The FReeper Foxhole Profiles The American Legion - Feb. 1st, 2003

http://www.legion.org/ ^

[SAMWolf]

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
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The American Legion

Today there is no accurate record of the total number of veterans' organizations, but among them all, none has grown so large or has exercised such wide influence as The American Legion. None is so intimately identified with the word "veteran

Who We Are

The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help, war-time veterans organization. A community-service organization which now numbers nearly 3 million members -- men and women -- in nearly 15,000 American Legion Posts worldwide. These Posts are organized into 55 Departments -- one each for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines.

The American Legion's national headquarters is in Indianapolis, Indiana, with additional offices in Washington, DC. In addition to thousands of volunteers serving in leadership and program implementation capacities in local communities to the Legion's standing national commissions and committees, the national organization has a regular full-time staff of about 300 employees

Eligibility For Membership

Membership eligibility in The American Legion is based on honorable federal active duty service with the U.S. Armed Forces between the following dates:

• April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918 (World War I)
• December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946 (World War II)
• June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955 (Korean War)
• February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975 (Vietnam War)
• August 24, 1982 to July 31, 1984 (Lebanon/Grenada)
• December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990 (Operation Just Cause - Panama) *August 2, 1990 to today (Operation Desert Shield/Storm)

*Because eligibility dates remain open, all members of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible to join The American Legion at this time, until the date of the end of hostilities as determined by the government of the United States.

Care of WWI disabled veterans was a prime objective of The American Legion when the 1st National Convention convened in 1919. Today, care and support of veterans is still a prime objective, gaining in strength over the years. The various issues concerning veterans encompass a wide range of focal areas for The American Legion



Click on the Logo to Visit the American Legion Site

[SAMWolf]

The American Legion Emblem

"There shines the Emblem of The American Legion, it is your badge of distinction, honor and service. It stands for God and Country, and the highest rights of man. Of its several parts, each has a meaning."



The Rays of the Sun form the background of our proud Emblem, and suggest that the Legion's principles will dispel the darkness of violence and evil.

The Wreath forms the center, in loving memory of those brave comrades who gave their lives in the service of the United States, that liberty might endure.

The Star, victory symbol of World War I, signalizes as well honor, glory and constancy. The letters U.S. leave no doubt as to the brightest star in the Legion's star.

Two Large Rings the outer one stands for the rehabilitation of our sick and disabled buddies. The inner one denotes the welfare of America's children.

Two Small Rings set upon the star. The outer pledges loyalty and Americanism. The inner is for service to our communities, our states and the Nation.

The words American Legion tie the whole together for truth, remembrance, constancy, honor, service, veterans affairs and rehabilitation, children and youth, loyalty, and Americanism.

[SAMWolf]

Click on the Logo to visit the site

In this world of ours, the American Legion Auxiliary shines as an example of unselfish giving. With almost a million members from all walks of life, the Auxiliary administers hundreds of volunteer programs, gives tens of thousands of hours to its communities and to veterans, and raises millions of dollars to support its own programs as well as other worthwhile charities familiar to most Americans. It is all accomplished with volunteers.

The Auxiliary, organized in 1919 to assist The American Legion, is much more than the name implies. The organization has achieved its own unique identity while working side-by-side with the veterans who belong to The American Legion. Like the Legion, the Auxiliary's interests have broadened to encompass the entire community.

The American Legion Auxiliary is the world's largest women's patriotic service organization. Through its nearly 10,500 Units located in every state and some foreign countries, the Auxiliary embodies the spirit of America that has prevailed through war and peace. Along with The American Legion, it sollidly stands behind America and her ideals.

[SAMWolf]

For God and Country

we associate ourselves together for the following purposes:

to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the great wars; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community,state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and goodwill on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.

-- Preamble to the Constitution of The American Legion

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Everybody.

Hurry Back Fiddlstix!
No one makes Coffee and Donuts like you.

You Know The Drill
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[SAMWolf]

The State of the Union is Strong!
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[SAMWolf]

Thanks, Doughty!

