Memories of Life in Downers Grove

Alexander Bradley Burns American Legion Post #80

"In the year 1919, a young man from Downers Grove by the name of Alexander Bradley Burns died in a strange land, far from home. He gave his life for his country on the battlefields of France."

Alexander Bradley Burns was born in Downers Grove and had just graduated from high school when World War I broke out. He joined the First Illinois Field Artillery, part of the famous "Rainbow" division composed of National Guard Units from all parts of the United States. Burns was engaged in some of the largest battles of the war on the Western Front.

"Alec," as he was called by all his friends, was wounded in 1989 near Fremenic. He died two days later and was buried in a French cemetery. He was later buried in an American cemetery in France. The French government awarded him the Croix de Guerre posthumously.

In 1919, a group of World War I veterans organized the post and named it for Burns. The American Legion first met in Masonic quarters in the Heart Building at Main and Curtiss streets. Later meetings were held at the Dicke Building at Forest and Warren avenues and the Avery Coonley School Building on Grove Street.

The first building the Legion owned was on Burlington Avenue in 1940. Then property was purchased at Ogden and Saratoga avenues in 1945. Some of the land was deeded to the high school for use as a baseball field, to the village and park district to create Doerhoefer Park, and sold to construct a clothing and shoe store. The Legion's one-story brick building was completed in 1961 and houses a kitchen, lounge, office, trophy room, card room, and storage room.

In 1939, the post chartered Boy Scout Troop 80. The post also sponsored the annual Fourth of July parade and fireworks until these activities were assumed by the village. In 1993, the post dedicated the Abraham Lincoln Room, featuring a portrait of the 16th president that was willed to the post by Rhoderick Dhu Parker, who was wounded at the battle of Antietam in 1862.

Other post activities have included visits to VA hospitals, sponsoring honor guards for ceremonies, conducting Poppy Day, and hosting weekly bingo. Post 80 now has members representing all wars and military branches.

The American Legion Auxiliary formed in 1922. This group helped to purchase the land at Saratoga and Ogden avenues, and operates the kitchen on bingo nights.

(From post histories compiled by Bill Westrup, Bill Harkness, Henrietta Zurek, Shirley Wrenn, Ethel Clark, Eleanor Bartels, Ann Creel, R. Bernardini and Dave Wisbrook and provided by Ralph E. Gray)