{"id":80,"date":"2014-10-20T19:21:16","date_gmt":"2014-10-20T19:21:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/velikorodnov.com\/dev\/candidate\/?page_id=80"},"modified":"2025-02-12T17:37:02","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T23:37:02","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/?page_id=80","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column]<h3 class=\"no-margin-top \" >ABOUT US<\/h3>[vc_video link=&#8221;https:\/\/youtu.be\/qfIQaYvsB8c?si=rQKRxnbCDPLkWWuQ&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]What is the American Legion?[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1414253149084{margin-top: -20px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1414253311076{margin-top: -14px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p id=\"isPasted\">The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization. Focusing on service to veterans, servicemembers and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Membership swiftly grew to over 1 million, and local posts sprang up across the country. Today, membership stands at over 1.6 million in more than 12,000 posts worldwide. The posts are organized into 55 departments: one each for the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Latin America and the Philippines.<\/p>\n<p>Over the years, the Legion has built its identity by achieving hundreds of benefits and services for veterans, supporting the U.S. Armed Forces and instilling the values of responsible citizenship among young people. From the nation-changing of The American Legion-drafted GI Bill to relief for veterans exposed to toxic contamination in the service, veterans of The American Legion have worked for over a century to improve and strengthen the nation they swore with their lives to defend.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;]<blockquote class=\"  \">\"FOR GOD AND COUNTRY WE ASSOCIATE OURSELVES TOGETHER<br \/>\nFOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:<\/p>\n<p>To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America;<\/p>\n<p>To maintain law and order;<\/p>\n<p>To foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism;<\/p>\n<p>To preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in all wars;<\/p>\n<p>To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation;<\/p>\n<p>To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses;<\/p>\n<p>To make right the master of might;<\/p>\n<p>To promote peace and goodwill on earth;<\/p>\n<p>To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy;<\/p>\n<p>To consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.\"<\/blockquote>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1414253649693{margin-top: -30px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;][\/vc_column_text]<h3 class=\"no-margin-top \" >Biography<\/h3>[vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-980 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/LT_Don_Varnas.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"184\" height=\"253\" \/><br \/>\n<strong>1<sup>st<\/sup> LT. Dominic Joseph Varnas<br \/>\n02\/02\/1915 \u2013 01\/15\/1945<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Don Varnas grew up a Lithuanian Catholic in Chicago from the Brighton Park neighborhood where he attended Immaculate Conception elementary school, Lindbloom High School and then local Junior College. After school he became employed as a collections manager by the Standard Federal Savings and Loan Association. With the U.S. entry into WWII, Don enlisted into the U.S. Army in July 1942 and received basic training and was promoted to officer\u2019s candidate school at Fort Benning, GA. He was made an officer and deployed to the European Theater in August of 1944 as a member of the 202<sup>nd<\/sup> Replacement Company, 51<sup>st<\/sup> Battalion, 1<sup>st<\/sup> Army Communications. He fought heroically and was killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge January 15, 1944 in Luxembourg. LT. Varnas received the Purple Heart and Army Air Medals.<\/p>\n<p>In February 1946 the Don Varnas American Legion Post #986 was chartered in the memory of LT. Varnas and in 1947 the Post home was at 6816 S. Western Avenue in Chicago. The Don Varnas Post continues to operate today servicing veterans and their families along with the Women\u2019s Auxiliary Unit #986 comprised of the wives, daughters, and granddaughters of veterans and The Sons of the American Legion Squadron #986 comprised of the sons and grandsons of veterans.<\/p>\n<p>The Post participates in numerous veteran and patriotic events throughout the year while still remembering LT. Don Varnas and its Lithuanian roots.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\" dir=\"auto\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1029\" src=\"https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/448028446_122153411684144718_4089889155299945909_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/448028446_122153411684144718_4089889155299945909_n.jpg 200w, https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/448028446_122153411684144718_4089889155299945909_n-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/448028446_122153411684144718_4089889155299945909_n-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/448028446_122153411684144718_4089889155299945909_n-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/448028446_122153411684144718_4089889155299945909_n-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_accordion title=&#8221;Our mission&#8221;][vc_accordion_tab title=&#8221;Section 1&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\" dir=\"auto\">Support our veterans and their families, preserv<\/span><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\" dir=\"auto\">e <\/span><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\" dir=\"auto\">o<\/span><span class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u\" dir=\"auto\">ur Lithuanian Heritage and promote patriotism<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab title=&#8221;Section 2&#8243;][vc_column_text]I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab title=&#8221;Section 3&#8243;][vc_column_text]I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab title=&#8221;Section 4&#8243;][vc_column_text]I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_accordion_tab][\/vc_accordion][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;]<h3 class=\"no-margin-top \" >What people are saying<\/h3><!-- Owl Carousel -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"owl-carousel-container testimonial-carousel carousel_yes    style_1\"><div class=\"owl-carousel\" data-max-items=\"1\"><!