Elyria American Legion Post 12

In 1925, the Elyria AL Post 12 was awarded the honor of hosting the 1926 state Legion convention. This prompted them to form a drum and bugle corps to represent the Post 12 of Elyria in 1926.

The corps, under the direction of Walter Highland, sporting their natty white and black trimmed uniforms, performed in exhibition in their initial season as they did not feel they could compete due to a lack of musical proficiency. The following year, the Elyria unit posted a 3^rd place finish in the 1927 state contest and was crowned the Legion state champions from 1928 to 1932. They had also initiated a long standing tradition with the commandment leader at the head of the corps on a beautiful cream colored horse. 

During this same period, the Post 12 participated in the AL Nationals’ preliminaries in 1928 & 1931 and earned a finalist ranking in 1929 & 1930, finishing in 7^th position in both events. In 1933, the corps decided not to participate in the state championship, allowing other groups to compete for the state crown but did perform in the AL Nationals, ranking 4^th in the finals. Over the next several years, the Elyria Post regained the convention title in 1935 & 1937, placed 2^nd in 1934 & 1936 followed by a 4^th place finish in 1938 & 1939. They improved to 2^nd position in 1940 and close out the pre-World War II event by recapturing the 1941 state title. In other Nationals competition, the corps represented Ohio from 1935 to 1941, with the exception of 1938, finishing twice as a finalist in 1932 & 1939, placing 12^th in both, and between 12^th to 20^th in the preliminary rounds. 

Upon return from WWII, the unit picked-up right from where they left off, winning the 1946 state championships and placed 2^nd the following year, sporting their new cadet style white and gold uniforms. The corps withdrew from the 1947 state convention contest, returning to their old form with 2^nd place finishes in 1949 & 1950 and reclaimed the 1951 & 1952 titles, before closing out their last state appearance with a 6^th place finish in 1953. Nationally, the Legion Post competed in 3 contests over this period, placing 4^th in the 1946 finals and appeared in the 1947 & 1951 prelims, finishing in 14^th position in the latter.

They disbanded in 1954.

Paul Legault (DCX)