Hattiesburg American from Hattiesburg, Mississippi • 8

EIGHT Fridav. November 2, 1945 rafts IIATTIESBimO (HISS.) AMERICAN 0) S(BTCo Ul Lb Legion Plans Varied Program for New Year Served State Through Disaster, Depression the state, nation and veteran. A state law to make the loan feature of the G. I. Bill work: legislation to insure adequate housing other facilities at Junior and senior colleges for married and single veterans; a state law to make permanent claims and other servicea available to veterans in all counUesrw The establishment of memorial forests and the establishment of a forestry course at a state institution; to prevent forest fires and conservation of game and fish, and the establishment of a four-year medical college.

makes periodical visits to department headquarters, department and state service officers, and veterans administration facilities. Reports on their findings and recommendations are lubmitted to the Washington office for consideration and action. Although the field service devotes a good part of its time to rehabilitation matters, it also functions for the other divisions of the national organlzalon. American Legion Posts are now employing 5,308 people to assist in caring for the needs of veterans of World War I and II. American Legion Posts have made annual cash contributions to com creating the state game commission for the conservation and restocking of an almost destroyed stock of game flag to the nearest of kin 1932.

11. Originated and sponsored the national bill to pass a federal law authorizing the presentation of a flag to hte nearest of kin 1932. 12. Because of its emergency relief squadrons, organized for emergency relief, the Legion was first to render Improvements in the methods and procedure of the veterans administration. It seeks out the disabled, a thing which the government, because of Its legal imitations, cannot do.

It helps to develop their claims and advances them until the most favorable action possible under the law and regulations has been taken. The American Legion in early 1941 sent a commission to England to study civilian defense and to plan a civilian defense for the United States. The American Legion produced the first authentic set of civilian defense manuals In the United States. These covered aircraft warning, air-raid protection and airraid action. Over 1,000,000 copies of these manuals were distributed Into every community in the United States.

The American Legion in co-operation with the U. S. Army was largely Instrumental for the establishment of the aircraft warning service. Its observers and observation posts, on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. There were by July, 1942.

over 98,000 Legionnaires, serving each watch as required, as observers. At the request of the President of the United States the American Legion set up and conducted, at their own expense, 56 air-raid warden instructor's schools in 31 states; 7,743 Instructors completed the course, then returned to their home communities, establishing and carrying on 13,323 local warden schools training over 225,000 such wardens. The American Legion can and will do many things for you. Its program Is in the Interest of all honorably discharged veterans. You will be represented by the Legion's national rehabilitation, employment, legislative, and veterans preference committees at Washington, D.

C. You will be kept Informed of your rights and privileges under all federal legislation of benefit to the veteran. You will be able to turn to your local post lor help at any time. The American Legion In the individual states proposed legislation and was the foundation for the State Guards, furnl-shing over 8,000 officers and non-commissioned officers fully organizing the State Guard in many states. The American Legion through RECORDS FOR OUR FIGHTING MEN, has furnished the armed services overseas over 370,000 new phonograph records without one cent of cost to those Services.

It Is expected that The American Legion will further furnish over two million records to the armed services (Continued on Page Ten) To demonstrate to returning veterans the variety of projects which it undertakes, the Allen B. Carter Post No. 24 of the American Legion today announced the coming Mississippi Legion program for 1946. The program, which was approved at the district convention in July, has as its major objectives: The establishment of living memorials useful' to the community and state. Active cooperation with our school in American Education Week November 11 to 17.

Cooperation with Eddie Cantor and merchants' organizations to see that every service man and woman in hospitals receive a remembrance on Christmas, 1945, To award not less than 262 school award medals through schools to boys and girl for leadership, honor, sportsmanship and scholarship. To award not less than nine state oratorical medals and $500 in cash prizes to boys and-or girl winners of the state oraotrical contest, based upon the constitution of the United States. The state winner goes. at national expense, to the national contest. The national winner receives a $4,000 scholarship.

To sponsor from 20 to 50 Junior baseball teams for boys under 17 In 1946. Objective: citizenship, leadership, and sportsmanship. To sponsor Boys' State a practical course in how city, county and state governments are run. Objective: citizenship, leadership, and love for the American way. To sponsor Boy and Girl Scout troops and organize and develop.

S. A. L. squadrons. Objective citizenship, leadership, unselfish service.

To continue direct financial aid to needy veterans' children, and to foster and develop a well rounded child welfare program for all children. Objective: bettter health and education makes better citizens. To aid in securing veterans employment and to protect the rights of veterans In all employment. To cooperate closely with the national American Legion legislative committee in the presentation of all bills passed or endorsed by The American Legion for the benefit of Post Has Complete Veterans Service The Allen B. Carter Post No.

24 Is cooperating with Forrest County and the City of Hatties-burg in the operation of a veterans service office. The office Is located in the Legion Home on Green street and Is rated among the best In the state. The office is well equipped to handle all veterans affairs. It is staffed with personnel capable of assisting and advising the returning 'veteran. It is open from 9 m.

to 5 p. m. daily. munity funds, the Red Cross, USO and other war or community relief agencies in an approximate total of 873,395. American Legion departments and Posts take an active part in rehabilitation work through service officer particularly as to veterans needing help.

