Vol. IX March, 1966 No. 3

Big Role For Posts ...

Salute Serviceman, Family ANEW WINDOW DECAL, bearing the in¬

scription, “The American Legion SALUTES A Service Family,” is now available from Nation¬ al Headquarters to assist posts in their expression of recognition and appreciation to today’s ser¬ viceman and his family.

This decal has been prepared as a gesture of American Legion compassion as the Legion, for the third time in as many decades, finds itself in the important role of mustering support for our nation’s avowed purpose in the defense of free¬ dom.

Related to that role is a job for which no other organization is better equipped or organized - the expression of America’s deep appreciation of the task undertaken by today’s serviceman and the uplift of morale of both the serviceman and his loved ones at home.

As more Americans don the uniform of their country - as more American troops become com¬ mitted to the field of combat - The American Le¬ gion’s vast resources of experience and knowledge become vital to the success of the national pur¬ pose.

Morale A Key Factor An organization of war veterans, The American

Legion is well aware of the anxieties, the doubts, the frustrations, and the needs of today’s new generation of war veterans and their families. American Legion Posts can do much to help over¬ come, these deterrents to the morale of the serv¬ iceman and his family.

First, any post can help express public appre¬ ciation and recognition to the serviceman and his family. Such expressions can take many forms, in¬ cluding the presentation of the special decal men¬ tioned earlier and illustrated on this page.

Samples of this decal are being shipped to de¬ partments in sufficient quantity to provide one to each post. Additional decals are available through: National Emblem Sales, The American Legion, P. O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206. Prices for this decal - Catalog No. 74978 - are as follows:

The American Legion

SALUTES A Service Family.

This special decal, illustrated here in reduced size, is appropriate for display in the window of a home or car.

10-99 (minimum order—10) . @ 10* each 100 or more . @ 5 i each

On orders of less than $3.00, include 25 cents handling charge.

(For your convenience, an order coupon is con¬ tained on Page 10 of this issue of ADVANCE.)

Posts will find this decal useful in conveying their sincere support of their local servicemen and in calling public attention to the contribution being made by the serviceman’s family.

Open the Door This issue of the ADVANCE presents a number

of practical ways by which any post can support our nation’s struggle in Vietnam and, particularly, the men and women who face death each day to carry out the national purpose.

The American Legion is mirroring the patriotic convictions of the vast majority of American citi¬ zens. Our voice can be strengthened, and our service programs broadened, if we will immedi¬ ately seek out those eligible veterans who are not presently numbered on our rolls, explain what we are attempting to accomplish, and offer them the opportunity to become a part of this program.

The time is critical. The door must be opened wide to receive those eligible veterans who will join us in this great effort if we will but make ourselves known to them and give them a chance to help in this emergency.

Posts Face Variety Of Homefront Tasks AMERICAN LEGION POSTS face a wide va¬

riety of opportunities to help the morale of the serviceman and his family. First, and per¬ haps the easiest, is the presentation of the color¬ ful shield decals as described on Page One.

Posts may add further measure of recognition to the families of their local servicemen by in¬ viting them as guests of honor at special meetings or programs. Such programs can be enhanced through the presence of elected community offi¬ cials - mayor, councilman, etc. Other guests could be representatives of those civic and governmen¬ tal agencies providing specialized services and counsel to servicemen and their dependents.

Above all, be sure that the families of your lo¬ cal servicemen are aware of the thorough coun¬ sel and assistance available through your post service officer.

From their own recollections of days in uniform, Legionnaires appreciate the value of mail, espec¬ ially mail from home. Some posts have already reported the organization of informal correspond¬ ence clubs. At least one post - Hancock Post 119, Greenfield, Ind. - has offered the facilities of its tape recorder club to record taped letters from families in the community to their servicemen.

Another touch of home is being provided by the American Legion Auxiliary in its program of free subscriptions to the hometown newspaper when requested by servicemen in Vietnam. Ap¬ proximately 8,000 servicemen have already re¬ sponded to the Auxiliary’s offer.

Posts may provide their local servicemen with non-member subscriptions to The American Le¬ gion Magazine for only one dollar ($1.00) per one-year subscription, (see the order coupons on Page 10. Additional subscriptions may be submit¬ ted on regular stationery)

In those areas where such a program is feasible, American Legion Posts may wish to organize an informational assistance program to those seg¬ ments of the population most affected by the tightening of international tensions - draft-age men, servicemen’s dependents, and survivors. (See “ADVANCE Applauds” on Page 3 for an illustra¬ tion of this type of program.)

