08/15/2026
American Legion Post 389 Riverview, MI Clough-Lambrix
Good evening, everyone.
It is truly an honor to stand before you tonight as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Riverview American Legion Post 389.
Seventy years is a remarkable milestone.
But before we talk about where this post is today, I think it is important that we remember where we came from—and the people whose names and sacrifices are part of our history.
The Riverview American Legion Post was named in honor of Harry Clough, a World War II veteran, and PFC Irving R. Lambrix, also a World War II veteran, who was killed in action on September 17, 1944, at just 23 years old.
These are not simply names from our past.
They represent the reason this organization exists.
They represent service, sacrifice, patriotism, and a commitment to making sure that veterans are never forgotten.
While Harry Clough was hospitalized at the Dearborn Veterans Hospital in 1955, he learned that an American Legion Post charter was available.
Harry immediately began the process of bringing a new American Legion Post to Riverview.
By late September, several prospective members had expressed interest in forming a new post in Riverview.
Then, in October of 1955, Harry Clough announced that 70 members had pledged that they would sign applications for a new charter.
A special meeting was held, and Harry Klaft was elected the first Commander of the Riverview American Legion Post.
Sadly, Commander Clough never had the opportunity to see the post receive its charter.
Harry Clough
passed away on November 1, 1955—just one week before the post was scheduled to receive its charter.
A second meeting was held in November, and Charles Weidenhöfer was elected to take over for Commander Clough.
And in early 1956, the Riverview American Legion Post received its charter.
Seventy years later, here we are.
And I think Harry Clough would be extremely proud of what this post has become.
This is my seventh year as Commander of Post 389, and I couldn’t be more proud of our accomplishments.
Seven years ago, we had five or six events scheduled for the entire year.
This year, we have scheduled more than 157 events.
Think about that.
Five or six events to more than 157.
That doesn’t happen because of one person.
It happens because of an entire organization of people who are motivated, dedicated, and committed to helping veterans and the communities around us.
Today, we have four incredible entities that make up Post 389.
Our Legionnaires have approximately 139 members.
Our Auxiliary has approximately 230 members.
Our Sons of the American Legion have approximately 230 members.
And our American Legion Riders have approximately 50 members.
Seven years ago, we had fewer than 300 total members.
Today, we have approximately 730 members.
That type of membership growth cannot happen without amazing leadership and people who believe in what this post stands for.
And tonight, I want to recognize those people.
First, I want to thank Tina Wasilewsk, President of our Auxiliary, and the entire Auxiliary Board for their amazing contribution to this post.
You are truly the heart of our post.
Your dedication, your energy, your willingness to organize events, raise money, help veterans, and bring families into this organization has made an incredible difference.
I am extremely grateful for everything you do.
Thank you.
I also want to thank our Sons of the American Legion Commander, David Skarzynski, and the entire SAL Board.
David, under your leadership, you have transformed the Sons of the American Legion here at Post 389.
You continue to add family-friendly events and create more fundraisers so that the Sons can give back to veterans and the surrounding communities.
The Sons of the American Legion are always there to help me and to help this post.
Your dedication does not go unnoticed.
David, thank you—and thank you to every member of the Sons for all of your help throughout each year.
I also want to take a moment to recognize our American Legion Riders, our newest entity here at Post 389.
The Riders have approximately 50 members, and they are an amazing group of people—period.
I am so happy that you decided to join our post.
From the beginning, you have jumped in and become an important part of everything we do.
You work hard to help at every event. You show up. You volunteer. You help wherever you are needed.
And I am extremely grateful for every one of you.
You may be our newest entity, but you have already become an important part of the Post 389 family.
Thank you for everything you do.
I also want to thank my Legion Board.
Thank you for allowing me to serve as Commander of this post for the past seven years and for following and approving most of my ideas.
We’ve had a laundry list of post improvements that we’ve completed over the last seven years.
This pavilion is one of them.
Every year, I set goals for this post, and they usually consist of three things:
Improve the post.�Save money.�And donate as much as we possibly can to veterans and the surrounding communities.
And I am extremely proud of what this organization has accomplished.
In 2025, this post collectively donated approximately $59,850 to local veterans, national veterans organizations, and organizations throughout our surrounding communities.
And we are going to smash that record.
Our goal for 2026 is to donate more than $70,000.
Think about that for a moment.
A veterans organization raising more than $70,000 and then giving that money away to help veterans, families, and people in our surrounding communities.
There are veterans organizations our size that may never see $70,000 in their bank account—let alone be in a position to donate that kind of money to the community.
That is what makes me so proud to be Commander of this post.
And honestly, it is extremely humbling.
Because every dollar we raise represents somebody who needs help.
Every fundraiser represents members who volunteered their time.
Every event represents people who showed up early, stayed late, cooked, served, cleaned, organized, donated, or simply asked:
“What can I do to help?”
That is what Post 389 is really about.
It isn’t the building.
It isn’t the pavilion.
It isn’t the number of events on our calendar.
And it isn’t even the number of members we have.
It’s the people.
It’s veterans helping veterans.
It’s families supporting veterans.
It’s members supporting their community.
It’s people coming together and saying, “Someone needs help. What can we do?”
And then doing something about it.
That’s the legacy of Post 389.
And that legacy started 70 years ago with people like Harry Klaft, who was determined to bring an American Legion Post to Riverview.
It continued with the members who stepped forward after his passing to make sure that his vision became a reality.
It continued through generations of commanders, officers, Legionnaires, Auxiliary members, Sons, Riders, volunteers, and families.
And now, that responsibility belongs to us.
We are the caretakers of this post.
We have inherited something that people before us worked very hard to build.
Our job is to make sure that when the 80th anniversary comes around, the people standing in this room can look back and say, “They continued the work.”
And when the 100th anniversary comes around, I hope the members of Post 389 are still talking about the same things we are talking about tonight:
Veterans.
Service.
Family.
Community.
And giving back.
Seventy years ago, 70 people pledged their support to create this post.
Today, we have approximately 730 members.
Seventy years ago, Harry Clough had a vision.
Today, that vision is alive and stronger than ever.
And I believe our best days are still ahead of us.
So tonight, as we celebrate 70 years of American Legion Post 389, I want to say thank you.
Thank you to every veteran who has ever worn the uniform.
Thank you to every member who has served this post.
Thank you to every spouse, family member, volunteer, and supporter who has helped make this organization what it is today.
Thank you to our past commanders and officers who carried the torch before us.
And thank you to every person sitting in this room who continues to carry it today.
Most importantly, let’s never forget why we’re here.
We are here because of veterans.
We are here because of people like Harry Clough and PFC Irving R. Lambrix.
We are here because of the sacrifices made by those who served before us.
And we are here to make sure that those sacrifices continue to mean something.
So here’s to 70 years of Post 389.
Here’s to the veterans we’ve served.
Here’s to the families we’ve helped.
Here’s to the communities we’ve supported.
And here’s to the next 70 years.
May Post 389 continue to serve veterans, support families, strengthen our community, and honor the men and women who made our freedom possible.
Happy 70th Anniversary, Post 389!
And thank you all for being part of our family.
God bless our veterans, God bless the American Legion, and God bless the United States of America.
