Still on Duty: American Legion Paris Post #1

At the Arc de Triomphe, Tomb of France's Unknown Soldier

The American Legion Paris Post #1, received its charter from the American Legion on 13 December 1919, as WWI weary veterans joined together to create the Legion. The American Legion Paris Post #1 is now in its 102nd year of existence in Paris, France, where they continue to support veterans around the world & help keep the legacy of America's contribution to Europe alive by serving veterans and their families in France. The post actively pays respect to all American fighting men and women of the world wars and those of the Allies.

Paris Post #1 continues to support U.S. memorials and monuments whether or not they are related to the organization. They provide American representation at the many ceremonies and commemorative events involving our two nations throughout France. These include both events around greater Paris, like the daily relighting of the eternal flame at the tomb of France's Unknown Soldier, U.S. friendship events at the monuments at the Place des États-Unis, and Memorial and Armistice Day at the American Suresnes Cemetery, as well as at the ABMC cemeteries along the old Western Front and the advances of 1944 and '45.

Ceremony at the Post Mausoleum in Paris

After World War I, the city of Paris also granted the American Legion a small plot of land in the Cimetière de Neuilly. In the 1930s, the Paris post built a mausoleum on the site. Since then, more than 300 Paris Post #1 members have been interred there. Post members, who consider themselves guardians of the mausoleum, maintain it on behalf of their American Legion comrades who reside there in Post Everlasting. The post conducts ceremonies at the mausoleum throughout the year.

Paris Post #1 maintains an original seat on the Comité de la Flamme, an association in charge of ceremonially reviving the Eternal Flame of the French Tomb of the Unknown Soldier located under the Arc de Triomphe. Throughout the year—and specifically on the Fourth of July—the post participates in the ravivage de la flamme, or rekindling of the flame.

March 1919 Organizing Conference for
the American Legion, Paris

Source: Doughboy Foundation