When the World War had ended and the boys returned to their homes, they found that there was a certain something missing from their daily lives-just what it was or how they were affected was not completely definable. The mind of Comrade Claude R. Roberts, a bugler who had served with Co. G 128th Inf. overseas finally solved the problem by acquainting the rest of the old company with a real soldier’s outfit, The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Through correspondence with and afterwards membership in the Merwin M. Carlton Post No. 5 of St. Paul, Minnesota, Roberts was made acquainted with the order and soon had 23 members signed up and a Charter was granted on June 6, 1920, and the Post was mustered in on that date. The boys chose the name Burns Post to honor two brothers who lost their lives in France in action. They were James A. Burns who was killed on May 28, 1918, and John E. Burns who died July 23, 1918. These men were the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Burns of Wausau, Wisconsin, both of whom are honored by being Social Members of the Post. These parents also had another son wounded in action. He was Patrick Burns, Jr., and was a member, and later Post Commander. They also had a grandson, James P Burns who was a member and Post Commander.
Art Meyers Post Historian