[aomagrat]

Today's classic warship, USS American Legion (APA-17)

Wharton class attack transport.
Displacement 13,729 t.
Length 535'2"
Beam 72'
Draft 31'3"
Speed 17.5 k
Complement 682
Capacity: 3,991 DWT cargo, 33 OCVP, 2-4 LCM(3), 1,650 troops
Armament 1 5", 4 3"

USS American Legion, a 13,736-ton transport, was originally built at Camden, New Jersey, as a civilian passenger ship. Completed in July 1921, American Legion was not actively employed until 1926, when she began commercial service between New York and South America. She was laid up in early 1939 due to her owner's financial difficulties but soon was taken over by the War Department for use as the U.S. Army Transport American Legion. Beginning in February 1940, she mainly served along the U.S. east coast and in the Caribbean area, but made one trans-Atlantic round-trip voyage in mid-1940, rescuing the Norwegian Crown Princess and many other persons from the European war zone. Her cargo also included a Swedish 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun mounting, which became the prototype for thousands of such guns built for the U.S. Navy during World War II.

American Legion was transferred from the Army to the Navy on 26 August 1941; and commissioned the same day, Captain T. Warner in command.

Following one voyage to the West Indies and one to Halifax Nova Scotia, American Legion transferred to the Pacific in April 1942. She carried elements of the 1st marine Division during the Guadalcanal invasion August 1942. For the next 12 months American Legion made troop and supply runs between Guadalcanal; Tulagi; Brisbane and Melbourne, Australia; Tongatabu Pago Pago, Samoa; Noumea, New Caledonia; and Wellington and Auckland, New Zealand. She was reclassified APA 17, February 1943. On 1 November 1943 she took part in the invasion of Bougainille Island. When American Legion arrived at San Francisco 8 December 1943, she had steamed 83,140 miles since leaving New York.

Following repairs and alterations at United Engineering Works Alameda, Calif. American Legion departed San Francisco 12 April 1944 for San Diego, where upon arrival she reported to Commander, Transport Training Division (later Transport Division 1), Amphibious Training, Pacific Based at Coronado, Calif., she helped train Army and Marine divisions in amphibious warfare August 1944. She made one voyage to the Western Pacific in the fall of 1945 and was decommissioned in the 13 Naval District 20 March 1946. She was returned to Army the same day. She was sold for scrapping in February 1948.

American Legion received two battle stars for her World War II service.

[Jen]

PING! Dive into the FReeper Foxhole and support our Veterans!

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[Jen]

That's the perfect ship to profile today. Are there ships named for other veteran service organizations?

[HiJinx]

Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

Wait a minute! I think a lot of us resent resemble that remark!!!

[Jen]

Hi Jinxie!! Good to see you this morning.

I don't even remember what 'normal' is! hahahaha

[GailA]

Today's graphic

[Jen]

Beautiful graphic, as always! Thanks so much for posting them each day.

[genefromjersey]

Wolfie, I wish our Post would show a little spirit !

I joined a local Post, after being a member of the State Post for a few years.I'm a newbie in the Post, but am already considering dropping the whole thing.

The first five meetings in a row had to be cancelled-for lack of quorum. Plenty of guys to hang out in the bar, but-except for the Color Guard - which is fairly active - there aren't enough guys around to hold a meeting; which means the Post is being run entirely by its executive committee.

If I were into drinking a lot, I guess I'd feel comfortable with the situation.

Anybody out in Freep-land have any suggestions ??

[Jen]

President George W. Bush visits with high school participants in the American Legion Boys and Girls Nation at the Dwight D. Eisenhowser Executive Office Building near the White House July 27, 2002.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[SAMWolf]

The crew of the space shuttle Columbia, from left, mission specialist Michael Anderson, pilot William McCool, commander Rick Husband, mission specialists David Brown, Laurel Clark, Isreali astronaut Ilan Ramon, and Kalpana Chawla wave to a media gathering during launch rehearsal in Cape Canaveral Dec. 20, 2002. Space shuttle Columbia apparently disintegrated in flames over Texas on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003 minutes before it was to land in Florida. TV video showed what appeared to be falling debris, as NASA declared an emergency and warned residents to beware of falling objects. (AP Photo/Peter Cosgrove, File)





Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high unsurpassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.