A NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS MONTHLY PUBLICATION FOR POST COMMANDERS AND POST ADJUTANTS . . .

Vol. XVIII January, 1975 No. I

‘St

BE COUNTED AGAIN FOR AMERICA’....

Promo Items Nix Post-Yule Slump TN SEVERAL APPEARANCES just before the holi-

days, National Commander James M. Wagonseller urged that there be no lag after the Yuletide season in getting American Legion activity back into full swing.

He called attention to the excellent membership per¬ formance through the Veterans Day turn-in and called for a quick follow through to keep up the momentum.

And what better way to remind Legionnaires and prospective members of the Legion’s on-going activity, and the need for their participation, than through gen¬ erous use of promotional items keyed to the National Commander’s theme: “Be Counted Again For Ameri¬ ca.”

New Billboard Poster Illustrated with this article, in reduced size, is the

layout of the new 24-sheet poster, now being offered in brilliant, eye-catching colors, at the same low cost as last year’s billboard p o s t e r—$5 per copy, which includes shipping charges. (Editor’s Note: How many other items can you buy for the same price you paid a year ago?)

Billboard display space usually becomes available right after the holidays and many outdoor advertising

firms will provide display space at little or no cost for such messages as this just to have the boards attractively occupied.

Check the prospects in your area and order your 24- sheet billboard posters through National Public Rela¬ tions Division, The American Legion, P. O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206. Checks accompanying the order should be made payable to the National Treasur¬ er, The American Legion. If you wish to be billed for the billboards, please so indicate.

Lapel Stickers Another popular promotional item is the colorful

lapel sticker, bearing the theme: “Be Counted Again For America.” This red, white, and blue sticker, 2 inch¬ es in diameter, with adhesive back, is available for $15 per 1,000 from National Public Relations Division, The American Legion, 1608 K St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

A limited supply of the updated radio public service spot announcements is available, at no cost, on a first- come-first-served basis to those posts, districts, and departments requesting them. Requests should be made

(Continued on Page 4)

Be counted again for

America ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

THE AMERICAN iseuiLjmm

‘■■digested

NEWS RELEASE!

(56th Birthday) As its part of the worldwide observance of The

American Legion’s 56th Anniversary in March, . (Name of Post). Post No. is planning special birthday festivities, Post Commander . (Full Name).announced today.

Legionnaires of Post No.will celebrate the occasion with a.(Type of Event—party, dinner, dance, special meeting, etc.) .at. (Time) ., .(Day)., .....(Date)., at .(Place).

The special event is being directed by a committee under the chairmanship of.(Full Name). and consisting of the following members:.(List committee members by Full Name and Assign¬ ment) . .(Insert here any further details concerning

your post’s plans for the 56th Birthday celebration. Include the names of any distinguished guests invited to the event. Describe highlights of your program— guest speaker, entertainment, any special recognitions to be presented, such as Golden Certificates, member¬ ship achievement awards, etc.).

The festivities of Post No.will be a part of a gigantic anniversary celebration among the nearly 16,000 American Legion Posts throughout the United States and in several overseas countries and territories.

The American Legion was founded March 15-17, 1919, during a caucus in Paris, France, attended by representatives of the various outfits that made up the American Expeditionary Force of World War I. The organization has since opened its ranks to veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, Commander.(Last Name).explained.

As part of its preparation for the 56th Birthday, Post No.is winding up its 1975 membership drive, he reported.

“Our theme for the year is ‘Be Counted Again— For America’,” Commander.(Last Name). pointed out. “All veterans have taken that step forward to be counted for their country. Through their mem¬ bership in The American Legion, they have an oppor¬ tunity to ‘Be Counted Again—For America’ through the many and varied service programs of the Legion.”

AT.g ADVANCE Published monthly by: National Headquarters, The Ameri¬ can Legion, P. O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206. A publication for American Legion Post Commanders and Post Adjutants.

Editor: Frank L. Megnin

January, 1975 Vol. XVIII, No. I

January

1 New Year’s Day. 3 Holiday Blood Donor Drive closes.

8-11 Midwestern Area Children & Youth Conference, Lincoln, Neb.

22-25 Western Area Children & Youth Confer¬ ence, Casper, Wyo.

27 Second anniversary of cease-fire in Viet¬ nam, 1973.

February

Americanism Month. 1 1974 members who have not paid dues

for 1975 are now delinquent. 2 Four Chaplains’ Sunday.

