A Temporary Charter was issued on February 26, 1946 establishing Lake Zurich Post #964 as part of The American Legion. The Commanders were Spencer Nash (1945-1946) and Donald Rupp (1946-1947). The Post received its permanent Charter on March 22, 1948 under Commander Herbert Gehrke (1947-1948).It was then incorporated as a "Not for Profit" Corporation in the State of Illnois on December 14, 1948 under Commander Weber Runkel (1948-1949).

     From the original 18 members in 1948 the Post has grown to 238 members in 2008.

           Past Commanders of Lake Zurich Post 964

• The American Legion Temporary Charter 
• Spencer Nash           1945 - 1946          Donald Rupp               1946-1947 
• The American Legion Permanent Charter
• Herbert Gehrke         1947 - 1948         Michael Rosanova       1973 - 1976
• Weber Runkel           1948 - 1949         Murray Patton               1976 - 1977
• Frank Messman        1949 - 1950        Thomas Rizzo               1977 - 1978
• Ferguson Harkness  1950 - 1952        Frank Moshkal              1978 - 1979
• Charles Mionske       1952 - 1953        Michael Rosanova       1979 - 1981
• A. L. Wegner             1953 - 1954         Leo Niemasik               1981 - 1983
• G E Fehlman             1954 - 1955        Frank Moshkal              1983 - 1984
• Jerome Gudgeon      1955 - 1956        Chuck Gugliemino        1984 - 1985
• Roger Wendt             1956 - 1957        Rudy Valesquez            1985 - 1987
• George Kuba             1957 - 1958        Frank Moshkal              1987 - 1988
• Thomas Young           1958 - 1959        Robert Klein                  1988 -1989
• Henry Heinsohn         1959 - 1960        J Paul Burrows              1989 - 1990
• Richard Grubnau       1960 - 1961        Don Estacion                1990 - 1992
• Thomas Rizzo            1961 - 1962        Charles Lange              1992 - 1994
• Norbert Knigge          1962 - 1963        Joe Haskell                   1994 - 1995
• Norman Samkus        1963 - 1964        Lindell Richey               1995 - 1997
• Frank Hames              1964 - 1965        Richard Johnson          1997 - 1999
• Frank Blanchard         1965 - 1966        Al Guerrero                   1999 - 2001
• Lewis Burritt                1966 - 1967        Tom Marciciak             2001 - 2004
• August Markwart        1967 - 1968         Jim Lumsden                2004 - 2005
• Bernard Groves          1968 - 1969        Joe Grover                    2005 - 2007
• Louis Walston             1969 - 1970         Richard Meyers           2007 - 2008
• Chester Link               1970 - 1971         Tom Marciciak             2008 - 2009
• Harold Blackwell        1974 - 1973          Mike Peck                    2009 -

Our Post celebrated our

60th Anniversary

Since our charter on March 22, 1948, our American Legion Post has been welcoming VETERANS from all branches of our Armed Forces. Today, we continue to welcome all military personnel who have served or are serving our country. Joining our Post enables you to continue serving your God, Country and Community. Our mission is to implement the goals, aspirations, dreams, peace and blessings for our country, friends and families as embodied in our preamble. Click the button for Application

POST #964 HISTORY

Charter granted - Lake Zurich Post #964 received a temporary Charter from The American Legion on February 26, 1946. It then received their Permanent Charter on March 22, 1948. Subsequently the Post received status as an Illinois “Not-for-Profit” Corporation in December, 1948. Also in 1948, the Auxiliary Unit 964 was formed and later the Sons of The American Legion Squadron 964 was chartered. At the time the Permanent Charter was issued there were 18 Members of which the only member still with the Post is Jerry Gudgeon.  Jerry’s father helped to build the Post Home.

Meetings - Since then the Post has grown to the present 238 Members and a good deal of re-modeling has taken place. Until the hall was built, meetings were held in various places in Lake Zurich such as the Mionske Apartments, the Ela Township Hall and the basement of what was at one time Norman Samkus’s Barber Shop.  

Payment for the building - Various methods were used to pay for building the Post, Fish Fries; Bingo; Smokers; Carnival Concessions and even selling $100 Bonds. Some were successful and others not, there were even some that got the Post into a “grey” area with the law. However success was achieved and building was started in 1955 and the building was erected in 1956. The mortgage was “burned” several years ago.  

Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts - In the early years the Post sponsored a Cub Scout Pack which was subsequently stopped but ten years ago we renewed our relationship with the Boy Scouts and sponsored Troop 964 which is active in the community.  

Churches - Three local area churches got their start by having their services and meetings in our hall. One of the churches moved out quickly when we refused to take down the neon beer signs in our windows. At one time the Post also provided a place for weekly teen dances. 

Disaster services to community - Major storms played a role in establishing the Post as a community member. A tornado in April 1967 went thru town destroying many homes. The Post opened its doors to serve as a disaster headquarters to provide a place for the many townspeople who needed temporary shelter.  The year 1979 brought a major snowstorm and the Post kept the doors open for three days and nights as it took that long to get some of the back roads open so that people could get back to their homes. 

Harold Blackwell - One of our members who had been very active in Post activities in the early days of the Post was Past Commander Harold Blackwell. Harold was a veteran of World War 1 and an interesting anecdote is that he was gravely wounded and actually declared dead, he of course recovered but he enjoyed showing everyone his death certificate. 

Service to the community - The Post is active in the community throughout the year. Our  Poppy Days will find us on the street corners the weekend before Memorial Day handing out "Poppies" in return for donations which are turned over to the VA Hospital in North Chicago.. We also have our Pancake Breakfast with The Easter Bunny and Santa Claus and our Tuesday Bingo evenings, which are our fundraisers so we can provide assistance to veterans in the North Chicago Veterans Hospital and help needy veterans through the Lake County Veterans Assistance Committee. We also sponsor Juniors from Lake Zurich High School as selected by their counselors, to attend Premier Boys State at Eastern Illinois University. This is a hands-on seminar on the workings of local and state government. Annually we present The American Legion School Award to an eighth grade boy and girl as selected by their principal.  They receive a certificate, a medallion and a US Savings Bond.  

Flag retirement - Each June on the 2^nd Friday of the month before our regular monthly meeting we have an outside ceremony, the public is invited to join us and observe the proper disposal of old, torn and tattered American Flags. It is all done in accordance with regulations issued by The American Legion and the US Flag code.