To help honor those who served and those who supported those who served in America’s 20 Year War, American Legion Charlton-Polan Post 233 of Lake Orion, Michigan will enroll individuals in the newly created Order of the Dragon.
Lake Orion’s mascot is the dragon. The story of the Lake Orion dragon says that sometime in the 1800s, a group of local children played a prank by building a fake dragon and launching it on the lake. A number of people saw it and soon Lake Orion was known for its dragon.
Enrollees in the Order of the Dragon will be awarded a “challenge coin”, with a caduceus-styled pair of dragons on the obverse, and the American Legion emblem on the reverse.
Draft pictures of both sides of the coin:
The Order of the Dragon was originally founded in 1408 by Sigismund of Luxembourg, who was then King of Hungary (r. 1387–1437). The Prince of Wallachia Vlad II Dracul, the father of Vlad the Impaler, took his name from the Order of the Dragon.
A challenge coin is a small coin or medallion, bearing an organization’s insignia or emblem. The challenge, which can be made at any time, begins with the challenger drawing his/her coin, placing the coin on the table or bar, and indicating who is being challenged. Everyone being challenged must immediately produce their coin and anyone failing to do so must buy a round of drinks for the challenger and everyone else who has their challenge coin. However, should everyone challenged be able to produce their coin, the challenger must buy a round of drinks for the group.
The Commander of American Legion Post 233, Steve Hauxwell, will determine who is to be enrolled in the Order of the Dragon, and will present the challenge coins to them. Enrollees will not be limited to those who served or supported those who served in the 20 Year War, but they will be reminded that the Order of the Dragon was created in their honor.