Post 189 Membership
Join Us
The American Legion offers veterans and their families a powerful blend of community, advocacy, belonging, and support. Members strengthen their communities through volunteer service with the VA, National Guard, Reserve units, and charitable partners such as Habitat for Humanity and the Red Cross. The Legion also invests in youth through programs like American Legion Baseball, Junior Shooting Sports, Oratorical competitions, and Boys and Girls State. As one of the most influential voices for veterans in Washington, D.C., the Legion fights for better pay for active‑duty service members, improved military family housing, and strong, reliable VA healthcare. Beyond advocacy, the Legion provides a welcoming, inclusive environment where veterans and families find camaraderie and connection, and offers free, expert assistance from accredited service officers who help veterans secure the benefits they have earned.
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Eligibility​
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Membership in The American Legion is open to anyone who has served at least one day of federal active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces from December 7, 1941, to the present, as established by the LEGION Act. Service in a combat zone is not required; any qualifying day of active duty counts, whether served at home or abroad. Eligible individuals must have an honorable discharge or be currently serving honorably. Certain medical‑related uncharacterized discharges may also qualify as honorable unless otherwise specified. Proof of service can be provided through a DD‑214 or other official documentation of federal active duty.
Get Together
Taking a Vet to Lunch is a simple yet powerful way to show appreciation for the courage, risk, and sacrifice our veterans have made in service to their country. Veterans and friends of veterans are invited to come together, share a meal, play cards, or simply enjoy conversation. The goal is connection — reminding every veteran that they are never alone. Through fellowship and friendship, we convey that our veterans always have someone by their side who will listen, support, and stand with them through whatever life brings.
Weekly Brunch
Monthly Meetings
1st Monday of the month at 7PM
(except July & September, held 2nd Monday at 7PM)
​VFW location:
N8775 High Rd, Watertown, WI 53094
A Proud Legacy:
The History of American Legion Pitterle‑Beaudoin
Post #189
For more than a century, American Legion Pitterle‑Beaudoin Post #189 has stood as a pillar of service, remembrance, and community spirit in Watertown. Its story begins in 1919, when local veterans returning from World War I established the city’s first American Legion chapter under the leadership of Dr. A.F. Soliday. The post was later named in honor of Sgt. Frank Pitterle, the first Watertown soldier killed in action during the Great War. After World War II, the name Beaudoin was added to commemorate the last local casualty of that conflict.
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Finding a Home
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In its early decades, the post had no permanent headquarters and met in various locations around the city. During World War II, members gathered at the old Armory—now the Heritage Inn—before eventually purchasing the Green Bowl Tea Room in 1948. Located on Oconomowoc Avenue, the first cement street in Wisconsin, the building became the Legion Green Bowl Supper Club, a popular community gathering place for 25 years. After its sale in the early 1970s, the Legion again operated without a home until 1984, when it purchased its current headquarters at 206 South First Street. Legionnaires and Auxiliary members renovated the former tavern into the welcoming post home used today.
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Serving the Community
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Post #189 has long been woven into the fabric of Watertown’s civic life. In 1996, the post partnered with the city to host Watertown’s 178th Fourth of July celebration, drawing thousands to Main Street and Riverside Park for food, music, and fireworks. The post also plays a central role in Veterans Day observances, leading the annual parade and solemn ceremony on the Main Street bridge to honor those who never returned from war. Children in the community look forward to the Legion’s annual Halloween parade, where participants march from North Seventh Street to the post home for treats and prizes provided by the Auxiliary.
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Honoring Those Who Served
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Each year, a dedicated group of Legionnaires places approximately 1,500 American flags on the graves of local veterans before Memorial Day. These flags—set in metal holders representing service in conflicts from the Revolutionary War through Vietnam—are displayed across 21 cemeteries in the Watertown and Ixonia area.
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Music, Athletics, and Tradition
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The American Legion Band, formed in 1949, quickly became a local favorite. Its first performance drew an estimated 1,500 people, a testament to the community’s enthusiasm and support. Post #189 is also home to a competitive American Legion baseball team, which reached the National playoffs in Iowa in 1996 after a strong State AA tournament run.
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A Century of Service
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From supporting veterans and their families to hosting beloved community traditions, American Legion Pitterle‑Beaudoin Post #189 continues to honor its founding mission: service, remembrance, and commitment to community. Its history reflects not only the sacrifices of local veterans but also the enduring spirit of Watertown itself.
The American Legion Emblem:
The History &
Meaning Behind
The Emblem
For more than a century, one of the most recognizable symbols of The American Legion has been its distinctive emblem — a design rich with meaning, history, and pride. Officially adopted on June 9, 1919, and patented later that year on December 9, the emblem has served as a unifying mark for millions of veterans across generations.
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Origins of the Design
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The emblem’s creation is credited to Eric Fisher Wood, whose name appears on the original patent documents. Wood later transferred all patent rights to The American Legion, ensuring the emblem would belong fully to the organization and its members. At the heart of the design is the World War I Victory Button, created by sculptor A.A. Weinman of Forest Hills, New York. This button was originally issued to WWI veterans as their official discharge insignia. Surrounding it are elements that honor service, sacrifice, and the enduring values of the Legion: the Soldier’s Star, the Victor’s wreath, and the bold letters “U.S.” at the center.
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A Symbol With Purpose
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The American Legion’s Manual of Ceremonies provides a detailed explanation of the emblem’s symbolism — each part intentionally chosen to reflect the organization’s mission and ideals.
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Rays of the Sun Forming the background, the sun’s rays represent the Legion’s guiding principles: loyalty, justice, freedom, and democracy. These rays symbolize the light that dispels darkness, hatred, violence, and strife.
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Two Outer Gold Rings These rings bear the organization’s name and represent two of the Legion’s four primary objectives: rehabilitation of disabled veterans and care for the children of America.
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The Wreath Placed within the rings, the wreath honors those who gave their lives so that liberty might endure.
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The Star Resting atop the wreath, the star reflects the glory of victory and the Legion’s commitment to upholding its core principles.
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Two Inner Bronze Rings These rings symbolize the remaining two objectives: promoting Americanism and service to community, state, and nation.
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The Inscription The words encircling the center serve as a reminder that every Legionnaire must safeguard the sanctity of home, country, and free institutions.
Interestingly, the small dots separating the inner rings around the “U.S.” appear to have no official symbolic meaning — a rare decorative element in an otherwise deeply intentional design.
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A Lasting Legacy
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When first introduced, the emblem button sold for 25 cents, and the official seal of The American Legion was created as an adaptation of this original design. Since then, the emblem has become a constant presence at Legion posts, ceremonies, parades, and community events nationwide.
For more than 90 years, the emblem has stood as a visible promise of service, representing the Legion’s dedication to veterans, families, and communities. Its meaning endures — not just as a symbol of the past, but as a reminder of the values that continue to guide The American Legion today.