2- 8 Religious Emphasis Week. 12 Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday. 17 George Washington’s Birthday.

March

3- 6 Annual National Commander’s Confer¬ ence, Washington, D.C.

3-5 National Veterans Affairs and Rehabili¬ tation Conference, Washington, D.C.

9-15 Employ the Older Worker Week. 15-17 56th Anniversary of Paris Caucus. Will

your post qualify for a 1975 “Now Team” Post Award? First step is a mem¬ bership for 1975, as of this date, which equals or exceeds the post’s total for 1974.

2 The ADVANCE, January, 1975

Check Americanism Program in February “In a nation like ours, where the government is founded

upon the principle of equality and derives its just power from the consent of the governed: in a land like ours, where every citizen is sovereign and where no one cares to wear a crown—every year presents a battlefield, and every day brings forth occasion for the display of a patriotism whose essence is SERVICE.”

—William Jennings Bryan

OW WELL BRYAN’S VIEW of patriotism relates to National Commander James M. Wagonseller’s

theme for The American Legion—“Be Counted Again —For America!” Our Americanism Program offers many opportunities for service to America and Feb¬ ruary—Americanism Month—is a good time to take stock of your post’s activities of the past year in this program area. It’s also an appropriate time to lay plans for future action which will enhance your Americanism Program, fulfill the National Commander’s theme, and create good will for your post in the community.

Post Commanders are urged to conduct a special Americanism Month meeting in February. Ask your Americanism chairman to review the post’s efforts in this program area and to offer suggestions for the year ahead.

Diversified Program

Our Americanism Program covers a wide range of subject areas: Community service, youth development, educational growth, service to God, and vigilance toward subversive elements in our society. Within these areas are several activities which are post oriented and which can be implemented by posts in varying degrees as determined by their size and resources.

Youth Programs

Boys State provides practical training for youth in the functions of local, county, and state governments. If your post does not participate in Boys State, contact your department headquarters for details on the requirements involved. In 1974, some 28,000 youths went to Boys State and 100 of them were selected to American Legion Boys Nation in Washington, D.C., for further training in the functions of federal government.

Thousands of American youngsters improve their physical fitness and develop a sense of good sportsman¬ ship, good citizenship, and fair play each year through American Legion Baseball. This popular program will mark its 50th anniversary during 1975 and plans are under way to publicize this milestone in an appropriate manner.

If your post does not have a baseball team, the Feb¬ ruary—Americanism Month meeting would be a good time to have your district baseball chairman or a repre¬ sentative of the department baseball committee discuss in detail the baseball program.

The American Legion’s National High School Ora¬ torical Contest helps to create a better understanding of the U.S. Constitution among the students who com¬ pete and those who hear their orations.

The youthful orators may qualify for scholarship prizes provided by the National Organization—$8,000; $5,000; $3,000; and $2,000 to the four national finalists; and $500 to each department winner—plus those awards offered to winning contestants in preliminary competitions.

In order to ensure cooperation of your local high school in this contest, you should contact school author¬ ities in advance of the preparation of the annual school calendar (this spring is not too soon for next year’s schedule). Details on post participation in this program may be obtained from your department headquarters.

Scouting, Education Activities Your post may wish to devote a portion of its Ameri¬

canism Month observance to The American Legion’s sponsorship of Scouting. The Scouting movement will celebrate its 62nd anniversary in February and, if your post sponsors a Scout unit, you could help call atten¬ tion to the important contribution the Legion makes to the Scouting program throughout the country.

If your post does not sponsor such a unit, this is a good time to consider that additional post sponsorship is needed so that more youth may be served by this great character building program.

Your Americanism Month observance could include emphasis on the Legion’s Education and Scholarship Program. This program brings sources of scholarship and career information to students to help them acquire education and training beyond high school. A vital part of this program is the distribution of two American Legion publications—Need a Lift? and Guide for Parents and Students.

One of the nation’s leading sources of scholarship and career information, Need a Lift? should be placed in all school and public libraries. Copies are 50 cents each, or 30 cents each (prepaid) for 100 or more, from The American Legion, Dept. S, P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206.

Recognized nationally as a valuable aid in planning for education beyond high school, Guide for Parents and Students may be obtained for $6 for 500 or $10 per 1,000 from the above address.

