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The American Legion emblemPost 180Keenesburg, Colorado

Post 180 Wall of Honor

The Story Behind the Wall

A family’s remembrance. A woodworker’s craftsmanship. A community’s lasting tribute.

Back to the Wall of Honor

The preserved original

Wall of Honor at American Legion Post #180

By Virginia Swift

Framed article by Virginia Swift about the origins of the Wall of Honor, with flag displays above and a photograph of John Meier below.
The original framed account, preserved as photographed at Post 180. The caption identifies John Meier as a noted local woodworker and creator of the Wall of Honor.

Complete article transcription

Wall of Honor at American Legion Post #180

By Virginia Swift

In May of 1995 Angie Wiley’s father died. Since he was a veteran his family was presented an American flag at his funeral. This is a 5 ft. by 8 ft. size, a little larger then the normal 3 ft. by 5 ft. most of us see flying on homes, flag poles and schools. It is called a funeral flag and we have all seen them draped across coffins of veterans.

I can remember Angie standing in the doorway of the American Legion with this flag folded in a triangle. She didn’t want this symbol to be stuffed in a drawer at the bottom of a dresser. Her father’s memory deserved more. She asked John Meier to construct a wooden container for the flag and donated the flag and container to the American Legion. Bradley Bomar’s flag began American Legion Post 180’s Wall of Honor.

The second flag donated was Mike Swift’s, a veteran of Vietnam. I too felt the flag deserved to be seen and not “stored” in a drawer. So John constructed a wooden frame and I donated the flag to the American Legion.

Others followed Angie’s lead: W. Charles Miller, a veteran of Pearl Harbor and the Korean Conflict. Herbert E. Abbott who served in the Navy during World War II (1944-1946), George B. Kern an Army veteran of World War I and most recently, Jake Grattan’s family donated his flag. Jake served during the Korean conflict.

John Meier has been honored to be asked to construct the individual wooden containers for the flags and would do so again if asked. He charges a minimum fee to cover the cost of the materials and each individual frame is a little different.

The flags may be donated or “loaned” to the American Legion. This is a personal choice of the individual families. You may be assured they are treated with respect and honor. I know Mike’s flag will be preserved and be seen by hundreds who would not have seen it stored safely in a dresser drawer.

For me it was the right choice, how about you?

John Meier, noted local woodworker and creator of the Wall of Honor

Historical context

The first flag

Virginia Swift’s account begins in May 1995, when Angie Wiley’s father died. Angie chose to preserve and display his funeral flag rather than leave it stored in a drawer. She asked John Meier to construct a wooden container and donated the flag and its display to the American Legion. Bradley Bomar’s flag began American Legion Post 180’s Wall of Honor.

The account records Mike Swift’s flag as the second donation. Other early donations followed Angie’s example, including flags honoring W. Charles Miller, Herbert E. Abbott, George B. Kern, and Jake Grattan.

Swift described families choosing to donate or loan their flags to the Post, where they could be seen and treated with respect and honor. These recollections preserve the Wall’s beginnings; they are not a complete inventory of today’s Wall of Honor.

With recognition and gratitude

John Meier

The original article identifies John Meier as a “noted local woodworker and creator of the Wall of Honor.” His wooden flag display cases gave families a lasting way to preserve funeral flags and share their loved ones’ remembrance with the community.

Virginia Swift described John constructing individual wooden containers, with each frame a little different. Her account says he charged a minimum fee to cover materials and was honored to undertake the work.

Post 180 recognizes this documented craftsmanship and contribution to the Wall of Honor. This recognition does not imply military service or add undocumented personal history.

Preserving Virginia Swift’s account

The historical summaries on this page are drawn from Virginia Swift’s framed article. Her original wording and attribution remain preserved in the photograph and complete transcription above.

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