Legionnaires can do much to assure the man in uniform that he has the support of a nation which is sincerely appreciative of the task he faces. His performance of that task will be even more effec¬ tive if he has the assurance that someone cares about not only his general welfare but also that of his family.

THE AMERICAN LEGION ADVANCE

Published monthly by National Headquarters, The Ameri¬ can Legion, P. O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206—

for American Legion Post Commanders

March, 1966 Vol. IX, No. 3

post commanden'

log March

- 4 National Commander’s Conference, Washington, D. C.

1- 4 National Rehabilitation Conference, Washington, D. C.

15-17 Forty-seventh Birthday of The Ameri¬ can Legion. Membership achievement and participation in American Legion programs and activities will help your post in qualifying for a 1966 “Post of Distinction” award. (See the certifica¬ tion form on Page 11 of this issue of ADVANCE, to be mailed to your de¬ partment adjutant.)

April 1-30 American Legion Child Welfare

Month. 6 Forty-ninth anniversary of United

States entry into World War I, 1917. 7 National High School Oratorical Con¬

test Finals, Henniker, N. H. May

1- 7 National Employ The Older Worker Week

2- 3 National Commissions and Committees, Indianapolis, Ind.

4- 5 National Executive Committee, Indi¬ anapolis, Ind.

21 Armed Forces Day. 22 National Maritime Day. 23 National Observance of Maritime Day. 30 Memorial Day*.

* May 30 is observed as Memorial or Decoration Day in the District of Columbia, the .Canal Zone, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and all 50 states except Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. Confederate Memorial Day is observed April 26 in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida (which also observes May 30 as Memorial Day for Veterans of All Wars). In Virginia, May 30 is Confederate Memorial Day which is observed on May 10 in the two Carolinas and on June 3 in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Tennessee.

2 The ADVANCE, March, 1966

ADVANCE

Applauds—

Charles S. Harrison Post 35 Department of Georgia

A VALUABLE PUBLIC SERVICE has been provided to the Columbus, Ga., area through

the cooperative endeavors of Charles S. Harrison Post 35 and the Department of Georgia in the sponsorship of a one-day “Operation Informa¬ tion.”

Need fdr such service was seen by post and de¬ partment officials after considering the vast num¬ ber of dependents of military personnel residing in the vicinity of Columbus, base of the First Cavalry Division (Airmobile), now in Vietnam.

Cooperation between Georgia American Legion headquarters and the State Department of Vet¬ erans Service made possible the availability of representatives of 15 state and federal agencies to provide information and counsel, as follows:

State Department of Veterans Service - VA claims, and legal guardianship; Georgia Depart¬ ment of Public Safety - Veterans driver’s license; U. S. Army - military information; American Red Cross - Emergency services.

Also, U. S. Department of Labor - veteran’s employment; FHA - loans; Veterans Administra¬ tion - GI education, home loans, insurance, and hospitalization; Selective Service - draft informa¬ tion.

Also, Social Security Administration - Social se¬ curity benefits; U. S. Civil Service Commission - Civil Service preference; Georgia Merit System - employment preference and job opportunities; Georgia Department of Education - vocational re¬ habilitation; and Georgia Department of Revenue - state income tax.

Seeking the cooperation of city officials, Legion leaders obtained the use of the Columbus Munic¬ ipal Auditorium where separate desks, clearly identified as to each agency and its service, were set up for the one-day program. The newspapers, radio, and television gave valuable assistance in advance publicity of the program.

When the doors opened for the 12-hour “Oper¬ ation Information,” more than 500 persons were already waiting to avail themselves of its services. B,y closing time, some 5,000 had obtained counsel and assistance. The ADVANCE, March, 1966

Film Explains ‘Why Vietnam’ AMERICAN LEGION Posts may wish to obtain

a print of the film, “Why Vietnam,” which is now available through U. S. Army Audio-Visual Support Centers in eight areas for non-profit pub¬ lic showings.

The motion picture, “Why Vietnam,” opens with President Johnson’s address of July 25 to the American people and the world at large, and elab¬ orates on the basic points he sets forth. Scenes of the struggle in Vietnam illustrate and explain the U. S. position there.

