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Show for Cod and Country . . . MSSf) Legion Corner News and Noles 33 FOR AND ABOUT LEGIONNAIRES 0 Beaver Milford Quota Members Quota Members 50 69 77 44 J . v SECURITY FOR OUR NATION In the brief span of ten years since World War II, the world has witnessed the military emergence of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to the extent where it poses a threat to freedom throughout the world. In World War II, Russia was known primarily as a land-power with huge armies of millions of men equipped with ponderous tanks and artillery forces. Following Germany's capitulation, the USSR seriously studied the effects of strategic bombing on the great centers of population in Europe. She took note of the tremendous damage to Hamburg-, Bremen, Berlin, brought about largely through- daylight and night raids employing thousands of United States and British bombers. In 1945, the United States had the exclusive ownership of the secret to the atomic bomb. At that early date, it seemed that the United States would enjoy this atomic monopoly for "iv" many years to come. In addition,' the United States had the greatest air armada ever assembled. Certainly it appeared' as though America and the world faced a period of prolonged peace. Unfortunately, the majority of our people underestimated the drive and ability of the Kremlin dictators. All within the span of a decade, the USSR has developed a strategic air force, a transportable H-bomb, and a navy second only to the United States. Most assuredly, the Soviets pose an ever-present ever-present threat to the peace and sovereignty of the free nations1 of the world. During this same decade The American Legion, through its National Security Commission and Committees, has dili-gently dili-gently followed the progress of the Russian military build-up.. Even at the risk of being unpopular, The American Legion advocated the necessity for maintaining American military strength. Unfortunately, history has a way of repeating itself; it-self; for some of the measures that our National Conventions and National Executive Committees adopted were not approved ap-proved by the Congress or the agencies charged with the security se-curity of the United States. It is easy to understand why our members, veterans of World War I, World War II, Korea, have a deep appreciation of the vital role of the military in preserving peace. A greatf percentage of our members are men and women who served overseas in combat units and saw thir comrades in arms fall in defense of thebasic freedoms which we hold so dear. By experience, they know that unless America's arms are kept modern and in sufficient numbers, we encourage irresponsibility irre-sponsibility on the part of atheistic dictatorships, such as the USSR. Today, through its National Security Commission and Committee, The American Legion is carrying on a concerted educational public information program, designed to keep the American people abreast of developments in the broad fields of National Security. Supplementing this phase of our work, the Legion, at its national convention each year, adopts numerous num-erous resolutions whjch give support to the budgets for the military services, the Federal Civil Defense Agency, and to various pieces of legislation designed to increase the ability of the armed services to discharge their assigned missions. r The American Legion can point with pride to its record and recommendations in matteres of National Security, from its very early history in support of the National Defense Act of 1920 to the recent past and the establishment of the Air Force-Academy. Force-Academy. At its January meetings in Washington each year and just before the national convention, top military and civilian civil-ian leaders of the United States willingly meet and discuss with the National Security Commission and its competent committees, to review matters imperative to the safety and security of this nation. To a great extent, such briefings have assured the soundness of American Legion recommendations in this vital field of National Security. With very few exceptions, most of our fellow Americans are seriously concerned 'with the world situation today. The American Legion at all levels offers an opportunity to ex- service men and women to transform this anxiety into constructive con-structive work in behalf of a policy of sound National Security. Secur-ity. As members of The American Legion, they can be proud of their contribution to National Security and can honestly say, "It's GREAT to be an American Legionnaire." WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO BELONG TO THE LEGION? The question of eligibility for American Legion membership member-ship is being asked every day by veterans who want to be Legionnaires, Le-gionnaires, or wives of veterans who would like to belong to the American Legion Auxiliary. . . Junior Kirk, vice commander and membership chairman chair-man of Milford Post No. 16, points out that veterans of World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, who were in service on active duty during certain dates of hostility, as set by the United States Congress, are eligible 'for membership in The American Legion. The eligibility dates are: World War I veterans: from April 6, 1917, to Nov. 11, 1918. World War II, from Dec 7, 1941, to Sept. 2, 1945. Korean veterans, from June 25, 1950, to June 27, 1953. Eligible veterans are men and women who served honorably honor-ably in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Air Force of the United States during dur-ing the above dates. Or citizens citi-zens of the United States at the time of war who served on active act-ive duty with any of the armed forces of governments associated associat-ed with the U. S- All such services should be terminated with an honorable discharge or honorable separation, separa-tion, or continued honorably after either of above mentioned periods. . For further information, veterans vet-erans should contact Dick Man-zione, Man-zione, McKay Farrer or Robert Osborn.in Beaver; Junior Kirk, John Grimshaw, Ray Walker, Jack Davis or Steve Williams in Milford. r PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE AMERICAN LEGION For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America ; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred per cent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents inci-dents of our associations in the great wars; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the' classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of Justice, Freedom and Democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship comrade-ship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness. |
