World War I memorabilia returns to Ashby Legion

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

The Ashby American Legion was contacted in February 2024 by a refuse transfer station employee in the Twin Cities. Somehow, a box containing World War I pictures and letters had been dumped in someone’s trash.

The box was opened by a sanitation worker who saw caps and patches with the post number 357, directly linked to the Ashby American Legion. Ashby is located just south of the Otter Tail County line, in Grant County.

“This box of valuables was the legacy of World War I veteran and Ashby pioneer Ernie Hansen,” said Vining native and Otter Tail County native Kevin Wallevand, a 40-year reporter for WDAY-TV who told the story on television and later shared the news in the Fargo Forum.

Also unearthed were Hansen’s report cards from his senior year of high school at Ashby, in 1918.

The sanitation worker in the Twin Cities transfer station said the box likely ended up in the trash after a loved one moved or passed away.

“The photos were a goldmine for the small town of Ashby, which is known for always honoring its veterans with memorials and displays,” Wallevand said. “What is amazing is that most of the photos are identified with names.”

Now, this treasure is back home in Ashby at the American Legion’s Pederson-Tripp Post 357.

“The collection also has details of Ashby’s early history,” Wallevand added, “including one-room schools, old main street parades, life on the farm and Ashby’s men in uniform from World War I days.”

Ashby Legion 357 proud of its displays

Too often personal military memorabilia is stored in a person’s chest of drawers, basement trunk or other location. It is most often not available for others to see these priceless items.

The Ashby American Legion post changed that in 1985 with the establishment of two displays at its Post 357 headquarters.

Members had just completed the first display area and quickly realized that local veterans also could fill a second display area. It seemed that every veteran and/or family member had a little bit of something that was worth sharing with others.

Today, those personal memories and military memorabilia are on display for others to see when they attend an event or visit Ashby American Legion Post 357.

Uniforms, firearms and ammunition only tell part of the story. Artwork is marvelous as well, including the Iwo Jima flag from World War II that’s the centerpiece of one exhibit.

It’s fitting that the 26 Ashby Legion Post charter members, from 1919, are prominently recognized. In addition, there’s also artwork of ships, submarines and other military-related insignias.

Veterans in Ashby take special pride in hosting visitors who have heard about the displays and who come to see the exhibits during the summer months and at other times during the year. Visitors make many positive comments.

Also on display at Ashby American Legion Post 357 is a 42-star American flag from the era of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), prior to the final eight states joining the United States of America.

The GAR created the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) in 1881 to ensure the preservation of their own mission.