During the 32-minute film, Secretary of State Dean Rusk details the numerous attempts on the part of the U. S. and other nations to bring about a cease-fire in Vietnam. Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara gives assurances that the U. S. seeks no wider war.

American Legion Posts can borrow this film by directing their requests to their respective army area audio-visual support center as follows:

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee - Third Army Audio-Visual Support Center, Fort Mc¬ Pherson, Ga.

Alaska - US ARAL Army Audio-Visual Support Center, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington - Sixth Army Audio-Visual Support Center, Presidio of San Francisco, Calif.

Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas - Fourth Army Audio-Visual Support Center, Fort Sam Houston, Tex.

Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Mich¬ igan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Da¬ kota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming - Fifth Army Audio-Visual Support Center, 1660 Hyde Park Blvd., Chicago, Ill.

Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Is¬ land, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia - First Army Audio-Visual Support Center, Fort George G. Meade, Md.

District of Columbia - U. S. Army Audio-Visual Support Center, Room 5A1072, Washington, D. C. 20025.

Hawaii - USARPAC Audio-Visual Support Cen¬ ter, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.

8

Post Commander's

HOT LINE

With a 1965 final membership total of 7,007, Lincoln Post 3, Lincoln, Neb., has claimed the title of the world’s largest American Legion Post.

★ ★ ★

cation Week, Nov. 6-12, 1966, sponsored by The American Legion, the National Education Asso¬ ciation, the National Congress of Parents and Teachers, and the U. S. Office of Education.

★ ★ ★

The Washington-Hilton Hotel will be the na¬ tional headquarters hotel during The American Legion’s 48th National Convention, Aug. 26-Sept. 1, 1966, Washington, D. C., National Commander L. Eldon James has announced.

Applying its membership’s professional knowl¬ edge and skills, Advertising Men’s Post 38 of The American Legion, Chicago, Ill., has designed and distributed 5,000 signs throughout the city, en¬ couraging veterans to express their support of the nation’s Vietnam policy through their membership in The American Legion.

★ ★ ★

The two-millionth American Legionnaire for 1966 is Guy V. Goodman, a 21-year member of Quigley-Baum Post 72, Palmyra, Pa. National membership for 1966 passed the two-million mark 10 days earlier than last year, as the 1966 cam¬ paign continued to show impressive leads over 1965.

★ ★ ★

American Legion Post 1271, Tappan, N. Y., has formally adopted Company C of the First Battal¬ ion, Second Infantry, First Division, now fighting in South Vietnam. Post 1271 was written to mem¬ bers of Company C, offering any possible state¬ side assistance to the men and their families.

★ ★ ★

Orations of the 1965 department winners of The American Legion’s National High School Or¬ atorical Contest are now available. Posts may obtain copies at $2.00 each (prepaid) for presen¬ tation to their high school libraries by writing: National Emblem Sales, The American Legion, P. O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206.

★ ★ ★

Fifty of the 58 American Legion Departments topped their membership quotas for the third tar¬ get date (Dec. 31, 1965) of the 1966 campaign, putting national membership over its third target date goal by 85,594.

★ ★ ★

“Education Adds Up” will be the general theme of the 46th annual observance of American Edu-

★ ★ ★

With an increase of 167.59 per cent in its Sons of The American Legion (SAL) membership for 1965, the Detachment of Ohio has been declared the winner of the Arthur D. Houghton Trophy. The trophy goes to the SAL Detachment having the highest percentage of increase in membership over the preceding year.

★ ★ ★

National Commander L. Eldon James, in a tele¬ gram to President Johnson, has expressed The American Legion’s “unqualified support” of the President’s decision to resume the bombing of North Vietnam.

★ ★ ★

A special roundtable discussion on the prelimi¬ nary report of a special membership eligibility committee will be a part of the National Com¬ mander’s Conference, Feb. 27-Mar. 4, Washing¬ ton, D. C. The report recommends the opening of Legion ranks to those who have served honorably in the nation’s armed forces since Aug. 5, 1964. The roundtable session, scheduled for Wednes¬ day, Mar. 2, was recommended last fall by the an¬ nual Conference of Department Commanders and Adjutants in order to discuss the proposal that American Legion membership be made available to members of the armed forces during the cur¬ rent period of hostilities.

