Show notes from I legion and auxiliary post no 67 last week we informed our readers that commencing this week we would discuss the ten principles of the Ameri american ean legion preamble in the order that they come the first principle is to uphold and defend th the constitution of the united states when the constitution of the american legion was being dratted drafted it was but natural that the first of ten principles which formed its foundation should have been a sacred pledge of allegiance to the constitution ution of the united states the men who founded the legion had come fresh from the battlefield or cant in the wake of the world war political anarchy had been let loose upon a world bled white by suffering sacrifice and stark tragedy revolution had burned its fangs deep in the throat of I 1 europe class hatred clutched at the heart of civilization the men who had defended america in battle were determined to defend the american form of government against this new menace strangely enough there were some folks back home here who actually dreaded the return of the soldiers and sailors they were afraid they had been tainted by the spirit spir t of revolution which was sweeping europe they actually silly enough to believe that the very men who had saved anterita Ani An erica terica would now destroy it and turn it over to the reign of communistic terror the american legion gave ave quick and positive answer to a aspen epen kneed brothers of tear fear it a adopted a preamble to its constitution the ten principles of left no room tor for doubt that the patriotism and loyalty of the veterans was tar far above that of those citizens who held them in such tear fear and the first one of those ten chiples was a pledge to uphold and defend the constitution of the united states a pledge every legionnaire gion ionn alre must subscribe to when he becomes a member of the amerlean american legion whatever our individual views may be it can not be denied that the constitution Is the basic law of our law that it is the great charter which has bound us firmly together to ether as a united people pointing in the way to reform in the orderly the american way when the people determine that reform Is necessary necess arv it is the most american thing about america the american legion does not uphold that changes in govern government mens are either impossible or impracticable the world changes america with it the basic law of our land has been amended and may be amended many times within the elastic limits of that thai great charter as written now or later amandel will be found the means to accomplish all that Is needed for the common good the right of the people to change their basic law can not and must not be denied it is provided in the constitution ution itself the american legion c does not tear fear it does not oppose the right of any citizen or citizens to propose po changes to be brought about ime inthe orderly constitutional way reserving the individual right to support or oppose such changes as we see tit fit WE DO OPPOSE AND EVER WILL OPPOSE THOSE SEEK TO OVERTURN OUR OF government BY AND VIOLENCE you do not to be a legionnaire to participate in this program pi program YOU ONLY TO BE AN AMERICAN I 1 |