Lt. B.R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post 1291

The American Legion, Lt. B.R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post 1291 was established in 1944 in memory of Lieutenant Benjamin Ralph Kimlau. Lt. Kimlau served as an Air Force bomber pilot during World War II. He was killed in action during an air battle over the New Guinea Islands in March 1944. 

For the past 70 years, the American Legion, Lt. B.R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post 1291 has been an active participant in New York’s Chinese Community. The Post is a strong supporter and active member of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) and has sponsored many services, not only to benefit its membership, but for the wider Chinese-American community. Some of these services include: petitioning for the installation of traffic lights in Chinatown to eliminate accidents and protect pedestrians; erecting a fitting and everlasting memorial in Chinatown- Lt. Kimlau Square - to honor the service and sacrifice of Chinese-American soldiers who answered the call of duty; creating a program to teach English to new immigrants; and arranging a weekly Tai-Chi class to allow community members to learn and practice the ancient exercise. 

In recent years, the Kimlau Post has continued its balanced approach of promoting patriotism and service to the community while supporting Chinese-American advancement. In 2003, the Post established an American Legion Auxiliary unit and Sons of American Legion Squadron, where spouses, children and grandchildren of veterans can join the American Legion family, helping to provide additional programs and services. The American Legion’s longstanding and well-recognized programs – and how they serve the community – will continue to be the focus well into the future.