Splendid and valuable work Is done by the American Legion Auxiliary in assisting families of the disabled and deceased. The Legion insists upon the best medical and hospital attention that modern science affords. It assists In obtaining the necessary legislation to provide proper treatment and compensation lor veterans and suggests As the Allen B. Carter Post No. 24 of the American Legion presses its 1946 membership drive to add at least 500 men to its roll, the Legion pointed with pride to some of the sen-lees which the 131 posts throughout Mississippi have rendered since their foundation.

The local post now has 597 members. The local post lists 21 project of the many which the Lesrion has un-certaken successfully. They follow: 1. Wrote and sponsored the law creating the Service Commission Law providing free service for veterans and dependents 1924, 2. Sponsors Child Welfare for all children and gives direct cash, food, clothing and medical aid to needy veterans' children continuous since 1925.

Total Legion cash funs spent in state to date over juo.ooo. 3. First in rescue worSc In 1927 flood expending In direct aid over $40,000 cash and manning more than one hundred rescue squadrons. Collected and distributed ten tons of clothing and over 400 tons of food 1927. 4.

Inaugurated the first state-wide highway safety program and erected over two thousand safety signs simultaneously near all schools on November 11, 19C8, 5. Wrote and sponsored the law authorizing controlled athletic contests for the protection of our youth, our school athletics and the public 13:3. 6. Wrot and sponsored the law granting county and city governments authority to appropriate limited funds for memorial buildings 1928. Limits removed 1944, 7.

Originated and sponsored a resolution resulting In the location of veterans home in Mississippi 1930. 8. Distributed more than 100.000 flag codes to school children. Annual program since 1930. 9.

Sponsors the making of 150.000 popples made by hand by the Disabled Veterans of the Oulfport hospitalannually 6lnee 1930. 10. Wrote and sponsored the law Local Post Is One Of State's Largest: The Hattlesburg Allen B. Carter Post No. 24 is one of the largest posts of Mississippi as well as one of the most active.

However, memberj expect to enroll nearly twice as many veterans as are on the book today as more and more mea return from overseas and are discharged from camps in the states. The present membership is 897 while the proposed 196 goal Is 1,100. The service office where veterans and troops still In uniform may receive information located In the Legion Home on Green street and Is open daily from 9 a. m. to 5 m.

The club rooms and canteen are cpen daily until 10 p. m. Present officers of the post are: A- B. Cook, commander; S. H.

Dog- 1 emergency aid In the lupeio Disaster, expending over $7,000 cash for food and medicine and distributing one ton of clothing 1936. 13. Sponsored and constructed the first all weather floats In the United States, made six out of Mississippi products and exhibited them from Mississippi to New York, to Chicago to Los Angeles bringing to the state more than $2,000,000 of measured newspaper publicity plus other publicity 1937-1938 1939. 14. Sponsored request for the display of the flag at every school.

15. Wrote and sponsored the law authorizing the construction of ft war memorial building 1938. 1(5. Sponsored, incorporated and set tip Magnolia Boys' State 1939. 1110 boys have attended this practical government training school.

17. Wrote and sponsored the law expanding the state service commission 1944. 18. Sponsored a request, successfully, fo ra reversal of a previous state ruling so that counties could appropriate monies under the 1942 act for the establishment of paid county rehabilitation personnel 1944. 19.

Sponsors Junior baseball to teach citizenship through sportsmanship to boys under 17. Twenty state teams competed in 1945. 30 Plnnnrrt In distribute Xmas gifts to every service man and wom an in every hospital in Mississippi 1945. 21. Collected and delivered to one U.

8. General hoepltal In Mississippi over 11.000.00 to date used by incoming patients to make their first phone call home 1945. gett, adjutant and service officer; H. It. Parker, 1st vice-commander; C.

R. Grimes, 2nd vice-commander; finance officer; Walter Minter, P. E. Montgomery, and C. N.

Yelverton, executive committeemen; C. C. Ezell. historian: M. R.

Cunningham, serpen nt-at-arms, and S. IJ, Berry, chaplain. Tast commander Include i L. B. Hudson, n.

na-ss, M. Curtis, r. L. Miller, A. A.

Brown, S. D. Brrry, E. J. Currie, R.

W. Freeman, M. M. Roberts, N. G.

Fairchild, H. P. Koonce, Wilmer Dossett. R. Hearon, H.

E. Lane, Austin Ferrell. Bert Wilklns. S. H.

Dfsrrtt, C. O. Meador, O. B. Koonce, M.

Watson, J. T. Wallace. F. E.

Montgomery and C. N. Yelverton. can Legion, composed of sons of Le glonnaires or of service men who paid the supreme sacrifice. 8.

