World War II Honoree

Al Naeter

Hometown

Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

WITH THE ARRIVAL OF INCREASINGLY LARGER NUMBERS OF SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN, NAVY WAVES, COAST GUARD SPARS, AND ARMY WAC TO STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA AND OKLAHOMA AGRICULTURAL & MECHANICAL COLLEGE (OAMC) IN 1942, THE STILLWATER AMERICAN LEGION POST 129 RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR A RECREATION CENTER TO PROVIDE AID AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE U.S. ARMED FORCES AND A ‘HOME AWAY FROM HOME’ FOR SERVICE MEMBERS. ACCORDINGLY, THE LEGION FACILITIES WERE OPENED ON MARCH 14, 1942 FOR THAT PURPOSE. READING AND WRITING ROOMS, A HOSTESS CLUB FOR REFRESHMENTS, VISITING, LISTENING AND DANCING TO MUSIC, AND A SNOOKER PARLOR WERE MADE AVAILABLE FOR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN. LOCAL VOLUNTEERS WERE ORGANIZED TO PROVIDE REFRESHMENTS, SERVE AS DANCE PARTNERS, ENTERTAIN, AND ASSIST. HE PARTICIPATED AS A VOLUNTEER HOST.