erected. The Legion and Auxiliary as well as the community donated time and money to build the new building. On May 1, 1975, the new American Legion Hall/Bennett Community Center was opened and became the center of many community activities.
As one of the few handicapped accessible buildings, voting for Inland Township has been held in the building for many years. The building is available for receptions, anniversaries, birthday parties, business meetings, family gatherings, as well as many other community events. Local non-profits and church organizations may rent the building at a reduced rental fee. The use of the building is offered free for blood drives, flu clinics, and funeral luncheons, whether served by the Auxiliary, a church group or family/friends.
Background on the American Legion: Chartered by Congress in 1919, the American Legion is a national patriotic veterans organization, devoted to mutual helpfulness. The Legion is a not-for-profit community-service organization, which now numbers nearly 3 million members, men and women, in nearly 15,000 American Legion posts worldwide.
Membership: Since the Legion was commissioned by the United States Congress, eligibility dates for membership in the American Legion is set by Congress. In 2019, Congress opened membership in the American Legion to ALL veterans who have served in the Armed Forces.
Rixe-Lausen American Legion Auxiliary Unit #104
The Rixe-Lausen American Legion Auxiliary Unit #104 was chartered on June 2, 1922. The Auxiliary is a community of volunteers devoted to the support of the Legion and dedicated to serving all veterans, active military men and women and their families as well as the community. All spouses, daughters, granddaughters, great granddaughters are invited to join to support all veterans.
Background on Unit #104: On the Legion side of the 1864 building, the Auxiliary started the first Bennett public library with donated books from its members and continues to support the Bennett Public Library. When the Bennett AmVet Auxiliary disbanded, the members joined Unit #104 as did members of the Tipton Legion Auxiliary Unit #123 when it disbanded. These women were dedicated to continuing support of our veterans and active military and their families through a patriotic service organization – the American Legion Auxiliary.
Many activities and projects are supported by the Auxiliary. Donations are made to the Iowa City VA Hospital, Marshalltown Veterans Home, English Valley Veterans Outreach, Quad City Veterans Outreach, Cedar Rapids Veterans Homeless Shelter as well as support for our local veterans. The Auxiliary holds a Veterans Day program at Bennett Elementary School to honor the veterans in the community. The Boy and Girl Staters speak at the program to the students and guests.
The Auxiliary also sponsors a soup supper on Veterans Day for the Legionnaires, Auxiliary, Sons and spouses and collects personal care products to take to the Iowa City VA.
From November through March, the Auxiliary works with the Sons of the Legion to serve tacos each Wednesday night from 5-8 PM. This is the basic source of income for the Legion Hall. The Auxiliary prepares and serves a family Christmas dinner for all Legionnaires, Auxiliary, Sons, and their families. A special "Santa Night" is held at one of the taco nights sponsored by the Bennett Community Club with the Auxiliary and Sons of the Legion.
Local school districts are notified of Legion and Auxiliary scholarships available to graduating seniors at the local, district and state levels. The Auxiliary's scholarship program began in 1986 and has given scholarships every year since. The local scholarships are open to any senior from the Bennett School District or to a direct descendent of past and present Legion and Auxiliary members. In 2020, the Auxiliary began giving a free book to every student Pre-K through 6th grade at Bennett Elementary School during the school's Book Fair.
In May, the Auxiliary with the help of the Legion and Sons prepare and place flags and crosses on all the graves of veterans at Inland and New Liberty cemeteries. In 2004, the Legion began an Avenue of Memorial Flags that are displayed at Inland Cemetery over Memorial Day weekend. On Memorial Day, the Legion and Auxiliary hold a service at Inland Cemetery to honor deceased veterans.
Each year since 1948, the Auxiliary offers the opportunity for one or more girl from the Bennett School District to attend Girls State in June, a nationally recognized government in action week for high school junior girls. The Legion sends one or more boys as delegates to Boys State.
Sons of the American Legion Post #104
On April 4, 2005, a Sons of the American Legion Post #104 was chartered for those men and boys whose fathers, grandfathers, or great grandfathers were veterans. Though a newer organization in the community, the Sons have been very active and supportive of both Legion and community activities.
Membership in the Sons of the Legion Squadron #104 is open to all men and boys who have a veteran or Legionnaire in their family.
During the months of November through March, the Sons and Auxiliary sponsor a taco night every Wednesday evening to earn money to support their projects and help with maintenance of the building. The Sons have helped sponsor an additional girl to attend Girls State. They provide support to various projects for veterans, such as the Honor Flight and English Valley Outreach. They also give a scholarship to a graduating senior who is related to a member of the Bennett American Legion, Auxiliary or Sons.
