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Vol. XVII August, 1974 No. 8

'BE COUNTED AGAIN—NOW . . . '

Benefits Count in Legion Membership rpHE PINCH OF RISING COSTS on every hand

makes it unusually important that post member¬ ship workers have a very clear idea of the benefits of American Legion membership before launching into the 1975 campaign. At times the active Legionnaire and the long-time member are so accustomed to the bene¬ fits of membership that they are hard put to answer the perfectly legitimate question, “What’s in it for me?”

So this article is intended to remind you of the very real benefits of American Legion membership. Let’s classify the different types of benefits as material, per¬ sonal, civic, and social.

In talking with members and prospective members, we need to remember that each has his own personal needs and wants. If you can sense that particular aspect of Legion membership which is of most interest to the prospective member, recruitment usually becomes a simple matter.

Material Benefits The American Legion Magazine: Every member is

going to receive 12 issues. Show a copy to every pros¬ pect. It should be a standard part of your sales kit.

Insurance: Members in good standing have an oppor¬ tunity to enroll in a low cost life insurance program. Applications and additional information are included in the “Invitation Kit” membership folder. Or your post can get insurance pamphlets for distribution by writing directly to: American Legion Life Insurance Plan, 111

In This Issue Page

Benefits Count in Legion Membership _ I Avis Offers 20 % Discount ... 2 Commander's Calendar_ 2 'Tools' Aid Post Americanism Program _ 3 American Education Week _ 4 Increases in Compensation, DIC Payments _ 5 American Legion Life Insurance Plan _ 6 Veterans Day Ad Materials.. 7 Employ the Handicapped Week ___ 8 Current Status of Viet-Vet Gl Bill. 8

W. Jackson Blvd., 13th Floor, Chicago, Ill. 60604. In addition, many departments are offering medical or hos¬ pital indemnity insurance for their members. If yours is one of these departments, be sure that your membership workers have complete information.

Discounts: Avis Rent-A-Car System has just offered members of The American Legion a 20 per cent dis¬ count. A complete announcement on this will be found elsewhere in this issue.

Personal Benefits Lumped under this broad heading are all of the per¬

sonal satisfactions that go with belonging to The Amer¬ ican Legion:

Identification as a veteran who served honorably during time of war or armed conflict;

An opportunity to assume a leadership role—to move up the ladder to whatever level the individual’s talents and efforts will take him;

A chance to make his voice heard during a period when all too often the individual is lost in the crowd or dehumanized by a distant computer, and

The knowledge that his membership supports an organization which is performing a genuine service for all veterans through its legislative effort and its net¬ work of service officers.

Civic Benefits Several surveys have found that as many as two-

thirds of the veterans who join The American Legion do so in anticipation of some social or recreational ben¬ efits. But these same surveys show that the member who renews year after year keeps his membership because of what the Legion does for others—its civic and service programs.

Although it’s important for membership workers to know about Boys State and Boys Nation, the oratorical program, and the other major National programs, it’s much more important for him to know what his post is doing.

How many boys do you send to Boys State? Does your post have a baseball team, sponsor a Scout unit,

(Continued on next page)

Benefits.... (Continued from preceding page)

give a scholarship, or present school or ROTG awards ? What does your post do on Memorial Day or Veterans Day? Do you support the local retarded children’s association, the United Fund, the local hospital, the city recreational program? If so, HOW?

Every Legionnaire on the membership committee should have a list of the actual services performed by the post for others during the past year—and what you expect to do during the coming year. Sometimes par¬ ents don’t even know that it was your post which made it possible for their son to attend Boys State.

Social Benefits Although we’ve placed social benefits last in this arti¬

cle, this is the type of benefit which probably produces most of our new members. Whether you have a post home or social center of any kind, every post should have an activity calendar which includes social events for its members, their wives and families.

Remember— “We associate ourselves together . . .” We are, first of

all, an association. The opportunity to make friends, to enjoy social activities, to work together for a common cause—these are the cement that holds an organization together.

