NEWS ALERT Watch NEC Spring Meetings online

Vol. 23 No. 8 THE AMERICAN LEGION NEWS ALERT Watch NEC Spring Meetings online April 2013 A National Headquarters Publication HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE The 2013 American Legion National Executive Committee Spring Meetings will be streamed live May 8 at 8:30 a.m. and May 9 at 9 a.m. (EDT). www.legiontv.org National Convention updates REBUILDING A COURT OF HONOR Photo by Sid Hastings A post preserves the history and memories of 1,185 World War I fallen heroes. By Cameran Richardson I n the early 1920s, the Gold Star Mothers of St. Louis created a memorial inside the median of Kingshighway Boulevard to honor their sons and daughters who died while serving in World War I. Named The Gold Star Court of Honor, the memorial honored 1,185 fallen heroes with individual bronze plaques laid next to Sycamore trees. Each marker bore the honoree s name, rank, branch of service and division, and time, place and cause of death. But today, all that remains of the memorial are a few trees after bulldozers dug up many of the plaques more than 30 years ago to make room for street modifications. However, the plaques bearing the memories of America s fallen heroes were not lost forever. Members of Rollo-Calcaterra American Legion Post 15 witnessed the destruction of the Court of Honor memorial and spent many weekends with metal detectors, picks and shovels to salvage as many plaques as they could from the wreckage. Of the 1,185 bronze plaques, 752 were recovered. The rescued plaques were stored in the basement at Soldier s Memorial Military Museum, collecting dust, until a few years ago when Post 15 member Skip Berger made it his mission to ensure his brothers-in-arms were remembered and honored forever. Each plaque represents the men and women who were from St. Louis and died for their country, Berger said. These plaques represent a vital piece of history and are made to be seen. Berger and many other Post 15 members began their mission of preserving the history and memory of the 1,185 fallen heroes by developing a proposal to rebuild and give the Gold Star Court of Honor a permanent home. On Sept. 30, 2012, the proposal came to fruition, as the Gold Star Court of Honor was resurrected at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery where 149 of the men are buried. We owe deep gratitude to the St. Louis Gold Star Mothers and the Rollo-Calcaterra American Legion Post 15 for their many years of dedicated service and tireless efforts to find a permanent and everlasting home for this historic memorial, said Jeff Barnes, director of Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. We were deeply honored to be selected as the cemetery to host this beautiful and historic memorial. This memorial will be maintained See Court of Honor on Page 5 The American Legion National Convention expo will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Aug. 23 to 27. To secure exhibit space or to arrange a convention sponsorship, contact Andrea Watson: a.watson@legion.org (317) 630-1393 www.legion.org/ convention/resources 2013 Legion Baseball deadlines Legion Baseball teams not registered for insurance by May 15 are subject to a fine payable to the department. And in accordance with the 2013 Legion Baseball Rule Book, teams not registered for the 2013 season by June 1 shall not be permitted to play American Legion Baseball. www.legion.org/baseball Amateur radio exhibit The library at National Headquarters in Indianapolis is hosting an exhibit of items that demonstrate the organization s association with amateur radio. The exhibit will be on display through the NEC Spring Meetings in May. www.legion.org/hamradio

2 COMMANDER S MESSAGE Our commitment to children and youth James E. Koutz National Commander For the past 75 years, The American Legion has designated April as Children & Youth Month. During this time, Legion Family members support youth activities within their community through Legion programs such as Temporary Financial Assistance, or through external organizations such as Children s Miracle Network hospitals. For the 2011-2012 membership year, posts conducted more than 14,000 children and youth activities and provided nearly $2 million in aid for those activities. As I travel to posts around the country, I am fortunate enough to hear all the ways Legion Family members and posts positively influence the lives of children and youth in their community and beyond. I recently heard a story that stood out to me because it showed how big of an impact The American Legion can have on a community when the Legion Family serves together. Legionnaires, SAL squadron and Auxiliary members of Post 64 in Monroe, Ga., raised more than $2,100 to purchase school supplies for children in need. The Legion members asked local elementary schools in the county what items were needed for children, and then notified all media channels of the time and date that Post 64 would distribute the supplies to any child who had a parent deployed, disabled, unemployed, or otherwise affected by military service. Parents or guardians of the children came to Post 64 to pick up the supplies, which were organized in accordance with each elementary school. In total, the post disbursed school supplies to 100 families, benefitting 230 children. Our support for young people is yearround, but as we observe April is Children & Youth Month, take a closer look at your post s work in this area and see how you and your fellow Legionnaires can promote more awareness. Communities, veterans and their family members need to know that American Legion services are available and why children matter so much to us. Meanwhile, share your words and photos in support of Children & Youth Month online at www.legiontown.org. Visit the site, deliver your message, and share it through email and Facebook. Let s spread the word on how the Legion Family is committed to supporting our national theme, Children... Our Most Precious Natural Resource. FUNDRAISING PROGRAM OCW goal: $500,000 The American Legion Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW) program is dedicated to meeting the needs of wounded, injured or ill military personnel by providing them with comfort items. OCW ensures that patients at U.S. military hospitals and warrior transition units are given items such as exercise equipment, rehabilitation gear, books and more. So far this year, examples of OCW donations have included Segways; baseball, basketball, golf and archery equipment for adaptive sports programs; and musical instruments. National Commander Jim Koutz has made OCW his primary fundraising program during his tenure. His goal is to raise $500,000. All donations made go directly toward the purchase of these comfort items. To donate: www.legion.org/ocw MEMBERSHIP Recruiters to be honored with Every Day Is Veterans Day pin During the 2012-2013 membership year, National Commander Jim Koutz will award his national commander pin to any Legion Family member who obtains a minimum of three headquarters post transfers, and also obtains an additional combination of 10 new members, renewals and headquarters post transfers to equal a combined number of 13. A new member is any eligible person joining for the 2013 membership year who was not a member of The American Legion during the 2012 membership year. Each member listed must be eligible for membership in The American Legion. Forward names of SAL members or Auxiliary members to your detachment or unit for use in their respective incentive programs. To maintain the integrity of the national commander s pin program, only one pin will be awarded per individual. Upon receipt of the certification form, national membership staff will confirm the names and mail the pin directly to the person who earned it. Commander Koutz s Every Day Is Veterans Day pin incentive program will end June 30, or when supplies are exhausted. Also, Legionnaires who recruit one new member from each eligible war period will receive a certificate. www.legion.org/documents/pdf/ LUCKY13PININCENTIVE.pdf

