The American Legion 77th National Convention: official program and annual report [1995]

92 Pages·1995·10.4 MB·English

by  American Legion

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50Years Ago,You Learned How To Shoot For Freedom.
Today, We’re Teaching Your Grandkids How To Shoot For Fun.
The same NRA that trained thousands achievements. And each year, NRA’s
of soldiers in wartime is active in your JROTC Qualification Course provides
community right now, teaching your training to youngsters across the United
grandkids firearm safety and marksman- States in both the 3-position smallbore
ship fundamentals. rifle and 4-position air rifle.
Working closely with community For over a century, Americans have
NRA NRA
groups, clubs, and organizations, looked to the for protection of their
Marksmanship Qualification Programs shooting heritage and the training
provide the foundation for the develop- they need to enjoy it. And today, thanks
NRA
ment of marksmanship skills and increase to Youth Programs, Americans can
NRA
firearm safety and knowledge. look for their grandchildren to carry on
offers certificates and embroidered our shooting heritage well into the
patches to recognize young shooters’ next century.
Formore informationonNRA YouthProgramscontacttheSafety&Education YouthProgramsDepartmentat703-267-1560.
©1993NationalRifleAssociation
;
The American Legion 1 9 9 5 National Convention
Welcome
For God and Country
we associate ourselves together
for the following purposes:
To uphold and defend the Constitution
ofthe United States ofAmerica;
to maintain law and order; The American Legion
77th National Convention
tofoster andperpetuate a one-hundred
percentAmericanism
to preserve the memories and incidents
ofour associations in the Great Wars;
Sons of the
to inculcate a sense ofindividual obligation American Legion
24th National Convention
to the community, state and nation;
to combat the autocracy ofboth the
classes and the masses;
to make right the master ofmight;
American Legion
to promote peace and good will on earth; Auxiliary
75th National Convention
to safeguard and transmit to posterity the
principles ofjustice, freedom and democracy;
to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship
by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.
La Boutique
Des Huit Chapeaux
77th National Convention Et Quarante Femmes
August 31-September 6, 1995 * Indianapolis, Indiana 74th Marche Nationale
1
.
1995 Marks the 50th Anniversary of VJ Day!
'That
was
then
. .
Congratulations on
your 77th National
Convention.
We atKirke-Van Orsdel
Incorporated (KVI are proud
)
tohandle the life insurance
plansforTheAmerican Legion
Stop by the KVI booth to
find outhow your American
Legion Life Plan can provide
you and your spouse with
affordable protection.
You have earned
it!
TheAmerican LegionLifeInsurance Plans, administeredby GuaranteedIssueoptionsareavailableforcertainagesandstates
Kirke-Van Orsdel. Inc. offerseveral options forTerm Life
Yes! Please send my FREE Information Kitfor
andWhole Life Insurance Products.
TheAmerican Legion Life Insurance Plans
CallTOLLFREE 1-800-542-5547. Ourhearingimpaired O TermLife O WholeLife
members maycall 1-800-274-4833TDD.)Ormail this
Name
coupon to: TheAmericanLegionInsurancePlans, P.O. Box
93124, DesMoines, Iowa50393. We’ll sendyou aFree Street
Information Kit.There’snoobligation whatsoever. City,State,ZIP
TheTermLifePlanUnderwrittenby: TheWholeLifePlan We’ll look forward to hearing from you!
Underwrittenby:
sg=Union
HT HARTFORD
LIFEINSURANCECOMPANY
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1
Indianapolis, Indian
Welcome Reunions & Dinners
Legionnaires return again to Standing Rules of
the homeoftheirNational Convention
Headquarters. Convention Agenda
4 Commander’s Greeting Distinguished Guests
6 Welcome Back Home to Convention Hotel
Indianapolis: A photo Directory
feast ofthe city’s sights
37 National Convention
9 Registration and Commission
Information
38 Convention Corporation
11 President’s Message &Chairmen
13 Welcome Letters 39 Honor Roll ofService
GovernorofIndiana PastNationalCommanders &
MayorofIndianapolis DistinguishedServiceAward
IndianaDepartment Recipients
Commander
40 AuxiliaryNational
&
Programs Agendas Officers
A comprehensiveguide to 40 AuxiliaryAnnual Report
Convention events. 41 AuxiliaryAgenda
17 World War II 44 8&40 Agenda
Commemoration
49 Sons ofTheAmerican
19 Patriotic Legion Agenda
Religious Service
20 Parade Map & Rules nnual Report
TheAmericanLegion
20 Parade Marshals
Commissions and
22 Marching Order Committees repokts of
24 Commission & theyear’s challenges
Cnmmittpp Mootings andaccomplishments.
COVER:TheSoldiersandSailorsMonumentis
the centerpiece of downtown Indianapolis.
Photo courtesyofIndianapolis Convention
andVisitorsAssociation.
