1st LT George Alexander McKinlock Jr., 1918

 Following the founding of the American Legion after World War I in 1919, a group of Lake Forest, IL Veterans organized the George Alexander McKinlock Jr. Post 264.  McKinlock, who was with a machine gun group in France, was believed to be the first Lake Forester killed in action during the First World War.  After his death, the military was not able to provide his mother with the location of his grave.  She subsequently searched grave sites in France for months before finally finding a grave marked “McKinlow."  The helmet hanging on a little cross at the head of the grave, however, was labeled with his correct name inside.

If you have additional information, please contact commander@americanlegionlakeforest.org.