American Legion Posts may wish to honor students who exhibit qualities of courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship, and service with the presenta¬ tion of American Legion School Medal Awards.

Additional information about these programs as well as others may be found in the Americanism Manual which is available through department headquarters.

The ADVANCE, January, 1975 3

Four Chaplains' Story-Lesson of Love

By The Reverend

HARVEY T. GOODLING National Chaplain

The American Legion

TN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA there is a beau- A tiful chapel which was erected in honor of four chap¬ lains. In effect, it is a tribute to the ideal for which these armed service chaplains lived and died.

If we accept the premise that love is a giving process —as put forth by Eric Fromm in The Art of Loving— then we can say that these men by dying contributed the ultimate, their lives. By their giving of their lives, they gave to us a model of what love of God and love of your fellow man can be.

Three Faiths They were ordinary Americans, reared in a free land

by parents with a belief in and devotion to God. Each had dedicated his life to serving God: George Fox was a minister in the Methodist Church; Father John Wash¬ ington was a Roman Catholic priest; Alexander Goode was a Jewish rabbi; and Clark V. Poling, the youngest of the four, was a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church.

Their lives were drawn together aboard the USS Dorchester, a troopship, where they continued to carry out their life’s mission of teaching about God each in his own way, doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly. They would preach the word, be constant in

Promo Items... (Continued from page 1)

to the National Public Relations Division at the Indian¬ apolis address and should include the call letters and location (by city) of the stations to be serviced with the tapes.

If your area has a Spanish language radio station which would use a Spanish language version of these announcements, the National Public Relations Division in Indianapolis will provide such tapes as long as the extremely limited supply lasts.

National Emblem Sales stocks many “Be Counted Again” promotional items—bumper stickers, counter display cards, license plates, decals, etc.—as listed in the current Emblem Catalog.

and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine, and be good examples to all men.

Reached Out to Fighting Men

It was these men of God who reached out to soldiers and sailors on their way to battle. They were men of inner perception who sensed something of the fear, loneliness, frustrations, and doubt. They knew where the fighting man really existed, and touched his heart and soul, where neither physician or friend could reach.

On that cold, icy February night in 1943, these four stood on the deck of the doomed Dorchester, helping others survive. They gave away their own lifejackets that others might live. Here they personified the oft- repeated teaching, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

In Giving, We Receive

Yes, love is a giving process. But we should also rec¬ ognize that in the process of giving, we are receiving. These four chaplains received the ultimate gift—ever¬ lasting life with God. It is this gift that enabled them to face death that night with the calm assurance that this was not the end, only the beginning.

They knew there is something higher than the glitter of an external civilization, and that is the law of love. For this the four chaplains died; and this it is, and this alone, that will at last subdue and harmonize our world.

Heroism, Courage, Faith

In the saga of these four chaplains we see heroism, great courage, and a never failing faith. They taught us how to live, how to love, and how to die.

On the deck of that sinking troopship, their actions spoke louder than their words. Their heroic sacrifices declared that God is ever in our midst.

On this 32nd anniversary of their deaths let us com¬ memorate their deeds and be ever mindful of their leg¬ acy of love.

We thank God for men such as Goode, Washington, Fox, and Poling—men of different religious faiths yet of a great unity of spirit. All honor and glory to them!

About the Author: Reverend Goodling of Corbett, Ore., is a veteran of World War I and World War II. He served as an Army Chaplain during World War II, and took part in the Normandy Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge. He is a retired pastor of the United Church of Christ, Cascade Locks, Ore., a past commander of Post 80, Bonneville, Ore., and past de¬ partment chaplain of Oregon.

4 The ADVANCE, January, 1975

NRA-American Legion-SAL annual postal

Marksmanship Matches INTRODUCTION

In cooperation with The American Legion, the National Rifle Association conducts an¬ nual individual and team postal rifle and pistol matches for Legionnaires and rifle matches for members of The Sons of The American Legion (SAL). This program is designed for American Legion Posts as a recreational activity which will stimulate in¬ terest not only in rifle and pistol marks¬ manship, but also firearms safety. AWARDS

All awards except the McNutt Trophy are contributed by the NRA.

