Cornelius (Neal) Ernest Fonger 

     Cornelius E. Fonger was born on July 21^st, 1892. His proud parents were John & Lillian Fonger.  Cornelius went to school in Cedar Springs before moving with his family to Ivanrest St. in Grandville, Michigan. He was very active in the community and was known to be an expert athlete and a shining star on the church basketball team.  Cornelius decided to join the Navy in June of 1917 and left with the third contingent of naval militia headed to France to join in World War One.  In January of 1918, Cornelius underwent an operation, and due to the operation, developed bronchial pneumonia and spinal meningitis resulting in his death. His brother, Roy, was with Cornelius when he passed away and wired to his parents that “Neal died nobly”.  Cornelius E. Fonger was laid to rest at Grandville Cemetery upon his return home. 

American Legion Post 179 was started on May 18^th, 1931, by a group of ex-servicemen who met in the Fireman’s Hall of Grandville, Michigan, for the purpose of forming an American Legion Post. 

    During this meeting, a name for the post was discussed. A motion was made by Frank Bowmaster, supported by Lester Gaunt, to name the post after Neal E. Fonger, a World War One Veteran.  He died on February 28^th, 1918, in a Naval hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, of Spinal Meningitis according to Mr. Fonger’s death certificate. 

On September 13^th, 1932, a request for a permanent charter was filed with the American Legion Department of Michigan with a total of 62 members.  The charter was approved and accepted on November 2^nd, 1932.