Mr. Post Commander:

Please Pass The Next Four Pages

(Pages 5-8)

To Your Child Welfare Chairman

4 The ADVANCE, March, 1966

yjfrjfr '*"7/ f//

MmM

<&

APRIL is Child Welfare

Month Suggested

Proclamation

WHEREAS, The American Legion, since 1925, has de¬ voted much of its material resources and voluntary endeavors to a continuing, year-round program of child welfare, and

WHEREAS, The purposes of this program since its in¬ ception have been to assure care and protection for the children of veterans and to improve conditions for all children with the goal of a "Square Deal for Every Child,” and

WHEREAS, The American Legion has contributed im¬ measurably to the health and welfare of America's chil¬ dren through its efforts in behalf of sound public programs for children and the expenditure of more than two hundred million dollars from its own funds, and

WHEREAS, The American Legion has traditionally ob¬ served Child Welfare Month during April as a time to emphasize the importance of service to our children and youth, now

THEREFORE, I,.(Full Name).,.(Title). of the City (Town, County, State) of . (Name) ., do hereby proclaim the period of April 1 through April 30, 1966, as AMERICAN LEGION CHILD WELFARE MONTH, and call to the attention of all citizens of . (Name of City, County, State) . the good works of our Legionnaires and American Legion Auxiliary members in their dedication to the lofty purpose of this great program.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the official Seal of the City (County, Town, State) of . (Name) . this . day of . (Month) ., 1966.

.(Full Name).

.(Title).

EMEMBER THE WORDS? . . . “For God and Country . . . sense of individual obligation

to community, state, and nation . . . devotion to mutual helpfulness.” These phrases are from the Constitution of The American Legion.

Then there is the initiation ceremony: “The two gold rings around the field of blue (in the emblem) . . . typify two of our four main ob¬ jectives: rehabilitation of our sick and disabled comrades and care for the children of America.”

Since 1924, National Conventions of The Ameri¬ can Legion have pledged “to assure care and protection for children of veterans and to improve conditions for all children.” Today there are about 74 million children and youth in the United States and well over half of this number are children of veterans.

The annual observance of “April Is Child Wel¬ fare Month” began 24 years ago when all Ameri¬ can Legion Posts and American Legion Auxiliary Units were asked to devote their April meetings to special observances for child welfare.

The Child Welfare Program functions 365 days a year and 24 hours a day, but April is the time to emphasize the program by planning a special project and by publicizing the accomplishments of your post for the children and youth of the community. In fact, April provides an excellent opportunity for acquainting some of your own members who may not be aware of your post’s contributions to the child welfare program.

Guide for April Observance Planning a special child welfare meeting isn’t

difficult and the potential benefits which can accrue to your post in the way of personal satis¬ faction to the membership and good will within the community can produce excellent dividends.

The key to successful “April Is Child Welfare Month” observance is no different from obtaining success in any project. Success for any project requires adequate planning.

With this thought in mind, we would like to offer some suggestions based on the experience of many posts over a period of several years. In

(Continued on Next Page)

The ADVANCE, March, 1966 6

Child Welfare Month . . . (Continued from Preceding Page)

order to make these suggestions as practical as possible we have arranged them in the form of a model post observance of “April Is Child Wel¬ fare Month.”

1) No later than the early part of March, you, as Post Commander, should contact the post child welfare chairman or that individual assigned child welfare responsibilities within your post and ask him to plan a special activity for April. You may wish to make some recommendations yourself to the chair¬ man concerning the nature of the program.

2) The post child welfare chairman should call his committee together as soon as possible to begin de¬ veloping plans. Whenever possible, representation from the affilitated organizations should be secured on the committee and a joint observance planned.

3) The first priority of the committee should be to determine what are the most urgent needs of the children and youth of the community and to select one of these for emphasis during April. Due con¬ sideration should be given in the selection of a project to an activity that is not beyond the capa¬ bilities of the post.

4) For illustrative purposes, let’s say your post is lo¬ cated in a rapidly growing community and your public recreational facilities and programs for chil¬ dren have been completely outstripped by your rapidly increased population. The local newspaper has commented on this situation editorially but to date no organized effort has developed to correct this situation. The committee agrees that a project to spearhead an expansion of community recreational services is worthy of the post’s attention and is within the post’s capabilities.