www.legion.org/dispatch 3 NATIONAL ADJUTANT S MESSAGE Halls of history An Indiana Legion post keeps the Constitution on the minds of high school students. By Daniel S. Wheeler Since 1938, The American Legion has conducted its National Oratorical Speech Contest as a way for high school students across the country to demonstrate their understanding of the Constitution of the United States and to win valuable scholarship money. The goal is that in the process, these students will gain a deeper appreciation for the document that formed the foundation of this great country, and have the ability to effectively stand up for it. We are at a moment as a nation when controversy and dispute swirl around the Constitution, from the interpretation of the Second Amendment, to questions on when states can take their own path versus federal mandates. It is now more vital than ever that our young people, the next generation of American citizens, understand and appreciate what citizenship means and what stands behind it. American Legion Post Post 182 members present replica plaques of the Constitution to New Palestine High School in Indiana. Photo by Becky Gaines 182 in New Palestine, Ind., is doing its part to keep the Constitution on the minds of young people. Bill McCoy, a member of Post 182, was attending an event in Florida that celebrated the United States and its veterans when he saw a set of bronze replica plaques showing the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The plaques were there through the efforts of the American Constitution Spirit Foundation (ACSF), which seeks to place them in schools throughout the country as part of its National Constitution Plaque Initiative. The plaques have been placed in schools in Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania and now Indiana. McCoy s first thought was how wonderful the plaques would look in New Palestine schools. His second was, How do we make this happen? When he got home, he contacted ACSF and received supporting materials, which he took to the New Palestine Beautification Committee. After garnering the committee s support, he took his idea to Post 182, which approved the purchase of the five-plaque set. The last piece to fall into place was the go-ahead from the local school corporation to place the plaques on the walls of New Palestine High School (NPHS). The cost to Post 182 was about $8,500. After a tour of other local schools and churches, the plaques are now in their new home at NPHS. Back in November, a dedication ceremony was held at the high school right before Veterans Day. Present were numerous members of the post, as well as state officials, the commander of the Department of Indiana, and even local USS Indianapolis survivor James E. O Donnell who died two months later at 92. O Donnell s presence must have put everyone there in mind of those who certainly understood, and defended, the Constitution during a time of war. McCoy s hope is that NPHS students can do the same if they have to. Coming soon New Legion web page dedicated to stories about honor, sacrifice and remembrance of veterans is coming soon. Story on Page 5. www.legion.org/ honor Published monthly. Printed by HNE Printers, Columbus, Ind. All American Legion publications are entitled and encouraged to reproduce all staff-written stories within, but please credit Dispatch as the source. A proud member of The National American Legion Press Association. Correspondence and letters to the editor: The American Legion Dispatch P.O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, IN 46206 Subscriptions/Customer Service: (317) 630-1221 Email: dispatch@legion.org Fax: (317) 630-1280 Online: www.legion.org/dispatch EDITOR Cameran Richardson CONTRIBUTORS Andy Romey Eldon Lindsay Matt Grills Jeff Stoffer Henry Howard DESIGNER Jason Reed