-- Owl Item style_2 -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Testimonial -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"testimonial-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\"Donec sollicitudin molestie malesuada. Sed porttitor lectus nibh. Curabitur arcu erat, accumsan id imperdiet et, porttitor at sem. Nulla quis lorem ut libero malesuada feugiat. Vivamus suscipit tortor eget felis porttitor volutpat. Vestibulum ac diam sit amet quam vehicula elementum sed sit amet dui. Curabitur arcu erat, accumsan id imperdiet et, porttitor at sem. Donec sollicitudin molestie malesuada. Vivamus magna justo, lacinia eget consectetur sed, convallis at tellus. Vestibulum ac diam sit amet quam vehicula elementum sed sit amet dui.\"<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"testimonial-author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/profile8.jpg\" alt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"author-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"name\">Mark Johnson,<\/span><span class=\"location\">Los Angeles<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- \/Testimonial -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- Owl Item style_2 -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Testimonial -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"testimonial-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Nulla porttitor accumsan tincidunt. Curabitur arcu erat, accumsan id imperdiet et, porttitor at sem. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Curabitur arcu erat, accumsan id imperdiet et, porttitor at sem. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec sollicitudin molestie malesuada. Vestibulum ac diam sit amet quam vehicula elementum sed sit amet dui. Curabitur arcu erat, accumsan id imperdiet et, porttitor at sem. Sed porttitor lectus nibh. Nulla porttitor accumsan tincidunt.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"testimonial-author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/profile7.jpg\" alt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"author-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"name\">Sandra Vancova,<\/span><span class=\"location\">Los Angeles<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- \/Testimonial -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- Owl Item style_2 -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Testimonial -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"testimonial-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Vestibulum ac diam sit amet quam vehicula elementum sed sit amet dui. Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Pellentesque in ipsum id orci porta dapibus. Quisque velit nisi, pretium ut lacinia in, elementum id enim. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque velit nisi, pretium ut lacinia in, elementum id enim. Cras ultricies ligula sed magna dictum porta. Vivamus suscipit tortor eget felis porttitor volutpat. Sed porttitor lectus nibh. Vivamus magna justo, lacinia eget consectetur sed, convallis at tellus.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"testimonial-author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/profile5.jpg\" alt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"author-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"name\">Patrick Pool,<\/span><span class=\"location\">Los Angeles<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- \/Testimonial -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- Owl Item style_2 -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Testimonial -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"testimonial-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Cras ultricies ligula sed magna dictum porta. Proin eget tortor risus. Curabitur non nulla sit amet nisl tempus convallis quis ac lectus. Curabitur arcu erat, accumsan id imperdiet et, porttitor at sem. Curabitur arcu erat, accumsan id imperdiet et, porttitor at sem. Pellentesque in ipsum id orci porta dapibus. Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Donec sollicitudin molestie malesuada. Nulla porttitor accumsan tincidunt. Vivamus suscipit tortor eget felis porttitor volutpat.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"testimonial-author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/profile4.jpg\" alt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"author-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"name\">Bradley Grosh,<\/span><span class=\"location\">Los Angeles<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- \/Testimonial -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><div class=\"owl-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"carousel-arrows\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"left-arrow\"><i class=\"icons icon-left-dir\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"right-arrow\"><i class=\"icons icon-right-dir\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- \/Owl Carousel --><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/velikorodnov.com\/dev\/candidate\/?page_id=89\" class=\" mycustom_button button   big  \">More testimonials<\/a>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=&#8221;https:\/\/youtu.be\/qfIQaYvsB8c?si=rQKRxnbCDPLkWWuQ&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]What is the American Legion?[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1414253149084{margin-top: -20px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1414253311076{margin-top: -14px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]&nbsp; The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization. Focusing on service to veterans, servicemembers and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Membership swiftly grew to over 1 million, and local posts sprang up across the country. Today, membership stands at over 1.6 million in more than 12,000 posts worldwide. The posts are organized into 55 departments: one each&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-80","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/80","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=80"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/80\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1031,"href":"https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/80\/revisions\/1031"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/donvarnaspost986.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=80"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}