5) After receiving the approval of the Post Commander and the membership, if necessary, the committee then can proceed with developing a detailed plan for this activity. What are the necessary ingredients to successfully launch a program to expand your community’s recreational facilities? First, you will need to invite those individuals to your April meet¬ ing who are qualified to speak on the need for expanded recreational services. Select those who because of their position in the community, either elective or otherwise, can provide support for this effort. Secure the official charged with responsibil¬ ity for directing the community recreation program or if you have no such paid individual ask a repre¬ sentative from the physical education department of the public schools. You should have present a representative of the local law enforcement agency, preferably an individual who works with youthful offenders; a representative of your local government appropriating body; the school superintendent and representatives of other local service and civic or¬ ganizations.

6) Once you have obtained your speakers and your program is established you are ready to proceed with publicity for your meeting. The committee mem¬ bers or post public relations officers should make

personal contact with all local news media in an effort to secure their full cooperation in launching a publicity campaign for the meeting. The general public should be invited and encouraged to attend such a meeting. Do not let the physical limitations of your post limit the size of your crowd, secure another meeting place if necessary.

7) Before the meeting convenes the committee should decide on what specific actions need to be taken at the meeting to insure the project will not immediately collapse following the meeting. Such actions might involve the formation of a steering committee from those present whose function would be to imple¬ ment recommendations forthcoming from the meet¬ ing. A plan should be devised for financing the future activities of this committee, etc.

8) Finally, be sure the news media are present at the meeting or, if this is not possible, that they receive a report of the major actions taken to launch a program to expand the community’s recreational services.

Post Child Welfare Activities The foregoing is but one of many possibilities

for the promotion of Child Welfare Month. The following reported activities, taken at random from annual reports, demonstrate the breadth of this program:

The Post Child Welfare Committee, prepared an audio¬ visual presentation of The American Legion Child Welfare Program consisting of color slides and a script. The pre¬ sentation is used to inform adult groups of the community about the Legion Child Welfare Program.

—Arizona We are presently spearheading a fund drive to build a

new library building for our community. —Illinois

Our program for the month of April was bicycle safety. We requested and were granted a proclamation by the mayor proclaiming a week in April as Bicycle Safety Week. During this safety campaign our post and another organi¬ zation safety taped 3000 bicycles.

—Kansas Our post together with the fire department and the Com¬

munity Club sponsor stock car races during the summer to raise funds for the maintenance and improvement of a 30-acre community park.

—Nebraska During April we have a representative from the Council

for Retarded Children who showed movies of the Council's camping program. We presented the Council with a check for its campership program.

—Ohio We sponsor a junior bowling league for 12 teams con¬

sisting of 9 teams for boys and 3 teams for girls. An in¬ structor is provided, who in addition to bowling instruction, teaches the children sportsmanship and courtesy. The project has been so well accepted in the community that a number of service and fraternal groups have asked to sponsor these teams next year.

—Oregon Our post helped 14 youths secure employment during

the summer months. —West Virginia

The ADVANCE, March, 1966

(Child Welfare Month) America’s children and the state of their well¬

being—physical, mental, and spiritual—are the focal points of The American Legion’s nationwide observance of Child Welfare Month during April.

On a dollars-and-cents basis, the Legion’s Child Welfare Program, since 1925, represents an ex¬ penditure of more than $200 million at the various echelons of the veterans’ organization and its affiliates.

Impressive as such financial assistance may seem, an even greater contribution has been made to the general welfare of America’s youngsters in areas which defy any standard of measurement or evaluation. Legionnaires are justifiably proud of the progress toward four legislative goals re¬ lated to their oft-stated objective—“A Square Deal for Every Child”—

1. Forty-seven states (95 per cent of the na¬ tion’s children) now have “abused child” laws, requiring the reporting by medical practitioners and hospital personnel of those cases of child injury where there is any indication that such injury is inflicted.

2. Thirty-three states, in which more than 80 per cent of the nation’s births occur, now require the testing of newborn infants for PKU (Phenyl¬ ketonuria), a metabolic disorder which causes mental retardation.

3. More than 60 per cent of our nation’s chil¬ dren of school age are now enrolled in schools subject to state laws and regulations requiring the wearing of proper eye protection devices when engaged in studies and/or activities hazardous to the eyes.

4. About one-third of the nation’s children are residing in states which have enacted tighter con¬ trols of “dangerous drugs”—amphetamines and barbiturates. In addition, the Legion has given its support to the enactment of tighter federal regu¬ lations in this area.

Proud as they are of these achievements, Legion¬ naires realize that much remains to be done if America’s children are to be prepared to meet, as adults, the physical demands and spiritual chal¬ lenges of an increasingly complex world.

