Show notes from lerion and auxiliary post no 67 under our american form of government ern ment there are three distinct systems of government through T h r 0 ug h the t h e constitution C 0 n s t i t u ti 0 n the t re federal d er a 1 g government oye r n me n t b binds 1 1 i d s t the h e s e lve cral states together into a single and union it Is the duty of this central gov government eminent to provide for the general welfare of all of the states behind it are the 48 state governments each a sov ov F reign commonwealth within the limitations provided by the national constitution within each state government there are various municipal or community governments the american legion believes th that a t all of these governments will function best if the people will take a direct interest in all of them that the american people are apathetic about their public affairs and their government goven ment is too toc obvious to be disputed it may be contended that this Is a rule of the age that other forms of government have exactly the same problem such arguments are beside the pant there can be no doubt that we would have a better government better communities and better states if all of us took a direct inter interest cst when the service men went off to war in 1917 our nation was aroused to a stirring pitch of patriotism riot ism our people thought and talked nothing but the preservation of the nation As a united we threw our whole force into ve job of winning the war remember the i majority of the men who went off to the war were quite yung young the enthusiasm of our people therefore made a deep and lasting g im upon them war has a way of aging men quickly AlL although hough still young in years the vast majority of those who returned were mature men mind and knowledge ano am suffering they could not understand the difference in the people back home they remembered the enthusiasm of the people when they went away now it seemed folks no longer thought abbat the country or the government everyone seemed beenu d engrossed with himself As the veterans settled back into the me ways of the old home town the began to understand the change they realized that the people merely had slipped back into their normal peacetime peace time role it was difficult for the veterans to adjust themselves to such a role toey were accustomed to strict discipline alertness and responsibility the haphazard method of running the old town just did not square squi p with the training they had been through so when the american legion was formed the veterans determined unanimously to recall a sense reuse of civic duty to their townsmen by frequent admonition and example through its many programs the legion expressed its responsibility to the nation it works for an adequate national defense it appo es subversive elements it tights fights for americanism and carries on many more activities of a national character and the legion workers contributions to the state and home town wl which ach it calls community service probably no part of the whole legion program has had biad greater emphasis than community service certainly no part of it has been carried out more faithfully and more fully from one end of the ne country to the other you will find communities enjoying legion built playgrounds swimming pools recreation centers skating rinks wild life preserves parks volunteer fire departments public libraries airports aviation markers and even bridges in these same communities you will find ambulances donated by legion posts disaster emergency units lifesaving life saving units and the most improved equipment for treating such deadly diseases as infantile paralysis and too many more things to mention all of them donated and organized by legion posts the american legion Is asking each post to contribute at least one community service project this year it if you are an eligible world war veteran you can help by joining the me american legion if you are not eligible as a good citizen you can rive give bour ready support to this worthwhile program |