Post 388 Burns Post - Wausau, WI
N 44° 57.406 W 089° 37.907
16T E 292419 N 4981517
The Burns Post was mustered in on June 6, 1920. The name honors two brothers: James A. Burns and John E. Burns who died in France during World War I. The post is located at 388 River Dr. in Wausau, WI.
Waymark Code: WM296Y
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 09/25/2007
Views: 87
From the Post 388 web site:
COMRADESHIP-the finest in friendship is the reason for Burns Post No. 388. When the World War had ended and the boys returned to their homes they found that there was a certain something missing from their daily lives-just what it was or how they were affected was not completely definable. The mind of Comrade Claude R. Roberts, a bugler who had served with Co. G 128th Inf. overseas finally solved the problem by acquainting the rest of the old company with a real soldiers outfit, The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Through correspondence with and afterwards membership in the Merwin M. Carlton Post No. 5 of St. Paul, Minn., Roberts was made acquainted with the order and soon had 23 members signed up and a Charter granted.
The Charter was granted on June 6, 1920, and the Post was mustered in on that date. The boys chose the name Burns Post to honor two brothers who lost their lives in France in action. They were James A. Burns who was killed on May 28, 1918, and John E. Burns who died July 23, 1918. These men were the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Burns of Wausau, Wisconsin, both of whom are honored by being Social Members of the Post. These parents also had another son wounded in action. He was Patrick Burns, Jr., and was a member, and later Post Commander, of the Post.
The Post arranged for and took part in the funeral of the Burns brothers on April 4, 1921. It was the largest funeral of Wausau's history and the entire city capitulated and attended the funeral en masse. An eloquent sermon by Rev. Father O'Toole of St. James Catholic Church preceded the burial in Pine Grove Cemetery. This marked the first activity of the Post in the doings of things patriotic and civic in and around Wausau.
On October 27, 1922, the auxiliary to Burns Post 388 was instituted by Post commander S. Knox Kreutzer. Mrs. Pat Burns was their first President. They had 21 members then and have grown to 555 in 1994. These women have always been a great asset to the post and community.
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