Legionnaires—and Auxiliary members—of- (Community)_deserve our praise and appre¬ ciation for their part in this gigantic program for a better community, a better state, a better nation . . . and, ultimately, a better world.

(Child Welfare Month) Serious problems confronting today’s children

and youth will be emphasized through the observ¬ ance of Child Welfare Month during April by The American Legion, Commander .... (Full Name) -of- (Name of Post) _ No. -here announced today.

Similar observances are being planned in the communities served by more than 16,000 Legion Posts and 14,00 American Legion Auxiliary Units to bring nationwide attention to this major year- round program of the world’s largest veterans’ organization.

In recognition of the broad scope of the Legion’s national program, as well as the contributions made to the children and youth of_ (Com¬ munity) -by local Legionnaires (and Aux¬ iliary members), Mayor .... (Full Name) _ has issued a proclamation, calling for community¬ wide recognition of this program’s good works.

(Insert here localized information about recent or current child welfare activities of your own post and plans for your post’s observance of Child Welfare Month.)

Commenting upon the accomplishments of the Legion’s child welfare program, Commander - (Last Name) -pointed out that more than $200 million had been expended for the benefit of children and youth by the Legion, and its affiliated organizations, since the program began in 1925.

Impressive as such expenditures are, the scope of the Legion’s endeavors in behalf of the nation’s children and youth goes beyond a “dollars-and- cents” basis, he explained.

“This program, of necessity, has been remodeled somewhat in recent years to cope with new and increasingly difficult child welfare problems which have been occasioned by our rapidly changing way of life,” Commander_(Last Name) .... stated.

Major areas of interest to the Legion’s child wel¬ fare program include the development of adequate community diagnostic, treatment, and educational facilities to meet the needs of increased leisure time brought on by automation; support for the development of new programs aimed at the pre¬ vention of juvenile delinquency; and the estab¬ lishment of community child safety programs to reduce the tragic toll of accidents which currently cause an estimated 15,000 deaths and 17 million injuries among children annually.

The ADVANCE, March, 1966 7

Legion Child Welfare Foundation Strives for Problem Prevention

THE CREATION of the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation added a fourth dimension

to the Legion’s Child Welfare Program. For many years, the Child Welfare Program used three basic methods for its operation—(1) support of legisla¬ tion, (2) dissemination of information on child

Child Welfare TOOLS

Fundamental to any successful op¬ eration are plans and the tools to put plans

into action. It is unlikely that any post has suffi¬ cient manpower and the other necessary resources to engage in all phases of the broad field of child welfare. In consideration of this the National Child Welfare Commission has prepared and made available a number of publications each directed at a specific area of child welfare. These publications have been prepared especially as aids for post and unit child welfare chairmen and provide specific suggestions as to how a post or unit may proceed in developing projects in various areas of child welfare currently of interest to The American Legion.

Among these publications directed to specific areas of child welfare are:

Community Recreation Retarded Children Child Safety Mentally IU Children Youth Employment Juvenile Delinquency—A Community Problem

Also, the National Child Welfare Commission publishes the Child Welfare Guide since it con¬ tains the fundamental principles and purposes of The American Legion Child Welfare Program and outlines tire functions and basic responsibili¬ ties of the post and unit child welfare chairman.

The annual child welfare publication for 1966, Action—Hallmark of Successful Citizens, provides a concise but meaningful summary of the current objectives of the national Child Welfare Program. All of these publications are available without charge from your department headquarters or National Child Welfare Division, The American Legion, P. O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206.

welfare problems, and (3) providing direct aid and service to needy children of veterans.

After World War II and the Korean War, the number of veterans’ children increased to a point where leaders of the Child Welfare Program real¬ ized that the resources of The American Legion could not cope with the needs of this avalanche of children. It was with this realization that lead¬ ers of the program set about to find some means of preventing many of the physical and social ills that befall children.

This effort was culminated in 1954 with the establishment of the American Legion’ Child Welfare Foundation.

Two Purposes The purposes of the Foundation are twofold—

to support research activities into all facets of child life and to disseminate presently available knowledge in order that it may be put to wider usage.

Presently, the Foundation is providing support in such diverse areas as expense grants for law enforcement officers to receive special training in order that they may work more effectively with the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders, research into respiratory viruses affecting children, medical research into cartilage injuries among children which result in retarded growth, and training fel¬ lowships for physical therapists to learn of new training techniques for children suffering from cystic fibrosis.