NATIONAL AWARDS Individual Matches— Winner—The American Legion Trophy. Additional trophies will be available on the basis of one for each twenty entries in a match to be awarded to second place, third place, fourth place, etc. Team Matches Winning American Legion Rifle Team—The Paul V. McNutt Trophy (contributed by The American Le-

fWLFi

.ORGANIZED -

gion) and four individual trophies. Winning American Legion Pistol Team—A Team Trophy and four individual trophies. Win¬ ning Sons of The American Legion Rifle Team—Four individual trophies, four addi¬ tional individual trophies will be awarded for each 15 teams entered. I sal Matches can now be fired by Legionnaires).

DEPARTMENT AWARDS Individual Matches—If there are ten or more entries from a Department, a Winner’s Trophy. An additional trophy will be awarded for each 15 entries in a Department.

Team Matches—If there are five or more teams entered from a Department, four trophies. Four additional trophies will be awarded for each ten teams entered from a Department.

NOTE: No competitor may win more than one award in a match. Individuals or teams winning both National and Department awards will be awarded the National award and the Department award will be passed down to the next eligible competitor or team.

1974 POSTAL MATCH RESULTS Score

299 2.

3.

National Individual Rifle I. Daniel C. Comstock,

Hartland, VT _ Howard A. Ross, Thatcher, AZ _ 291 Edmund P. Jensen, Fargo, ND _ 291

National Rifle Team I. Windsor Post No. 25,

Kings Rifles, Team No. I, Windsor, VT I 145

National Individual Pistol 1. Charles F. Barrera, Jr.,

Manchester, CT _ 298 2. Howard A. Ross,

Thatcher, AZ _ 298 3. Andy N. Campbell,

Safford, AZ .. 289

National Pistol Team I. Swift-Murphy Post No. 32,

Team No. I, Thatcher, AZ . 1090 National Junior Individual Rifle 1. Vito P. Orlandella,

Lodi, CA __ 194 2. Joseph Hadfield,

Meridian, ID _ 189 National Junior Team Riflle I. American Legion Post No. 22,

Team No. I, Lodi, CA_ 739 Department Individual Rifle 1. Connecticut—Charles F.

Barrera, Manchester _ 283 2. New Jersey—Edward M.

Ryan, Sr., New Egypt_ 256 Joseph B. Paschal Cream Ridge _ 255

Department Individual Pistol I. New Jersey—Joseph B.

Paschal, Cream Ridge .... 272 Fletcher E. Paschal, Cream Ridge _ 248

Department Junior Individual Rifle 1. California—Curtis E.

Freih, Lodi _ 183 William L. Owen, Lodi .... 182

2. Illinois—Joseph Ferstl, Morton Grove.. 181

Department Junior Team Rifle 1. California—American Legion

Post No. 22, Team No. 2, Lodi .. 709

2. Idaho—American Legion Post No. 113, Meridian . 657

The ADVANCE, January, 1975

See Reverse Side For- General Conditions

Official Entry Forms

Postal Marksmanship Matches NERAL CONDITIO

ELIGIBILITY

Individual Matches—American Legion Rifle and Pistol Matches—Open to any member of The American Legion or American Legion Aux¬ iliary. Sons of The American Legion Rifle Matches—Open to any SAL, American Legion or American Legion Auxiliary member.

Team Matches—American Legion Rifle and Pistol Teams—Open to one or more teams of 4 shooters from each American Legion Post.

Sons of American Legion Rifle Teams—Open to one or more teams of 4 SAL members, spon¬ sored by an American Legion Post, or one or more teams of 4 shooters from each American Legion Post.

Note: An individual may not fire on more than one team in the same match.

ENTRIES

Entries in these matches are made to the:

National Rifle Association 1600 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W. Washington, D. C. 20036

Use one of the entry forms on this page or entries may be made by letter. When entries are received by the NRA, registered targets will be sent to the person making entry. Entry fees must be paid to the NRA and sent with entry forms.

ENTRY CLOSING DATE

Entries can be made any time provided tar¬ gets are fired after January I, and returned to the NRA by June I.

ENTRY FEE

Individual Matches—

American Legion Matches—$1.00 per entry, per match. SAL Matches—75 cents per entry.

Team Matches— All team matches—$4.00 per team.

COURSE OF FIRE

Rifle Matches—

American Legion Rifle Matches—10 shots in each position: Prone, Sitting and Standing. SAL Rifle Matches—10 shots in each posi¬ tion, prone and standing.

