Heritage Hall at the Freeborn County Historical Society Museum has been selected as the site for the exhibit of an unusual and now rare collection of patriotic posters from World Wars I and II.

Wednesday, November 24, 1999

Heritage Hall at the Freeborn County Historical Society Museum has been selected as the site for the exhibit of an unusual and now rare collection of patriotic posters from World Wars I and II.

The formal ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 18, in the museum building, located next to the Freeborn County Fairgrounds entrance on North Bridge Avenue.

This exhibit of 18 framed posters from World War I (1917-18) and eight from World War II (1941-45) was made possible through the cooperation of Leo Carey Post 56 of the American Legion.

The 25 colorful posters became a reality during 1998-99 as a &uot;commander’s project&uot; for Cassandra (Sandy) Maiden, past immediate commander of Post 56.

Participating in the ceremony in Heritage Hall was an honor guard from Post 56. Bob Entorf, president of the Freeborn County Historical Society gave the welcoming speech. Jim Pilgrim, director of the Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau, provided the acknowledgements and introductions. The formal dedication of the exhibit was made by present Post 56 Commander Les Shaunce. Helping to cut the ribbon was Bev Jackson, executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Society.

Members of Freemond Madson Post 447 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Glaydon Iverson Chapter 16 of the Disabled American Veterans were special guests. Also present for the dedication were State Senator Pat Piper of Austin, State Representative Dan Dorman of Albert Lea, and Albert Lea Mayor Marv Wangen.

The original set of posters was donated to Leo Carey Post 56 of the American Legion by Doctor Andrew Gullixson, a local pediatrician, in the 1920s.

An early attempt was been made to preserve them. However, the posters ended up being stored in the post’s home on North Broadway Avenue for many years until Commander Maiden decided to have them refurbished and framed for public display and appreciation.

The posters were dedicated to the memory of the men and women who served during World War I and World War II on May 16 at the First District Legion Convention in Albert Lea.

Another significant factor for the posters comes with the 80th anniversary of both the American Legion and Leo Carey Post 56.