What may be one of the overlooked features in Albert Lea’s American Legion building is a large framed collection of military unit insignias, also known as shoulder patches, on the west wall of the lounge area.

This particular collection is based on the insignias of the units of the nation’s armed forces that served during World War II.

These cloth insignias or shoulder patches were originally collected by Eddie Dombroske owner and operator of Eddie’s Bar and Lounge on the city’s north side. Veterans of the various divisions, corps, armies and special units gave him their personal patches, plus others they may have acquired or collected. In time, these mementos based on the armed forces were framed and displayed on a wall in the bar. Beneath each insignia or patch was (and still is) a small piece of paper with a notation as to its official designation.

Most of these insignias or patches are based on U.S. Army and Army Air Corps units from 1941 to 1945. (The U.S. Air Force didn’t become a separate part of the armed forces until 1947.) There are also U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy patches in this collection.

Dombroske owned and operated his bar and lounge on Marshall Street from 1932 to 1970. His Tribune obituary published on Oct., 12, 1976, said Dombroske was a football fan and never missed a home game of the Minnesota Gophers in 50 years.

According to Legionnaire Bill Christensen, several years after Dombroski’s death his widow, Ione, donated this collection of military memorabilia to Leo Carey Post 56. Now these legacies of World War II are permanently displayed in the post’s lounge.