Pistol Matches—

NRA Gallery Course, 10 shots each, slow, timed and rapid fire.

DISTANCE

For .22 rimfire matches, 50 feet from firing line to target. For CO^, pneumatic or spring type air rifle with rifled barrel, 25 feet. For spring type air rifle, smooth bore, 15 feet. Firing may be indoors or outdoors.

EQUIPMENT

Rifle—The .22 caliber rimfire (see Smallbore rifle rule 3.1) for all 50 foot matches. The COj pneumatic or spring type air rifle with rifled barrel for all 25 foot matches. The spring type air rifle, smooth bore for all 15 foot matches.

Pistol—Any .22 rimfire pistol or revolver. ( Pistol Rule 3.5).

SIGHTS

Metallic Sights

TARGETS

NRA Official Targets will be used. Registered match targets will be furnished by the NRA.

POSITIONS

The NRA standing position (Smallbore Rifle Rule 5.12) and NRA sitting position (Smallbore Rifle Rule 5.8) are permitted in rifle matches. See illustrations for approved firing positions.

PRACTICE AND SIGHTING SHOTS

A shooter may fire as many sighting shots and use as much time for practice as he de¬ sires before any stage of these matches is started. After a stage is started no additional time will be allowed for sighting shots.

SPOTTING SCOPES

Competitors and coaches may use spotting scopes for observing targets.

COACHING

Coaching is permitted during the team matches. No coaching allowed during the in¬ dividual matches.

TIME LIMITS

Rifle—10 minutes per target of 10 record shots plus any sighting shots fired on that target.

Pistol—Slow fire, fired in 2 strings of 5 shots each, 5 minutes per string. Timed fire, fired in 2 strings of 5 shots each, 20 seconds per string. Rapid fire, fired in 2 strings of 5 shots each, 10 seconds per string.

RULES Current NRA Rules will apply. Smallbore

Rifle, Pistol and Precision Air Rifle and Pistol rule books are available from the NRA at 35 cents each.

SUPERVISION

All shooting will be under the supervision of a responsible adult who will observe the firing and execute the Firing Report Certificate stating that all requirements were complied with.

The NRA has the privilege to request sub¬ stantiating scores to be fired by any com¬ petitor if deemed necessary.

SAFETY

In these matches, as in all other NRA spon¬ sored competitions, every safety precaution must be exercised at all times.

MATCHES

THE AMERICAN LEGION MATCHES—

Rifle: Match I. Individual Rifle Match Match 2. Rifle Team Match

Pistol: Match 3. Individual Pistol Match Match 4. Pistol Team Match

SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION MATCHES—

Match 5.

Match 6.

Match 7.

Match 8.

Match 9.

Match 10.

Individual 50 foot, rimfire rifle match. Individual 25 foot, COa, pneu¬ matic or spring type air rifle with rifled barrel. Individual 15 foot, spring type air rifle, smooth bore. Rifle team, 50 foot, same rifle as Match 5. Rifle team, 25 foot, same rifle as Match 6. Rifle team, 15 foot, same rifle as Match 7.

SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION POSTAL RIFLE MATCHES

ENTRY FORM

Fill out this entry form and send with entry fees to: National Rifle Association, Competitions, Training and Facilities Division, 1600 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., Washington, D. C. 20036. MATCH NO. MATCH NAME NO. OF ENTRIES

5 individual, 50 feet.. 6 Individual, 25 feet.. 7 Individual, 15 feet.. 8 Team, 50 feet.. 9 Team, 25 feet..

10 Team, 15 feet.. _Individual Entries @ $0.75 each.. _Team Entries @ $4.00 each...

TOTAL ENTRY FEE.$_ SEND REGISTERED TARGETS TO:

--Post No_

Your Name_

Address_

City-State_Zip Code_ D Send “How to Organize a Junior Rifle Club” (Under 19 years of age.) □ Send "How fo Organize a Senior Rifle or Pistol Club"

NRA-AMERICAN LEGION POSTAL MATCHES

ENTRY FORM Fill out this entry form and send with entry fees to: National Rifle Association, Competitions, Training and Facilities Division, 1600 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., Washington, D. C. 20036.