A warm, friendly post is probably your best member¬ ship benefit. Such a post will be attractive, whether you’re talking to a World War I veteran who never joined The American Legion or a 20-year-old Viet- Time vet.

Avis Offers 20% Discount To American Legion Members

A VIS Rent A Car System, Inc., has offered a 20 per cent discount on its regular rates for rental car serv¬

ice to members of The American Legion. Just show your 1974 or 1975 membership card to Avis counter personnel and request the discount.

You must make your own individual credit arrange¬ ments with Avis. The American Legion Membership Card is not a credit card.

The discount is applicable to all domestic rentals (except for those special rates that were prediscount¬ ed). The discount also is not available in Canada or other foreign countries.

Ronald Wulkan, Avis Vice President—Advertising, notified National Adjutant William F. Hauk on June 21 that the Avis system had been notified that the 20 per cent discount had been approved for American Legion members.

*■«= 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

August, 1974 Vol. XVII, No. 8

August 1-2 National Membership Workshop, Indian¬

apolis, Ind. 5 10th anniversary of Gulf of Tonkin Inci¬

dent which changed role of U.S. involve¬ ment in Vietnam, 1964.

14-19 Regional Tournaments, American Legion Baseball.

16-22 56th National Convention, The American Legion, Miami Beach, Fla.

22-27 1974 World Series of American Legion Baseball, Roseburg, Ore.

September 2 Labor Day. 29th anniversary of V-J Day,

1945. 7-8 District Commanders’ Training Seminars,

Atlanta, Ga.; Little Rock, Ark.; Portland, Me.; and Salt Lake City, Utah.

14-15 District Commanders’ Training Seminar, Minneapolis, Minn.

21-22 National Baseball Conference, Indianapo¬ lis, Ind.

28-29 National Conference of Department Ora¬ torical Chairmen, Indianapolis, Ind.

October 5- 6 National Boys State Conference, Indian¬

apolis, Ind. 6- 12 National Employ The Handicapped

Week. 7- 8 Annual Conference of Department Com¬

manders and Adjutants; meetings of standing national commissions and com¬ mittees, Indianapolis, Ind.

9-10 National Executive Committee, Indian¬ apolis, Ind.

14 Columbus Day.

2 The ADVANCE, August, 1974

Tools' Aid Post Ameritanism Program By

The Rev. John J. Howard

(Virginia) Past National Chaplain

Member, National Americanism Commission

^"^NE OF THE PRIMARY duties of an American Legion Post is to translate Americanism precepts,

principles, and ideals to the community in which the post is established.

It is a duty of an incoming Commander to acquaint himself with the different publications that have been prepared for his guidance and for the post’s informa¬ tion. These are available at department headquarters and can be obtained by the department adjutant from National Headquarters.

Post Americanism Committee

Written matter is of no use unless it is put in the hands of those who will use it. The Post Commander should appoint an alert, conscientious chairman of his Americanism Committee. The Commander and chair¬ man should then select the rest of the committee.

A full Americanism Program should be instituted and laid out in the first month of the Legion year so that the post can look forward to participation. The Post Commander and chairman must be familiar with the “tools,” consequently the rest of this article will recap the publications which have proven themselves useful to a first-class Americanism Program.

Publications

1. Post Commander’s Guide: Pages 87-96 will pro¬ vide an insight into Patriotic Holidays observed by the post and the ceremonies attendant to; Pages 96-111, Flag Ceremonies; and Page 112, Prayers for Special Occasions.

2. Americanism Manual: There are 64 pages in this book and this document is a must for the Post Com¬ mander and the Americanism Chairman. The first 8 pages fully explain The American Legion Americanism Program, its objectives, its principles, and its definition. Pages 8-10 outline the requirements for trophies and awards.

The balance of the Americanism Manual is broken down into 8 Americanism activities:

The ADVANCE, August, 1974

a. Service to God and Country b. Educational activities c. Flag Education d. Immigration and Naturalization e. Baseball and Recreation f. Youth activities g. Patriotic Holidays h. Counter-subversive activities

The Americanism Manual is certainly a great “tool” for a complete program. There is something for everyone and the Post Commander and his chairman should con¬ tinually have this book at hand.

