Vernon Williamson was a very active member of the American Legion Post 109 for many years and was a great asset to the organization. Vern served as the commander of Post 109 from 1986-1987. He also served as post financial officer for several years. He was a great supporter of all entities of the Post 109 family. Vern was very instrumental in securing the property that the post now stands on, obtaining construction permits and tackling numerous other legalities required for the construction of a new building. 
Vern left his parents’ Wisconsin farm to enlist in the United States Army Air Corps, which later became the United States Air Force. He was a pilot in WW2 and survived a plane crash during the war. He also was in Paris on V Day on May 28th, 1945 and much enjoyed the celebration with his comrades. He also flew in Korea and Viet Nam. Vern was an avid supporter of the Pima Air Museum and was very involved in the restoration of a P-38 housed there, which was later sent to England, much to his dismay. He had a long military career and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Vern and his beloved wife Jackie were longtime residents of Corona after his retirement. They were both realtors and moved here from Sierra Vista to sell real estate.
Al Blankenship, who built the Blankenship homes, which many Corona residents still enjoy residing in, inspired them to move here to sell his homes. Al has been gone many years. He was a “Prisoner of War” during WW2 and escaped twice. Al and his beloved wife were long-time residents of Corona, and Al was a long-time member and supporter of Post 109. The Blankenships’ enjoyed over fifty years of marriage and are both together again in the “Post Everlasting.”
The building which houses the Post 109 dining room is dedicated to the memory of Vern Williamson. It honors the memory of a great American who was an “officer and a gentleman.”