Foundation Pioneers New Projects The Foundation, although relatively small in

size compared to other foundations, has produced outstanding results, particularly through its fi¬ nancing of newly proposed projects which, once they are under way, have been able to secure support from larger foundations.

Contributions to the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation are made throughout the year by Legion Posts, individual Legionnaires, and members of affiliated organizations. However, the observance of April as American Legion Child Welfare Month provides an appropriate occasion to support the Child Welfare Foundation.

Contributions should be sent to: American Le¬ gion Child Welfare Foundation, Inc., P. O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206.

Additional detailed information concerning the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation may be obtained by inquiry to the above address.

8 The ADVANCE, March, 1966

American Legion School Awards Mr. Americanism Chairman:.

Many An Effective

Community Service Program

Begins Here!

mm.m

VWHEN WE TALK ABOUT EFFECTIVE community service programs, those established by American Le¬

gion Posts, we find that many begin with the presentation of the School Medal Awards. The Award Medal represents the educational symbolism of the School Medal Award Pro¬ gram and gives public recognition to youngsters who are developing the qualities of character essential to responsible American citizenship.

Last year, American Legion Posts presented 21,191 School Medal Awards to youngsters in grade, junior, and high schools, as well as colleges. These awards were made in recognition of the qualities of Courage, Honor, Leadership, Patriotism, Scholarship, and Service.

This is the time to appoint a committee to discuss this program with your local school authorities. Awards are nor¬ mally presented at a commencement or awards day in the case of a high school, or at a closing convocation or similar type of exercise at the lower grade levels.

You may find that your high school already has all the awards it wants or needs, but that junior high schools have little or nothing to offer in the way of recognition of out¬ standing young people. Don’t overlook the junior colleges and colleges in your area, for this award is prized highly at all levels of educational achievement.

Pictured here are the medals which may be purchased from National Emblem Sales, The American Legion, P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206. Further details and pro¬ gram suggestions are contained in a four-page brochure available through department headquarters or the National Americanism Division of The American Legion at the afore¬ mentioned Indianapolis address.

Through the presentation of such honors as represented by these medals to young persons who exemplify the high standards of youthful citizenship, The American Legion can help create in today’s youth the realization that the adult world does value and respect such standards.

You can help build better citizens of tomorrow!

Order These School Medals

A. SCHOOL AWARD PLAQUE for presentation to cooperating schools. Bronze plate on walnut stained backboard 10 x 14 Vi/#. Embossing includes “Awarded Annually By” with your Post name, number, town and state location. Fourteen raised plates for engraving names of winners. (Engraving on panels 10c per letter or numeral.) Two weeks deliyery.

No C.O.D. shipment. No. 73409.$35.00

B. SMALL MEDAL (Not Shown) 1 Vi inches, complete with engraved certificate. No. 73401 .$ 1.50

C. MEDALLION (2Vi") award complete with miniature lapel pin and engraved certificate. No. 73400 .$ 2.50

D. A better quality 1/10K Gold filled brooch to supplement your school award. No. 73402 .$ i.9o

The ADVANCE, March, 1966 (Add 10% Federal Excise Tax to No. 73402}

9

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE— Circulation Department, P. 0. Box 1954 Indianapolis, Ind. 46206

Enclosed is our check for $_ for_subscriptions donated (Amount) (How Many ? )

by American Legion Post No._, Department of_, to the following members of the U. S. armed forces:

Name_Name_

Address _Address_

Name. Name.

Address. Address.

Name. Name.

Address. Address.

□ Check here if you wish the recipients to be advised p„„, of Post’s gift subscription.

Note: Additional subscriptions may be submitted on regular stationery.

NATIONAL EMBLEM SALES The American Legion, P. 0. Box 1055 Indianapolis, Ind. 46206

The American Legion

SALUTES A Service Family.

Enclosed is our check in the amount of $-Please ship-window (How Many?)

decals — Catalog No. 74978 — “The American Legion “SALUTES A Service Family” — to be distributed by American Legion Post No-, Department of- Ship the decals to the following address:

Name_Title-

Address__

City_State_ZIP_

(Minimum order—10. Prices: 10-99 @ 10c ea.; 100 or more @ 5c ea. With orders of $3.00 or less, add 25c handling charge.)

