The Delano American Legion Post #377 was organized in the spring of 1920.  There were forty-one charter members. The first officers of the post were Frank Brunkow, Commander; J. W. Lohmiller, Vice-Commander; Albert McEachern, Post Adjutant; Ury Hanseman, Post Finance Officer; and John Tomnitz, Post Historian.  Following a membership drive later that year, membership increased to sixty-one.
   The purpose of the organization and the reason every ex-serviceman should become a member as stated in 1920 were:
   1. Because a loyal American citizen, a veteran of the World War, should earnestly desire to help his country in peace, as well as in war.
   2. Being more fortunate than others who have served the United States during the World War, they should desire to help the sick, wounded, disabled and destitute veteran.
   3. The comradeship of mutual service forms a band between individuals who served in the World War that cannot be ignored.
   4. An organized American Legion is a strong factor is securing the United States against war.
   5. To promote and foster patriotism.
   6. There is a personal satisfaction in accomplishing good, and there is a feeling of pride in wearing the emblem of an organization that is universally recognized as a power for good in all communities.
   7. No class – no rank – just comrades.

The current Mission Statement, 100 years later, in 1921:
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY WE ASSOCIATE OURSELVES TOGETHER
FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:
   To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America;
   To maintain law and order;
   To foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism;
   To preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars;
   To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation;
   To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses;
   To make right the master of might;
   To promote peace and goodwill on earth;
   To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy;
   To consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.

The Delano Legion is active in many community affairs.  They sponsor Legion Baseball and Boys State candidates. They have taken charge of the Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs. The Legion provides the Color Guard that leads the 4th of July Parade, and military honors at the funeral of veterans.  They continue to be an active community organization.

A memorial for the American Legion was erected in 2021 as part of an Eagle Scout project by Dillon Field.  Leading up to the monument is a path of engraved bricks honoring both active and deceased military and auxiliary members.  The monument reads:

For God and Country We Associate Ourselves Together for the Following Purposes
       To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America;
       To maintain law and order;
       To foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism;
       To preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the Great Wars;
       To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation;
       To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses;
       To make right the master of might;
       To promote peace and goodwill on earth;
       To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and  democracy;
       To consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.

One of the bricks in this memorial commemorates Sgt. Dillon J, Semolina, a 2010 graduate of Delano High School.

Sgt. Semolina was killed in a nighttime training accident in 2016 when two Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters collided over the Pacific Ocean off Oahu’s North Shore in Hawaii.  Twelve marines, all of the crew members of both helicopters, were killed in the accident.     

Sgt. Dillon Semolina’s body was never recovered.