3. There are many “supplementary aids” to the manual and to the program. These have been devised to illustrate certain activities and have been printed in large lots for distribution to posts. Some of these book¬ lets and pamphlets are:

a. Service to God and Country, a spiritual emphasis booklet of 28 pages to be used in connection with a Back to God Program.

b. Flag Etiquette, see flag ceremonies in Command¬ er’s Guide and flag education in manual.

c. School Awards d. Partners for God and Country, Boy Scout folder. e. The American Legion and Boys’ Clubs of Ameri¬

ca, a folder concerning Boys’ Clubs. f. Need A Lift?, an outstanding book listing scholar¬

ships and other financial assistance for higher education. Each post should see that each high school and public library in its vicinity has a copy. Every Americanism Chairman should also have a copy.

g. American Legion Baseball Handbook, guidance for posts contemplating fielding a team.

h. Oratorical Contest Brochure, describes contest for Legion year. This folder also is sent out in ADVANCE in the Fall.

i. Firing Line, developed by Counter-Subversive Committee. Subscription is $3.00 per year for single subscription. Order from: Director, National American¬ ism Commission, P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206. Bulk subscriptions (20 or more sent to the same address) are available for $1.00 each.

At the last meeting of the National Americanism Commission held in the Spring, the unanimous finding of the commission was that the inculcation and encour¬ aging of patriotism, particularly among youth must be accomplished through the family, home, school, and the local community. The American Legion youth pro¬ grams are one way to do this. The local American Legion Post should make every effort t o promote American ideals by using the “tools” provided for its use.

3

Legion Observance Of Education Week Set Oct. 27-Nov. 2 HTHE WEEK of Oct. 27-Nov. 2, 1974, will mark the

54th consecutive year The American Legion has co¬ sponsored American Education Week. In 1921, the Legion initiated action to call public attention to the educational deficiencies and needs of the young people of that era which resulted in the first observance of American Education Week.

The original purposes of American Education Week have been expanded to include citizenship education, Veterans Day observances, an increase of public under¬ standing and appreciation of the schools, school visita¬ tions by parents, support for school involvement, and development of student appreciation of today’s educa¬ tion.

This year’s theme—“Stay Involved”—directs atten¬ tion to the need for increasing post involvement and its development into community action.

Each American Legion Post should keep in mind that this program is an American Legion service to America. Begin your participation by appointing an American Education Week Committee prior to the opening of schools this fall. The first responsibility of this committee will be to contact the local parent- teacher group, education association, school officials, and other organizations interested in American Educa¬ tion Week and invite them to make this year’s observ¬ ance a joint effort.

The American Legion and other sponsoring organiza¬ tions, in cooperation with the National Education Asso¬ ciation, have prepared a packet of about 30 items which will be helpful in the planning, promotion, and observance of American Education Week. These pack¬ ets are available at $3 each (prepaid) from American Education Week, P.O. Box 327, Hyattsville, Md. 20781. They should be ordered prior to the community planning meeting.

American Education Week planning is also an appro¬ priate time to discuss the revised 24th edition of Need A Lift? with school personnel to determine the number of copies you will need to order, to have in time for the observance. Education Week is also an opportune occa¬ sion to distribute the Legion’s much publicized pam¬ phlet, Guide for Parents and Students, to parents during Open House.

Need A Lift? is 50 cents per copy, 30 cents in quanti¬ ties of 100. A Guide for Parents and Students is $10 per 1,000 or $6 per 500 (payment to accompany order). Both publications may be obtained from The American Legion, P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206.

-SuSiested

NEWS RELEASE!

(American Education Week) Plans for American Education Week, to be observed

Oct. 27—Nov. 2, in .(Community). were released today by Post Commander .(Full Name). of .(Name of Post). Post No.of The American Legion, one of the observ¬ ance’s sponsors.