THIS PAGE: The obelisk, the Indiana World
War Memorial and Bank One bulding viewed
fromtheLegionMall.PhotobyJohnE.Simon.
IpJBffeC-0 n t en ts';
The American Legion 1 9 9 5 National Convention
Commander
Message
s
Welcome forAmerican Legion HonorGuardsand the
to Indianapolis,
sound of Taps, their passing would be
markedbyuttersilence.
home VeteransoftheGulfWarwith a mysteri-
the of our ous illness are also quietly ill, awaiting help
from our government who has attributed
their debilitating illness to “stress.” The VA
needs to help these men and women, and
National Headquarters
provide real answers about what is wrong
withthem.
The American Legion wants this illness
and site of the curedwithwhateverit takes andwhateverit
costs.
“Nothing is too good for our nation’s
veterans,” most politicians say on the cam-
77th National paign trail. And nothing is what veterans
often get, particularly POW/MIAs and their
families.
Convention The American Legion, despite the nor-
malization ofrelations between the United
StatesandVietnam,hasnotforgotten about
our missing men. We continue the fight for
the fullest possible accounting via the
release ofall Vietnamese war records while
WHETHER OR not America remains a working on ways to protect POW/MIAs in
great nation is often an issue left to futurewars.
members ofCongress, the President The American Legion looks to the
and other rich and powerful people who future, fighting for quality, accessible VA
grace the covers ofForbes and U.S. News & care, a strong national defense and pro-
WorldReport. grams for our children, but does not ignore
Whileweacknowledgetheinfluencethat thepast.
power and money has on our country, as WepreservedthehonorofallWWIIvet-
veteran—s we know that keepin—g our nation eranswhenwehelpedtheSmithsonianInsti-
strong when it really matters will fall on tution’s Air and Space Museum develop a
the shoulders of the ordinary men and fitting tribute to the Enola Gay, the plane
womenwhoserveintheU.S.Armed Forces. that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshi-
At one time or another, from World ma.
War I to the GulfWar, all ofus were called Our efforts averted a revisionist, anti-
upontodefendournation. American effort led by Smithsonian Institu-
We gather in Indianapolis for the 77th tionofficials.
Annual National Convention ofTheAmeri- And we honored everyAmerican citizen
can Legion as an organization ofordinary by standing by the U.S. Flag. Our effort to
menandwomenwhohavebeen askedto do get a constitutional amendment to protect
extraordinary things in the service of our our flag goes forward, with the support of
country. WILLIAM M. DETWEILER millions ofAmericans who value this great
And each time, in war and in peace, we National Commander symbolandwhatitrepresents.
havecomethrough. Each and everyfight that has been taken
In war, we have taken up arms and up by The American Legion has given me
risked ourlives to defend thosewe love and care system. How can we not take care of the opportunity to do what I believe in.
what we believe. In peace, we have dedicat- the men and women who risked their lives Helping veterans, GIs and their families is
ed our time to that same fight while taking forus? something every Legionnaire, Auxiliary
on one other important mission: standing Year after year, The American Legion is member and Sons ofThe American Legion
upforveteransandthosewhoservetoday. forced to battle budget cuts that threaten memberdoes.
Wewhohavedonetheregretfuldeedsof the abilityoftheVAtodelivercaretoveter- As National Commander ofThe Ameri-
war aretoo often forgottenbythoseinpoli- ans who need it, and who have earned it can Legion, I have had the privilege oftak-
cy-makingpositionswho sentusto dothese withtheirblood. ing the sum ofyour good work with me
things. The American Legion’s task is to Our country spends millions ofdollars across the country and around the world.
remind Congress, the President and every on all kinds ofprograms but doesn’t seem Everywhere I go, your devotion, dedication
U.S. citizen oftheir responsibility to our willing to compensate victims ofAgent and commitment comes with me. Today
nation’sveteransandGIs. Orange who were exposed while fighting in and forever, as your National Commander
Our country spends billions ofdollars Vietnam. and after myterm is through, we will—stand
on peacekeeping and regional wars but has These men have died or are dying terri- togetherforveterans andtheirfamilies for
trouble paying for an adequate VA health- ble deaths from cancers. And ifit were not GodandCountry.
4
Congratulations
on uour
77th
Tgplcal.
ThfiMgW-provoking.
Timely. National
Easygnyourwallet.
Take advantage of our Convention
special convention
discount between now
and Sept. 30.
$12 for one year (22 issues) Keystone Uniform Cap Corp.
The American Legion
Manufacturers ofQuality Uniform Headwear
iE Dispatch
P.0. Box 1055 428 North 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
Indianapolis IN 46206
[phone]-4
Call(317)630-1349 FAX [phone]
Actions speak louder than words.
National Emblem Sales What the R.J.Reynolds Tobacco Company is
doing to discourage kidsfrom smoking.
