Representatives from more than fifteen American Legion posts converged on the Frank Griggs Post #370 at Badu Park in Llano last weekend. It was the first time in twelve years that Llano had been chosen as the site for the District 21 Spring Convention.

Post members prepared for the weekend’s convention by cleaning and decorating the hall; numerous Llano businesses supported the event by purchasing ads in the program, donating food and beverages or by donating items for the successful silent auction at the banquet (catered by Inman’s Kitchen) Saturday night.

Noteworthy guests included the keynote speaker, Gerald Brady, National Commander of the “40 & 8” society (an independent, by-invitation honor organization of U.S. veterans which takes its name from World War I boxcars in France. The uncomfortable transport cars were stenciled 40/8, signifying that they could carry 40 men or 8 horses. World War I veterans adopted the name as a good-natured badge of honor in 1920). Other honored guests were: Patsy Jordan Lackey, President of the District 21 American Legion auxiliary, W.L. Fleming, District 21 Commander, Barry Schoenhals, Commander of the 4th Division, from Amarillo, and Harry Hicks, Past Commander of the 4th Division and current candidate for Department Vice-Commander, from El Paso.

Much of the preparation was done by Post #370 Commander Allyn Rub and his wife, Carla, who is president of the local post of the American Legion Auxiliary. We congratulate them and all the others who helped make this event a great success.