A planning committee for this year’s observance has been organized with .(Full Name)., representing.(Organization),.as chairman. Other members of the committee and the co-sponsoring organizations represented are as follows: .(List members by full name and organization each represents). In addition to the sponsoring organ¬ izations represented on the committee the following “support groups” are cooperating in this year’s observ¬ ance: .(List support groups).

“Stay Involved” is the theme of the 1974 observance of American Education Week, sponsored nationally by The American Legion, National Education Association, U.S. Office of Education, and the National Congress of Parents and Teachers.

Plans for .(Community’s). observance this year will emphasize the following subjects of inter¬ est: .(Briefly summarize such subject matters as Year-Round School, Career Education, Adult Educa¬ tion, etc.).

“In this year’s program throughout the United States,” Commander .(Last Name Only). said, “emphasis will be directed toward helping our schools gain and maintain the public support needed to accomplish the job the nation expects of its educa¬ tional system.”

American Education Week was begun in 1921 as a joint venture of the Legion and the National Educa¬ tion Association. In recent years, more than 50 national groups with a membership of more than 25 million have joined as “Supporting Organizations” in the observance. The program’s original intent was to enlist the public’s help to eliminate the high proportion of illiteracy and poor physical fitness prevalent during World War I.

4 The ADVANCE, August, 1974

Law Ups Compensation, DIC Payments ‘C'FFECTIVE AUGUST 1, veterans and dependents

receiving disability compensation or Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) will find their regular monthly payments increased under the terms of PL 93- 295, signed May 31 by President Nixon.

The law made the increases retroactive to May 1, 1974, and a separate check covering the increases for the months of May and June was to have been mailed to each qualified recipient by mid-July.

Compensation payments are being increased by 15 to 18 per cent, and DIC payments to widows and children are being increased by about 17 per cent.

Disability Compensation Percentage of disability

10 per cent 20 per cent 30 per cent 40 per cent 50 per cent 60 per cent 70 per cent 80 per cent 90 per cent

100 per cent

Old Rate New Rate $ 28 $ 32

51 59 77 89

106 122 149 171 179 211 212 250 245 289 275 325 495 584

(The new law also provides higher statutory awards for certain multiple disabilities—Post Service Officers should contact the Department Service Officer in such cases.)

In addition to basic compensation rate increases, dependency allowances also were raised and are paya¬ ble to veterans who are rated at not less than 50 per cent disabled. The rates listed below are those payable to veterans while rated totally disabled. For those vet¬ erans rated 50 to 90 per cent, the allowances are paya¬ ble in an amount bearing the same ratio as the degree of disability bears to total disability.

Promote Post Delegations to District, Department Fetes T?OR MANY Legionnaires, the scope of The American

Legion is defined by the physical facilities and per¬ haps the activities of their respective posts.

However, as those of you who comprise the officer and leadership corps know, The American Legion is a much broader organization. Post officers are very much aware of the department organization and any interme¬ diate organizations the department may have estab¬ lished—district, county, division, etc. (The remainder of this article will refer to the intermediate organization as “district.”)

Post leaders receive direction and assistance from the district commander and those district officials charged with the responsibility for specific programs.

(Continued on back page)

The ADVANCE, August, 1974

Dependency Allowances If and while rated Old New totally disabled— Rate Rate (a) has a wife but no child living $ 31 $ 36 (b) has wife and one child 53 61 (c) has wife and 2 children 67 (d) has wife and 3 children 83

(plus for each child in excess of 3) 15 (e) has no wife but one child 21 (f ) has no wife but 2 children 36 (g) has no wife but 3 childen 53

(plus for each child in excess of 3) 15 (h) has a mother or father, either or both

dependent upon him for support, for each parent so dependent 25

(i) for each child who is 18 and who is pursuing a course of instruction at an approved educational institution 48

Also increased under the provisions of PL 93-295 are the rates of Death and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) paid to widows and children of veterans who died of service-connected disabilities.

