Our Legacy
Post 31 was founded in 1919 and received its full charter in 1925 — making it one of the oldest American Legion posts in northwest Alabama. The Post has been part of life in Tuscumbia and Colbert County for more than a hundred years.
Post 31 traces its founding to 1919, the year The American Legion itself was chartered by Congress. The Post received its full charter in 1925 and has served Tuscumbia, Colbert County and the broader Shoals continuously since. A list of past commanders is being compiled.
The M60A3 tank on display at Tuscumbia's Spring Park is maintained by Post 31, which is responsible for the tank's upkeep. Documentation on its acquisition from Fort Rucker is on file with the Post.
The memorial display on the front lawn of the Colbert County Courthouse — site of the Post's annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs — is maintained jointly by several local organizations: the VFW, American Legion Post 31, the Daughters of Confederate Veterans and the Colbert County Commission.
Tuscumbia's Memorial Day program likely traces back to around 1919–1920, the Post's earliest years. Regional guides describe it as one of the older continuously-held Memorial Day observances in Alabama.
For many years the Post 31 Color Guard has rendered military funeral honors for families across The Shoals — work that continues today under longtime members and volunteers, in cooperation with local funeral homes. Don Johnson, a Marine Vietnam veteran and two-time Purple Heart recipient, served as Color Guard commander for many years and was honored as TVA Power Service Shops' 2024 Veteran of the Year.
If you or your family have records, photographs or stories that belong in Post 31's history, the Post would welcome hearing from you. Reach out through the Post's Facebook group or by mail.