Angus turns 100

Though the current location of American Legion Post 54 “just across the bridge” has been a fixture since 1991, the Post itself has held a location in Saratoga for 98 years and it turns 100 this year. In celebration of reaching its centennial mark, the American Legion will be holding the North Platte River Poker Run at 10 a.m. on Aug. 3 followed by Stockwell-Wilcoxson Chicken Burn.

American Legion Post 54, also known as Angus England Post 54, is named after Saratoga resident and World War I sharpshooter Richard Angus England. England was born on Dec. 17, 1893 to Richard England and Mary Campbell. In the Aug. 16, 1917 Saratoga Sun, it was reported that England, accompanied by his wife, Brooks (Newman) England, and his father-in-law Ed. Newman, reported to Rawlins for physical examination following his conscription into the United States Army.

On Oct. 31, 1917, England returned to Rawlins following notice from the county exemption board that he was to report for roll call. From there, England was sent to American Lake, Wash. for basic training. By January 1918, with only two months in training, the Saratoga son had arrived “somewhere in England” before arriving in a “foreign port” which was presumed to be somewhere in France. The Saratoga Sun published letters from England, to his mother, in February and June 1918.

Dear Mother,

How are you tonight? I suppose sitting around the stove reading the Saturday Evening Post. I would like to be there, too, but can’t for a while. It is pretty cold here tonight, but not so cold as up there. Saw them plowing around here today. There was a little frost, but not enough to make any trouble. Don’t suppose they are plowing much up there, unless it is through the snow. Hope it was not as bad up there as last year. We have not had any mail as yet, but suppose we will get it soon. I hear we are going to move tomorrow. Hope we go where it is still warmer and not so damp.

With love from Angus.

Unfortunately, England would never return to the Valley. He was killed in action on the Battlefield of Argonne on Oct. 4, 1918. A typo in the Oct. 18, 1920 of the Wyoming State Tribune, however, likely threw some for a loop as it printed that Mrs. H.L. Hanson of Wolcott, Wyo. wrote to ask why her nephew, England, had not been published in a recent list of Wyoming’s dead during WWI and had been killed on October 4, 1917, before he was even contacted for roll call.

England is among those buried at the Muese-Argonne American Cemetery in France and American Legion Post 54 was dedicated to England in July 1919 and chartered on Nov. 2, 1921. For quite some time, however, the Post did not have a place to call home. Community dances, held at the Medicine Bow Lodge, and boxing exhibitions were held around July 4, 1922 to raise money for the construction of a permanent building.

Before moving to its current location over 25 years ago, the building that now houses Lollypop’s was home to the Legion during the 1960s. Eventually, the Legion sold the building and moved across the bridge.

Over the 100 year history of the American Legion Post 54 has awarded scholarships, planned community events, cleaned the grave sites of veterans, helped with Memorial Day services and Veterans Day dinners, and many more community centered programs.

The North Platte River Poker Run will begin launching boats at 10 a.m from the Don Johnson boat launch site near the Saratoga Hot Pool. Launching will continue until noon and floaters will collect cards at stops along the way to the ending destination at Foote Access. The cost to enter is $30 per watercraft or $20 for inner tubes. This cost includes the captain’s poker hand, additional hands may be played for $10 each. Prizes will be given to the best hand, second best hand and the worst hand. Half the proceeds of the event will be dedicated to the Tyler Pickett Park with the other half going to Legion projects.

Participants must be 18 years of age or older and life jackets are required for the event.

After the poker run, everyone is invited to the American Legion Post at 403 East Bridge.