77 95 17 24 41 61 17

29

55

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Pay Old New

Grade Rate Rate E-l $184 $215 E-2 189 221 E-3 195 228 E-4 206 241 E-5 212 248 E-6 217 254 E-7 227 266 E-8 240 281 E-9 250 294 W-l 232 271 W-2 241 282 W-3 249 291 W-4 262 307

Pay Old New Grade Rate Rate

0-1 $232 $271 0-2 240 281 0-3 257 301 0-4 272 318 0-5 299 350 0-6 337 394 0-7 365 427 0-8 399 467 0-9 429 502 0-10 469 549

If there is no widow receiving DIC, payment is made in equal shares to the children of the deceased veteran. These rates have been increased as follows:

( I) One child, from $92 to $ I 08. (2) Two children, from $133 to $156. (3) Three children, from $172 to $201. (4) More than three children, from $172 plus $34 for each

child in excess of three to $201, plus $40 for each child in excess of three.

The additional payment to a child who has attained the age of 18 and who became permanently incapable of self-support while under such age has been increased fom $55 to $64.

If DIC is paid to a widow and there is a child who has at¬ tained the age of 18 and who became permanently incapable of self-support while under such age, DIC is also payable to each such child, concurrently with the DIC payment to the widow, in the amount of $92. This additional payment has been increased to $108.

If DIC is payable to a widow and there is a child who has attained the age of 18 but has not attained the age of 23 and is pursuing a course of instruction at an educational institution approved under the education programs, DIC to each child, paid concurrently with the DIC payment to the widow, has been increased from $47 to $55.

5

a 171(5 American Legion

For God and Country

★ NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS ★ 111 WEST JACKSON BOULEVARD, 13TH FLOOR ★ * INSURANCE DEPARTMENT ★ CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60604 ★ 312-939-7000 ★

OFFICE OF THE

ADMINISTRATOR

THE ONLY APPROVED INSURANCE PLAN IN ALL STATES FOR LEGIONNAIRES

August 1, 1974

Dear Commander:

Congratulations on your election to the office of Post Commander. Your first concern now, no doubt is to get started early on the annual campaign to build membership. There are still some posts which have not participated in The American Legion Life Insurance Plan. In spite of this oversight, every Post now has insured members and with a minimum of effort could have more.

Insured Legionnaires soon will be requesting 1975 Membership Card numbers. In early October, each insured Legionnaire will be asked to remit premium for 1975 and report new card number before January 1, 1975.

The American Legion Life Insurance Plan is now able to offer the Vietnam Veteran (under 30 years of age), (26 in Ohio) $40,000 decreasing term insurance for an annual premium of $96.00. In additional they may obtain lifetime protection. This may be carried for life as long as the annual premium is paid, the insured remains a member of The American Legion, and the Plan stays in effect.

American Legion Life Insurance is designed exclusively for Legionnaires, and is not meant to replace any of your other insurance. It provides your family with an extra measure of protection to help meet rising living costs.

To date, it has already paid out almost 17 million dollars in death benefits to families of Legionnaires all over the world.

In addition to the millions of dollars in direct benefits, The American Legion Life Insurance Plan, through its Trust Fund, supports scholarship awards to Departments and National winners of The Legion's National High School Oratorical Contest and aids The Legion's Baseball Program.

May I take this occasion to wish you success in your year as Post Commander, and assure you our National Headquarters office located in Chicago, Illinois will cooperate with and serve you whenever possible.

Albert V. LaBiche, Chairman The American Legion Life Insurance and Trust Committee

AMERICAN LEGION LIFE INSURANCE PREMIUM GROWTH 1958 - 1973 AMERICAN LEGION LIFE INSURANCE PAIO CLAIMS 1958-MARCH 31,1974 $1,000,000 d

$2,000,000 $13,000,000

1961 . 1 $257,970

l9&0 ~~3l*82I.S4S

'959 J~^*/S9,*/Q

1956 §47* 790

$2,000,000 $13,000,000 $14-,000,000

6 The ADVANCE, August, 1974

Veterans Day Ad Materials VTOUR POST can make an important "*■ contribution to greater public under¬

standing of the significance of Veterans Day and promote increased participation in your community observance through the use of cooperative newspaper advertise¬ ments.