Does the American legion have a "fun" organization? Yes; the 40 and 8, so named after the French box cars which have on them paint ed capacity signs 43 men or I horses. Requirements for member ship are 1 membership in the American legion and (2 unselfish service in the pct for community, state and nation. The American Le gion Auxiliary ha. a similar organ lzatlon known as the 8 and 40, 9. Whv Is the Anierlcsn Legion the world largest patriotic organ! ration'' Because of two things: Its potential membership Is the largrst by million, and becausa of its clear- cut prosrram upon re hahiktation.

Americanism. child welfare, and other great unselfish services to the community, state and nation. 30. What dors the American le gion offer to the new member? The one thing that is far more precious than gold or Jewels an opportunity to rendrr, through organized effort unwlfuri service to comrades their dependents, and to the com munity and nation. Legion Briefs are some of the aeeorr.riwh-ro-r.'s ef tie American Leiion in the nation; The American has char ea the eligibility membership to Include honorably discharged veteran of World" War II and tiiw who remain in the service after of lwti'its llfTV" The American Legion aas char ters br 16, Tl Art was amended Octo ber 25.

1542, in orrfer to make ehgi-h membership veterans ef World War 1L As co-ordinatir tcrv he. ti sn the field and ir.e r.atwr.ai commit- i A i i zz rrrr 'r 'VVA Vr jy ll fly I 1 -tJ A Questions About Legion Answered For Veterans Here are 10 Questions about the American Legion which veterans and I their families may be interested in. Even some old Legionnaires may not know some of the statistics below. 1. When, where and by whom as the American Legion organized? In i March, 1919, in Paris, France, by men overseas from ail armed serv-, ices sailors, soldiers, marines, air corps, etc 'A 2.

Who is eligible for membership in the American Legion? Any per- ton who served honorably in the I armed forces of the United States between the date of April 7, 1917, and November 11, ISIS, both dates inclusive, and between December 7, 1941. and September 2. 1345. both dates lnclufive. includes pcr-- ton service or out.

3. For what purpose was the 1 American Legion organized? The simplest answer is in the Preamt.e to the American Lesion eonmtu- tion: 'For God and country, we associate ourselves tocether for the I following purposes: To uphold and defend the Con.t;tuhon of the I'ni-? ted States of Amenta; to maintain law ar.d order; to footer and peril- petuate a one hundred per cent i Americanism; to preserve the rnem- ones ar.d incidents of our associa-" tion In the Rreat war; to inculcate a of individual obligation to the community, state and nation: to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masse; to make right the of mirht; to pro- mote peace and x-i w. on earth; to sa.lt guard and transmit to poa-r terity the principles of justice, dora and democracy; to consecrate ar.d sanctify our comradeship by i IV, lire, from widely divergent backgrounds and experiences. But they have this in common love of country. They like the American way of life here at home and it is 'their aim to keep it that way.

Because the Legion is founded on such rock-firm foundations, it has sur vived the onslaughts of other elements that sought to shake it. And that, too, is a tribute to the integrity of 1,500,000 Legion members in over 12,000 posts. The fact that the membership of the Legion has continued to grow through the years, and is now at the highest mark ever reached in its history, is answer enough to the question, "What do the American people think of the American Legion?" From the homes of its members, to national and international affairs, the Legion's strength and understanding are felt, for its power and influence reaches far That's what the Legion is. What it docs', is another story a fascinating story which future messages will tell. The American Legion reaches into the homes and future of its members into the homes and futures of the veterans of World War I and World War II bringing with it.

benefits that come only through a group of free men working for the benefit of their country and each ptner. The American Legion is a cross section of America. For a quarter of a century the Legion has represented the American way the Constitution and all that it stands for. Small wonder, for the members of the Legion have fought in World Wars I and II for the things that the Constitution grants us. You know the members of the Legion.

You meet them every day. The driver of the bus you take to work. The owner of your favorite restaurant, The president of your bank and one of the guards, too. The conductor on the train on that last trip you took. Your doctor, the druggist on the corner, the owner of the local theatre and the man who runs the projection machine.

This isn't the entire list.TTo complete it would require an enumeration of every type and sort of employment, business or profession; every race and creed; every shade of political opinion or affiliation; every degree of financial condition. The members of the Legion are war veterans, yes veterans of World Wars 1 and II. But they are more than that they are men and women imbued with a deep and lasting love and respect for this country and its principles. They are men and women of all colors and creeds, from every walk of cur devotion to mutual 4. Are there any reitnctioni to membership in the American Le- ion? None except honorable serv-' lte In World War I or II.

5. -Is the.re any rank in the Amer- Jean Kone. All have eq uaj rank, vote and voice. e. Ho many pU or timta of th I are there? i in the ttatet; others fort countries ci our A'ie oA U.e 221 are ia 7.

the American Legion have Oos the American Legion have I 1 Yes; the ,0, jj, m.K vi s.i.era ana caugnters oi tee there is the national Ltld terv. r.r of arvje men mho; ir, chraor and JO authorised etr.e sa'Tifl'-e. AIjt, K1 secre-tanrs. Each of the see-A. cr trjs of tLt A ncri- iturn aa area ar.j tyMcARTHUR CHEVROLET COMPANY, Hattiesburg.

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