MATCH NO. MATCH NAME NO. OF ENTRIES

1 Individual Rifle .. 2 Rifle Team __ 3 Individual Pistol . .. ..._ 4 Pistol Team .. _ Individual Entries @ $1.00 each.$_ _Team Entries @ 4.00 each .$_

TOTAL ENTRY FEE $_

SEND REGISTERED TARGETS TO:

__Post No_

Your Name_

Address_

City_State_Zip Code

□ Send “How to Organize a Senior Rifle or Pistol Club” □ Send examination for NRA Instructor’s Certificate

6 The ADVANCE, January, 1975

56th Birthday Ad Materak A MERIC AN LEGION POSTS

can help promote the 56th Birthday observance through the use of cooperative advertisements in their local newspapers. Materials for the production of these ads are now available at no cost.

The ad layout for this year’s observance is illustrated here in reduced form. 11 is available in either a 5-c.olumn or 3-column size.

Cooperative newspaper ads are available in both mat (for letter- press) and reproduction proof (for offset) forms.

The Birthday ad is designed spe¬ cifically for use in publications of general circulation.

Check with your newspaper’s advertising department to determine which type of material to order. When your order comes in, contact your newspaper’s advertising depart¬ ment to see what space costs are involved. Some newspapers will help obtain the cooperative sponsorship necessary to pay the space costs. Others will want the post to take care of that chore. Also, the ad lay¬ out can be used as the foundation for a larger ad which might include pictures of the post officers or photos depicting the history of the post, details of the post’s 56th Birthday observance, etc.

(Use the handy form below to order cooperative ad materials.)

it’s all different- BUT STILL THE SAME

It was a far different world in March 1919 when the doughboys of the first A.E.F. met in Paris, France, and formed The American Legion.

But today—three wars later—American Legionnaires of all ages are still known for the same dedication to service that counts for America.

On this 56th anniversary of the founding of The American Legion, we congratulate the 2,700,000 Legionnaires

ANNIVERSARY of our land and especially those of our community. We wish them every success in their efforts to remind us all that it is time to

BE COUNTED AGAIN—FOR AMERICA!

56TH

(SPONSOR)

In cooperation with

Post No..

THE AMERICAN LEGION

INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION

The American Legion, P. O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206

Please ship American Legion 56th Birthday cooperative advertising materials in the type and sizes specified:

(Check One) (How Many?)

[D MATS E] REPRO PROOFS (Offset) . 3-column . 5-column.

(Please Print or Type)

NAME.Title.Post No.

ZIP ADDRESS.CITY.STATE.CODE.

The ADVANCE, January, 1975 7

Employ Older Worker Week Set Mar. 9-15 Mr. Post Commander: The American Legion will

mark the 17th annual observance of Employ the Older Worker Week, March 9-15, 1975. The National Eco¬ nomic Commission calls upon all posts to participate in this program which features a worthwhile awards pro¬ gram designed to recognize outstanding employers.

All posts are encouraged to nominate employers within their respective communities whose personnel policies favor the employment of older workers. The nomination, which should include a brief statistical report of the employer’s record, should be sent to your department headquarters.

In 1974, awards were presented honoring employers in the following departments: Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minneso¬ ta, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dako¬ ta, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Philippines, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Additional information on this awards program can be obtained by writing: National Economic Commis¬ sion, The American Legion, 1608 K St., N.W., Wash¬ ington, D.C. 20006.

POST COMMANDER'S

Hotline..J The American Legion has hailed the enactment of

legislation to improve education and readjustment ben¬ efits for Vietnam War veterans. The Legion’s long- sought legislative victory was realized Dec. 3 when both the House of Representatives and the Senate voted overwhelmingly to override President Ford’s veto of H.R. 12628.

Pointing out that the Legion during 1974 fought a sometimes lonely battle to achieve the new law, Nation¬ al Commander Janies M. Wagonseller stated, “Early in 1974, there were others who seemed willing to settle for less than what The American Legion firmly believed was necessary and due the Vietnam veterans. We believe we were right to continue the effort for ade¬ quate legislation.”

Effective date of the additional benefits is Sept. 1, 1974.

One objective—direct allowance for tuition pay¬ ments—was not included. The Legion’s request for di¬ rect tuition allowance will be renewed when the new session of Congress convenes this month (January).

THE AMERICAN LEGION

Advance

NOTE TO EDITORS: PERMISSION GRANTED TO USE OR REPRINT ALL “ADVANCE” ITEMS.

PRINTED IN U.S.A. 13-862 (1/75)