Pictured here, in reduced size, is The American Legion’s Veterans Day ad for 1974. This ad is available in either mat form (for letterpress process) or reproduc¬ tion proof (for offset process). There is no charge for this material.

The ad layouts are available in 3-column (about 11 in. deep) or 5-column (about 14 in. deep) sizes.

Your local newspaper’s advertising de¬ partment can advise you as to the type of materials you should request.

Mr. Post Commander: Upon receipt of your 1974 Veterans Day advertising ma¬ terials, you (or your public relations offi¬ cer) should contact the paper’s advertising department to determine the space costs involved. Perhaps your newspaper will help in obtaining the cooperative sponsor¬ ship necessary to pay the space costs. Many posts use this material to build even larger ads to call public attention to special de¬ tails of their local Veterans Day observ¬ ance.

(Use the handy order form below to order your 1974 Veterans Day promo¬ tional materials.)

Veterans Day is a time to honor the 28 million gallant Americans—men and women—who served in our Nation's armed forces during the four wars of the Twentieth Century. Through their service, America's veterans have exalted the heritage of their citizenship—they have helped to vindicate the principles of peace and justice in the world.

We salute the veterans of our community in grateful appreciation of their sacrifice and continued service.

(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 1974 Veterans Day co-operative advertising materials in the type specified.

(How Many?) (How Many?)

3-COLUMN MATS. 3-COLUMN REPRO PROOFS (Offset).

5-COLUMN MATS.. 5-COLUMN REPRO PROOFS (Offset)..

(Please Print or Type)

NAME. .Title. Post No,

ADDRESS

CITY. ZIP

STATE.CODE

The ADVANCE, August, 1974 7

Employ Handicapped Week Set Oct. 6-12 j^OR THE 28th consecutive year, The American

Legion will observe National Employ the Handi¬ capped Week, Oct. 6-12, in conjunction with the Presi¬ dent’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped.

Under the guidance of the National Economic Com¬ mission, The American Legion’s program for the employment of the handicapped is culminated with national recognition bestowed upon employers whose personnel policies encourage the employment and retention of handicapped workers, especially disabled war veterans.

Mr. Post Commander: Is there an employer in your community who is worthy of national recognition in The American Legion’s Citation Award program?

The procedure for participation is simple. Just select such an employer, give a brief summary of the employ¬ er’s record which would qualify for such an award, and send the information to your department headquarters.

Many of the handicapped have learned to overcome their disabilities and are capable of making meaningful contributions to society. The employers who consider the handicapped on the basis of their ability—not disa¬ bility—deserve due recognition.

Promote... (Continued, from Page 5)

It is important that American Legion leaders at the post encourage the leadership potential to get a broader perspective of our organization. The logical place to start such development is through attendance at district and department functions—meetings, conventions, con¬ ferences, workshops, etc.

The American Legion is a massive proving ground for leadership. We are constantly in need of a corps of post leaders. Likewise, post leaders are needed to meet the demands of leadership turnover at the district. It’s a natural progression, one that provides a strong incen¬ tive for anyone desiring to ascend the Legion’s leader¬ ship ladder.

Legislative Note: As this issue of ADVANCE goes to press, the fate of the Vietnam GI education bill is resting in the hands of a Senate-House conference committee. The American Legion is giving full sup¬ port to the Senate-passed amendments, which include an 18 per cent increase in monthly subsist¬ ence and up to $720 per year to help cover tuition costs. Legionnaires, especially Viet vets, are urged to make their views known to their Senators and Rep¬ resentatives. Direct contact with members of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs will be especially helpful.

THE AMERICAN LEGION

Advance

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

PRINTED IN U.S.A. 13-857 (8/74)