Pilgrimage to the Grave of Iowa’s First Department Commander

Commander J. Scott Moline and 100th Anniversary Chairman Roger Norfolk will lead a pilgrimage on July 13 to the grave of Iowa’s first Department Commander, LTG Matthew Tinley. They will lead a memorial service beginning at 10AM at his gravesite in Saint Joseph Cemetery, located at McPherson Avenue and E. Pierce St. in Council Bluffs.

Commander Tinley led the Department of Iowa through our first year of operation, having been elected unanimously at the first Department convention in Des Moines. He served with Department Adjutant John MacVicar as they oversaw the creation of posts throughout Iowa as well as creating the administrative structure of the Department.

LTG Tinley had a very distinguished career in the US Army and the Iowa National Guard with service in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War and with the 168th Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry (Rainbow) Division in World War I. He also spent many years as a practicing physician in Council Bluffs.

All interested Legionnaires, members of the Legion family and the public are invited to attend the service for Commander Tinley