The mission of The American Legion, Department of Wisconsin is to provide service to veterans, their families and their communities.

Badger&“Wisconsin”&“Wisconsin” Official Publications of The

Wisconsin American Legion Family

www.wilegion.org

“For God & Country”

January 7, 2016 • Vol. 93, No. 1

1. Log onto wilegion.org and click on “Renew Online”

2. Enter your name and member ID number

3. Pay with MasterCard, Visa or Discover

That’s it! You’re done. You will receive your new membership card in the mail. No more renewal notices. No more stamps.Printed using recycled newsprint

IT’S AS EASYAS 1 2 3 !

The Department is proud to an-nounce the 2016 High School Or-atorical Scholarship Competition. The American Legion Oratorical Scholarship program is a wonder-ful opportunity for young people to learn about the Constitution of the United States of America. 2016 marks the 79th year of the Department’s program.

Twelve students representing each District will compete for the Department title at Ripon College on February 13th. If you are inter-

79th Annual Oratorical Competition Set for February 13th

Department Historian George Buchanan of Post No. 524 in White Lake passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, December 12, 2015 in Waupaca. He was 64 years old and is survived by his wife Esper.

George graduated from White Lake High School with the class of 1969 and enlisted in the United States Air Force. George served as a recruiter, student training advi-sor and administration specialist attaining the rank of Master Ser-geant before retiring from the Air Force in 1995. Following military service George worked at Mo-tion Systems in White Lake and at Nueske’s Meats in Wittenberg be-fore retiring in January of this year.

George was a member of Hope Presbyterian Church in White Lake. In his desire to serve the church, he completed course work

to allow him to receive his lay Pastor Certi-fi cation from the Presbyte-rian Church USA. For the past 20 years he faithfully served the community of Hope Presbyterian Church.

George was a member of the An-derson-Sather Post No. 524 in White Lake and a member of the American Legion Riders.

He will always be remembered fondly by his family and friends. Survivors in addition to his wife are a daughter, Jennifer Duncan, USAF, stationed in Clovis, NM; two sons, Jim Buchanan of Sacramento, Cali-fornia, Steven Buchanan, USAF, sta-tioned in Rota, Spain and six grand-children.

In Memoriam

GEORGE BUCHANANDepartment

Historian

FROM THE BUGLER’S EYESI see the Honor GuardCalled to “attention” and

“present arms.”I see the casketCarried to its fi nal resting place.I see the mourners Teary-eyed and sobbing.I hear the PriestHis fi nal prayers and blessings.I see the presenting of the fl ag to

a family memberWith thanks for serving our

Country.I hear the squad commanderCalling “port arms” and “prepare

to fi re.”I hear the last of the echoing

volleys and The commander calling “present

arms.”I see everything over the bell of

my trumpet ~As I send out the fi nal notesOf TAPS, I again realize what An honor it is to be a part of the Last rites of a fellow veteran.

By Jack Morzinski, Honor Guard Member

of Post No. 54 in Marshfi eld, WI

ested in being a volunteer and help-ing to ensure a successful event we are in need of moderators, time keepers, judges, escorts, tabulators and sergeant at arms.

Please contact Americanism Pro-grams Coordinator Dawn Brauner at dawn@wilegion.org or call De-partment Headquarters at (608) 745-1090. Fillable volunteer forms are also available on the Wisconsin Legion website (http://www.wile-gion.org/page.content/programs/oratorical-scholarship-program ).