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American Legion Clement R. Bontemps Post 139 Bay St.Louis,Miss.
By Willi am H. Ruhr, Post Commander
Clement R. Bontemps American Legion Post was originally chartered as Post no. 9 7 , May 14, 1920, however; the charter was cancelled and the post was re-chartered as Post 139 on March 7, 1923. The post was named after Clement R. Bontemps a native son of Bay St.Louis one of the first casualties of World War I.
The goals and principals of the American Legion are to Assist the Veteran and Widows and orphans of the veterans, and to promate the general welfare of the Community, State, and nation.
Clement R? Bontemps has through it many programs assistea the Community in all of its enaeavors:	We have provided
educational programs, social activity, and have, at the same time assisted the veterans and their dependents, when their needs arose.
General programs in effect at the present time are:
Boys State, whereby young men of the community are provided an insight and an introduction to governmental affairs. A selection of one Junior student from each of the local high schools are provided a week at the State Capital and are actively engaged in the process of government.
Presidential Cl.iss Room:	The	post provides a trip to
Washington for a student from a local high school, each year, to allow this student to actively engage in the governmental affairs of the nation.
USM Scholarship:	The post provides a scholarship of
$400.00 granted a local high school student for one year to the University of Mississippi. This is an annual presentation:
Youth Programs: The post has always been acitve the the youth of the community, we have provided facilities for meetings, and funding of such organizations as Explorer,
Boy, Girl, and Cub Scouts. The post also provides a bus for transportation of these groups. The post is in the process of donating $10,000.00 to establishing of a camp for scouting in the local area.
Veterans Programs:' The post has continually provided clotning shelter, and food for those needy veterans, or their depenaen when called to our attention. The post eacti month provide^ parties for the veterans at the veterans hospital in Gulfport.
Community affairs:	The post form its beginning has engaged
actively in ciuic affairs. We have endeavored to assist the local government whenever called upon both by active participa and by lending our facilities for meetings, programs, and as a disaster shelter. Most recently the post leased to the city their pier and aarbor, at no cost, for the Lse of the general public.