10 The ADVANCE, March, 1966

(MAIL COMPLETED FORM TO YOUR DEPARTMENT ADJUTANT)

Official Certification Form

“POST OF DISTINCTION” National Citation

(The American Legion Birthday Award)

Qualifications of_Post No._ (Name of Post)

a. Post’s final official membership total for 1965 ... Post’s membership for 1966, as of March 17, 1966 .

b. Post participated in the 47th Birthday observance (Yes.No.) c. At least eight of the following items are checked as accurate description of the

activities and programs of Post No.:

CHECK LIST (Check only those which apply to your post)

1. Post conducts regular meetings, following American Legion ritual .Q

2. Post has active committees in the major American Legion programs .□

3. Post keeps continuous membership records AND makes awards .Q

4. Post Commander receives, reads and uses The American Legion ADVANCE.Q

5. Post has a service officer . Q

6. Post conducts regular initiations for its new members .Q

7. Post has a “Welcome Committee”.Q

8. Post sends delegates to district and department meetings.Q

9. Post participates in community activities .Q

10. Post participates in at least two of the following .Q

Boys State Employ the Physically Handicapped Oratorical Contest Employ the Older Worker Education Week Scouting Baseball School Awards Education & Scholarship Program Flag Education

TO: Department Adjutant, Department of., The American Legion

I hereby certify that the above certification is a true and accurate statement of the

achievements and activities of . Post No. in (Name of Post)

qualifying for the National Citation of a POST OF DISTINCTION.

Signature__Title-

Mail Address-

City___State_Zip_

The ADVANCE, March, 1966 11

National Maritime Day We cannot send American fighting men over¬

seas to Vietnam without a reliable transport system able carry safely both men and supplies,” declared L. Eldon James in his first major ad¬ dress in Washington, D. C., after becoming Na¬ tional Commander of The American Legion.

Speaking before an audience of high-ranking maritime officials from industry and government, he forcefully reaffirmed the Legion’s position to support a strong merchant marine and decried the fact that the U. S. has slipped to tenth place in the world for shipping.

The inadequacy of our merchant fleet, and the fallacy of reliance on foreign flags, have been clearly demonstrated in at least three recent in¬ stances of foreign ships’ refusal to transport vital cargoes bound for Vietnam. Foreign flag ships are being used because of the inadequate number of U. S. vessels (many of which are nearly obso¬ lete) available to meet the transportation de¬ mands of our servicemen abroad.

The American Legion has been a firm support¬ er of a strong merchant marine. As recently as the 1965 National Convention, a 12-point program of support of the American Merchant Marine was unanimously adopted by The American Legion.

An appropriate time to reaffirm that support will be National Maritime Day which will be ob¬ served in Mav. ✓

National Maritime Day, proclaimed by the Pres¬ ident each year in accordance with a joint reso¬ lution of Congress approved in 1933, commemo¬ rates the sailing of the SS Savannah, on May 22,

1819, from Savannah, Ga., the first trans-oceanic voyage of any steamship.

Since May 22 falls on a Sunday this year, of¬ ficial Maritime Day ceremonies will be sched¬ uled for Monday, May 23.

National Commander James has pledged the full support of The American Legion and the use of its facilities to urge Congress and the President to achieve and maintain maritime peace and to undertake a major shipbuilding program in Amer¬ ican shipyards.

Departments and posts can assist the National Commander in his pledge by arranging to have the Presidential proclamation publicized locally, with editorial comment, if possible.

The winning entry in a nationwide Maritime Day poster contest among high school students is placed on U. S. Post Office trucks throughout the month of May. Your local mayor and postmaster will be asked by the Maritime Administration to help publicize the display of this poster with an appropriate ceremony on or about May 1. The local American Legion Post will be suggested to these officials as one of the groups which could be asked to participate in this ceremony.

Copies of the Presidential proclamation (when it is issued), the maritime poster, and other inform¬ ative material on the merchant marine can be obtained from: Public Information Office, Mari¬ time Administration, U. S. Department of Com¬ merce, 441 G St., N. W., Washington, D. C. Material from The American Legion can be ob¬ tained by writing: National Security Division, 1608 K St., N. W., Washington, D. C. 20006.

THE AMERICAN LEGION

ADVANCE P. O. BOX 1055 • INDIANAPOLIS 6. INDIANA

NOTE TO EDITORS: PERMISSION GRANTED REPRINT ALL “ADVANCE" ITEMS.

TO USE OR

RETURN REQUESTED PRINTED IN U. S. A.