Montgomery’s American Legion Bower-Decker Post #251 was named in honor of two Montgomery soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

While their names have long been memorialized in the post’s name, their stories and photos now grace a history kiosk in front of the American Legion, allowing the public a place to pause, remember them, and learn their stories.

According to the kiosk, the American Legion post was established in 1919, shortly after the end of World War I. It was named for Private Freeman Bower, a young man from Elimsport who was the first Montgomery area man to die in the war. He perished in March of 1918 while helping to repair a bridge in France. He was buried in France, but a gravestone was placed for him in Fairview Cemetery, Montgomery.

The kiosk also shares the story of Lt. Aaron Noll Decker. The post was renamed after the Second World War ended in his honor. Aaron Decker was the first man from Montgomery to die in World War II. He made the ultimate sacrifice in March of 1943 while he was commanding troops in North Africa. The following year, his brother, Lt. Delmar Decker, died in Holland while serving onboard a B-17. After the war, both of the Decker brothers were buried in Fairview Cemetery.

The American Legion Bower-Decker Post #251 kiosk is the second history kiosk to be set in place thanks to the efforts of the Montgomery Area Historical Society and the high school’s Montgomery History Club.

The first kiosk was placed in the Memorial Garden on the corner of North Main Street and East Houston Avenue to honor Lt. Delmar Decker. It was unveiled in June of 2022 with a special ceremony to honor the legacy of Lt. Delmar Decker. At the ceremony, the president of the Montgomery Area Historical Society, Mark Shifflet, announced that more history plaques were being planned. The goal is for people to be able to go on walking tours in Montgomery and learn about the history and heritage of the community.

In total, six men from the Montgomery area were killed fighting in World War I. Their names are memorialized on small individual plaques surrounding the memorial stone in Montgomery Park, as well as on a plaque on the Soldiers and Sailors monument in Fairview Cemetery.

During World War II, 14 men from the Montgomery area died. Their names are also emblazoned on a plaque on the Soldiers and Sailors monument.

In addition to honoring the legacies of Freeman Bower and the Decker brothers on the walking tour kiosks, the Montgomery Area Historical Society honors these men as well as other fallen servicemen with a display in their Adam Room Museum. The Adam Room Museum is located at 3 West Houston Avenue in the former Adam Print Shop. The museum is open Saturdays from 10 am-1 pm from April to December. Admission to the museum is free as well as to all historical society events.