Show I Am o G I a Le Lesion ion 4 a athe Here Mere and There Among the World War Veterans Copy for This Department Supplied by N National Headquarters of the American Legion GOOD OF COMMUNITY SERVICE Ideals and Purposes Are In Evidence No Now That Initial Organization Is Completed Soon SOO after the organization of the American Legion an official officIal order went out from the headquarters of War Val Camp Community Service to Its Its- field workers Assistance and good will were yere to be given to to the American Legion in all aU localities On On its Its side tl the e Legion had already expressed Its attitude toward the fast developing program of community service by the following clause In its constitution to inculcate a sense of Individual obligation obligation gation to the community state and andna na nation When the American Legion began Its drive for membership and sought to establish posts the accumulated experience experience ex ex- ex of War Val Camp Community Service with soldier and sailor needs proved helpful The services of nine organizers of proved ability were placed at the Legions Legion's disposal As necessity demanded offices clubs and Information booths became centers for forthe forthe forthe the campaign The swift advance of the organizers as post after post was established showed that common Ideals and a common purpose con constituted a great propelling power In In this drive for members And now that initial organization has hns been be-an completed these same common Ideals and purposes are arc evident The friendliness of ot the American Legion for Community Service has recently recently re re- re been manifesting Itself In various various vari yarl- ous ways In Fayetteville N. N C. C the Legion Is pledging funds for for- forthe the 1920 program of a community club club cluba a and iI three officers of the local post are arc working on the general Community Service committee The entire community work In another place was continued at the suggestion and with the backing of the Ule Legion The Girls Girls' Community Service League members are being asked ed to discuss with the local post and the leading lending men of the town the building of a community house One of the Legion members In Freeport Long Island Is so Interested In the Community Service program that he Is devoting a great deal of time and effort effort effort ef ef- ef- ef fort to engage the public In extensive plans for a civic center and community house In several places a community coun council ll of Legion members has been appointed as a special committee to work with Community Service Wherever Wherever Wherever ever the girls' girls groups are continuing activities the American Legion members members mem mem- bers bels are the popular guests at dances and parties In Queens Nassau co county nty New York the girls' girls clubs ae aPe successfully working workIng working work- work Ing out with the Legion community forums and social evenings The forum discussions often lead to warm debates on national and International topics The soldier ex-soldier is l keen een to discuss current current current cur cur- rent events and the girls are prepared to cope with severn several 1 up-to-the-minute up subjects The patriotic stimulation and sociability resulting from these meetings Is showing good results In less pretentious but nevertheless practical ways the Legion is working with Community Service In other places For example In Baltimore ItIs it itIs itis Is giving free use of Its ballroom each Saturday night to the girls' girls clubs In Fredericksburg Virginia It helped In Inthe Inthe inthe the production of a minstrel show in Chelsea Michigan the post is opening Its club rooms for a general Community Service In Its request for the use of the armory for a recreational program A recreational and social program that Is often community wide has hns been continued by the American Legion In Inmany inmany many communities where the War Camp Community Service ceased to exist after the demobilization of the soldier In cases where the soldiers' soldiers club or hospitality house was vacated by the government the American Legion went In and began a carry carryon carryon carryon on nt This was true in Dallas Dallas Dal Dal- las where t the e American Legion together with the Rainbow 3 th and DOth divisions ns assumed the responsibility of or running the he soldier club In unction Junction City Kansas the Legion has practically full fun charge of the Community House Hous and Its program The numerous numerous occasions on which Community Service has been able to assist In programs given by the various peal focal posts serve as other examples of the en operation co-operation between the two or or- From coaching the chorus nf of a minstrel trel show to the arr arrangement of or oran an entire evening e orchestra to speakers the Co Community m Service Ser worl workers ers have willingly put nut themselves s nt at the the beck and call of or the Legion In Hackensack New Jersey the opportunity opportunity opportunity of or helping In a musical entertainment entertainment entertainment enter enter- led to the possibility of formIng forming form form- Ing a glee club dub of at the Legion men and hel 1110 colored post lOst of ot En Englewood lewood New Jersey hay hap asked the help h lp of ot Community Community Com Com- Service Ice In arranging a years year's program of ot activities The community council of Chelsea l Michigan un Is cooperating co co- co operating with the Legion in conductIng conducting conduct conduct- Ing two weekly dancing clas classes es followed followed fol foJ fol- fol lowed by a n community dance The Legion club rooms In Houston IIO Texas were ere renovated and redecorated with I the help help of of Community Service 81 In monr many places R th the C CHAPLAIN AMERICAN LEGION y FATHER FRANCIS A. A KELLY Latest Photograph of the National Chaplain of the World War Veterans Veterans Veterans' Vet Vet- erans' erans Organization Ice club rooms are housing the offices of the social center of the the Legion This This This' has hns worked out for the benefit of both organizations the Legion often taking part in the community entertainments and Community Service off offering rIng its assistance In membership campaigns and publicity Often the local organizer organizer organizer or or- Is asked to explain the community community com com- program at banquets given by bythe bythe bythe the local post The understanding a ar arrived ar- ar arrived rived at on such occasions usually has hns definite results One of the most recent services which Community C Service was glad to render was the arranging of ofa a program for the presentation through the AmerIcan American Amerlean Amer Amer- ican lean Legion of the certificates from th the French High Commission to the nearest nearest nearest near near- est of kin of those who lost their lives in the world war A complete program for the service was drawn up by an official at Community Service headquarters headquarters head head- quarters and sent out to all Legion posts as suggestive for Washington's birthday It Included appropriate numbers numbers num num- bers of the French and American music a rending reading of Markhams Markham's poem France In flame Battle and a fitting pageant scene Many cities clUes used the service as written others adapted it to suit local conditions The future plans of the American Legion and Community Service Include features which can cnn be worked out by byboth byboth byboth both organizations organIzations' together to the mutual mutual mu mu- benefit of themselves and the com com- In fact the similarity of purposes purposes pur pun poses will make more strongly effective the efforts of each ench for a better citizenship citizen citizen- ship |