The Keith Lowry-Henry Ellyson Post 5 of the American Legion will celebrate its 100th anniversary meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 14, in the Memorial Hall Auditorium.

Refreshments will be served at the celebration, which is a joint meeting with the Post’s auxiliary unit, presided over by Gladys Hopkins.

Current Post 5 Commander Charles Storm accepted a proclamation recognizing the club’s centennial celebration from Mayor Steve Richards at Monday night’s city commission meeting.

The American Legion was founded in Paris, France, on March 17, 1919, by the military veterans stationed there.

Kingfisher Post 5 was organized July 4, 1919, with Leo McLeod as Post Commander and the following additional founding members: Edward C. Newer, Kenneth Kenneth Blakley, Frank Hawkins, Emmerson Davis, Harold Fulton, Albert Carpenter, Bill Goodbrake, Roland Laing, Edw. Stetler, Sidney Church, Wood Allison, Arthur Ritchie, Edw. Hill and Lee Grimes.

By 1921, the membership in the post had grown to more than 220 and in the 1960s, more than 500 local veterans were members.

Today, 215 veterans are members of the post.

The American Legion continues to fight for veterans, Commander Storm said.

One of the most notable accomplishments of the Legion is passage of the G.I. Bill.

On Feb. 27, the National Commander testified before a joint meeting of the Veterans Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C.

Post 5 is planning to have a veteran muster for this year’s July 4 parade in Kingfisher.

Events planned include an exhibition and food booth at Kingfisher Park and entertainment for children.