R.J.Reynolds Tobacco Company does not, under any circumstances, want kids to
SERVESTHECEREMONIALANDGIFT
NEEDSOFALLMEMBERSOF smoke. It’s also the law. Inthe U.S., it’s illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone under
the age of18. That’swhywe created programs to discourage underage smoking.
TheAmerican Legion
Our'‘SupportThe Law. ItWorks.” program helpsretailers make ittougherforkids
to buy cigarettes.
American LegionAuxiliary
Our “Right Decisions, RightNow.” educational program helps teach children to
SonsofTheAmericanLegion saynoto peer influencesthatmight leadthem to smoke. Itprovides teachers with
postersandteaching aids, (none ofwhich identifies R.J.Reynolds) andparentswith
StopbyourLargeDisplayinthe brochures designedto helpthem discuss smoking issues with theirchildren . More
Maryland StreetLobby than 10,000 middle andjuniorhigh schools are using the program, reaching some
ofthe 3.3 million students. As a veterans organization, you can help with the
IndianapolisConventionCenter education ofouryouth on this issue. Please call 1-800-862-2525.
i 1
AskourTrainedPersonnelfor i Ifyouhaven’tseenanyofourmaterialsinyourschoolsyoumay likecopiesofourposters. You i
INFORMATIONONANYITEMYOUMAY i mayalsobesurprisedbyjusthowusefiilourguidesontalkingtokidsaboutnotsmokingcanbe. 1
NEEDFORYOURPROGRAMS. i Ifyou’dlike anyofthesematerials, includingthedisplayaids used in retail outlets, pleasecall I
1-800-862-2525orreturnthiscouponto R.J.ReynoldsTobaccoCompany,POBoxS, Winston-
I Salem,NC27101 |
i . I
LookforNewItemsnotyetin iI Name it
ourCatalog j \
i i
i Address I
Weare Hereto Help!!! ji ij
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Together,WeCanWorkItOut
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5
The American Legion 1995 National Convention
Welcome back home
to
INDIANAPO
mi
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nnrni The Legions headquarters in the heart
ofdowntown is one ofmany Circle City
III1111 attractions you it want to visit.
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© AMERICAN LEGION MALL—Justoutsidethe doorsofthe
Legion’s National Headquartersisoneofthe bestviewsofdown-
town Indianapolis.Thisyearmarksthesecondtimethe Legion
has held a National Conventionin its hometown.
© MARCHING BACK—Withthe Soldiersand Sailors
Monumentasa backdrop, Legionnairesparaded
through Indianapolisstreetsduringthe 1990
convention.
O
UNION STATION—Built in 1888 asAmerica’sfirst
union railwaydepot, it isnowa hubofshopping and
entertainment,featuring morethan 50stores.
6
Programs and Agendas
QNEWGLORY—Thisyear'sparadewill beat4p.m.,
Saturday, Sept. 2 in downtown Indianapolis.
QNEED FOR SPEED—Visitorscan take a narrated
bustouraroundthetwo-mile oval Indianapolis
MotorSpeedway.Also,don’tforgettovisitthe
track’s Hall ofFame Museum,whichfeatures
morethan 30carsthathave wonthe Indianapolis
500and about75 otherclassic andantiquecars.
O IN HONOR—Builtasatributeto all Hoosiers
killed duringwar,theIndiana WorldWar Memorial
isone ofthe unique landmarksin downtown
Indianapolis.Thebasementofthememorial is a
militarymuseumwherevisitorscanfollowthe
historyof Indiana soldiersfromthe Battle of
Tippecanoetothe mostrecentwars.
O PARKHERE—With 3,800 acresofwoodedterrain and
a 1,300-acrereservoir, Eagle CreekParkis one ofthe
largestmunicipal parksinthe United States. Located on
thecity’snorthwestside,the parkincludesfootpaths,
biketrailsanda 27-holegolfcourse.
7
FAME
HALLof
MUSEUM
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been listed on the national Register of
Historic Places since 1975 and named a national Historic Landmark in 1987.
Located inside the famous oval is the Hall of Fame Museum, presenting one of the
world's largest and most varied collections of cars, including more than 30
Indianapolis 500 winners. The collection also includes classic and antique passen-
ger cars, many of which were built in Indiana during the early 1900's. The Tony
Hulman Theatre features a film about the history of the track and recent race high-
lights. An Official Trackside Gift Shop is located at the entrance ofthe museum.
The Hall of Fame Museum is open 364 days a year, (closed on Christmas Day),
from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST. Admission is only $2.00 for those over the age of
16, those 15 & under are free. Busses are available for a ride around the track for
$2.00, unless the track is being used for competition or testing purposes.
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY HALL OF FAME MUSEUM
4790 West 16th Street • Indianapolis, IN 46222 • 317/484-6747