Illinois Vietnam Veterans

Crystal Lake American Legion Still Active Despite Declining Membership

Although American Legion Post 171 sold its building to the Crystal Lake Park District 12 years ago, it doesn’t mean its members aren't as active as they once were in veteran and community support. 

Post Cmdr. Tom Aellig said membership numbers today reflect not only those of participants aging and moving away, but a lack of younger veterans joining. 

“A lot of people don’t really know we’re alive and well,” he said. “My goal next year is to get a few younger veterans to take over.” 

Many of today’s members — veterans from World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam — have retired to nursing homes, moved out of state or have fallen ill. They may not be able to attend chapter meetings, Aellig said, but they pay their membership dues and are considered active. 

The post continues to support veterans and to act as an advocate for veteran’s concerns on local, state and national levels while contributing to the Crystal Lake community in a variety of ways. 

The post supports Crystal Lake Boy Scout Troop 165, which chartered it when it was re-established 10 years ago, and Venturing Crew 165. 

It continues to offer annual college scholarships to Crystal Lake high school students and to make annual financial contributions to Manteno Veteran’s Home in Illinois, which cares for disabled veterans. 

It attends about 25 military funerals each year, drawing on outside sources when needed for gun salutes and flag folding. 

The means for providing these services has changed however. Without a building to hold fundraisers in, the post relies on invested proceeds from the sale of the building for many of its community projects. 

Aellig said the Woodstock Street building was sold after real estate taxes and insurance became too high for the membership to support. It is now known as Park Place Banquet Facility . The post still holds meetings at the building.

Illinois Review: Vietnam veteran laid to rest 40 years later

The U.S. government and Dalton's family spent decades trying to identify his remains. Boxes retrieved in 1989 took years to examine before relatives were asked last winter to submit DNA samples.

Dalton's scout helicopter was shot down on July 24, 1971, during a reconnaissance mission near the South Vietnam border. His body and that of another soldier were left behind due to enemy fire, and their bodies were missing the following day when officials attempted to retrieve them.

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