4 MEMBERSHIP Dues renewal can now be automatic American Legion members can safely and conveniently pay their post dues on an annual, automatic basis through the new online Automatic Annual Renewal Program. Sign up online at www.legion. org/renew and click Renew Now or call American Legion customer service toll-free at (800) 433-3318. The Legion will maintain a record of those participating in the program and, at the beginning of each new membership year, will automatically process the renewal, charging it to the credit or debit card of the member s choice. The transaction would occur about July 15 of each year. Legion post dues rates can change one year to the next. Post dues rates in effect at the time of the automatic renewal will be applied. To change the credit or debit card number used for the Automatic Renewal Program, or to report a new expiration date, members can call customer service. Once dues are successfully renewed automatically AUTOMATIC RENEWAL online, members will receive confirmation by email. It is, therefore, important that the Legion has updated email addresses for participating members. To report a change of email address, phone number or other contact information: Call: (800) 433-3318; Email: cs@legion.org; or Go online: www.legion.org/membershipmanagement and use the Change Address option. Members can cancel participation in the Automatic Annual Renewal Program at any time. The cancellation will be applied to any future charges and will not affect the benefits of any dues paid for the current year. All cancellation requests must be received by June 30 each year in order to ensure cancellation prior to the mid-july automatic renewal time. Cancellation requests can be submitted by email to cs@legion.org or in writing to: The American Legion Customer Service, P.O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, IN 46206 To complete a cancellation, Legion members must include Member ID number, name, address, the last four digits of the credit/debit card number used, and a daytime telephone number. Tracy L. Davis Department Service Officer, Missouri ASK A SERVICE OFFICER Agent Orange exposure Q. How do I know if I have a claim for Agent Orange? A. Many Vietnam War veterans are concerned that they have been exposed to Agent Orange the chemical herbicide used to destroy jungle foliage in order to expose enemy troops. Public Law 107-103 provides a presumption of exposure to herbicides for all veterans who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam era. You do not have to prove you were sprayed or in an area that was sprayed if you served in Vietnam from Jan. 9, 1962, to May 7, 1975. However, before you begin to file a claim, you must have proof of service in Vietnam during wartime and medical documentation of the condition(s) officially recognized by VA. The following is a list of diseases that VA recognizes as related to Agent Orange exposure: Peripheral neuropathy (acute and subacute) AL amyloidosis Chloracne Chronic B-cell leukemia Hodgkin s disease Ischemic heart disease Multiple myeloma Non-Hodgkin s lymphoma Parkinson s disease Porphyria cutanea tarda Prostate cancer Respiratory cancers (e.g., lung, larynx, trachea and bronchus) Soft-tissue sarcoma (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi s sarcoma, or mesothelioma) Type 2 diabetes Learn more about the diseases: www.publichealth.va.gov/ exposures/agentorange/diseases.asp Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange may be eligible for an Agent Orange registry health exam, health-care benefits and disability compensation. Contact your local American Legion accredited service officer to discuss possible benefits and file a claim: www.legion.org/serviceofficers Have a claims question? Email it to: askso@legion.org TAPS William H. Angell, Perris, Calif. William H. Angell of Post 370 (Department of Kansas) passed away March 15 at 81. He was a Korean War Air Force veteran. Mr. Angell served as National Americanism Commission vice chairman from 1991-2008. Raymond G. Bush Sr., Burdett, N.Y. Raymond G. Bush Sr. of Post 138 (Department of Washington) passed away Feb. 8 at 91. He was a World War II Navy veteran. Mr. Bush served as National Executive Committee member from 1960-1962 and 1964-1966, National Foreign Relations Commission Liaison Committee member from 1961-1962 and 1964-1966, and National Child Welfare Commission Liaison Committee member from 1960-1961. Cartha D. DeLoach, Hilton Head, S.C. Cartha D. DeLoach of Post 56 (Department of District of Columbia) passed away March 13 at 92. He was a World War II Navy veteran. Mr. DeLoach served as national vice commander from 1958-1959, National Public Relations Commission chairman from 1959-1978, National Executive Committee alternate member from 1960-1962, National POW/MIA Committee member from 1970-1974, National Americanism Commission member from 1957-1959, National Advisory Committee to the National Commander member from 1964-1978, National Counter-Subversive Activities Committee vice chairman from 1955-1956, and National Counter- Subversive Activities Committee vice chairman from 1955-1956 and secretary from 1956-1957. William P. Seemann, Tampa, Fla. William P. Seemann of Post 152 (Department of Florida) passed away March 21 at 80. He was a Korean War Air Force veteran. Mr. Seemann served as National Constitution & By-Laws Committee consultant from 1999-2000, and National Foreign Relations Council vice chairman from 1996-1997.

www.legion.org/dispatch 5 From Court of Honor on Page 1 in perpetuity at this historic national cemetery. Funding for the Court of Honor memorial was secured through donations from Post 15 and community members, plus a $250,000 grant from the St. Louis County Port Authority Community Reinvestment Fund, which covered the entire cost of the memorial. Construction began May 10, 2012, and a re-dedication ceremony was held four months later on Sept. 30. It s always amazing when you see craftsmen who care about what they are doing, said Bob Winters, principal at Ottolino, Winters and Huebner architecture, designers of the new memorial. Once the craftsmen found out what they were building, their attitude changed, and they took such care and pride in the construction of the memorial. The memorial features the 752 salvaged plaques embedded alphabetically in two black granite walls, which symbolize the two sections of Kingshighway where the original memorial was located. Each wall is flanked by columns that list the names from the missing plaques obtained through archived military records and the history of the memorial. Two Medal of Honor recipients are among those listed on the granite walls Capt. Alex R. Skinker, whose plaque is missing, and Sgt. Fred Stockham. More than 200 people attended the re-dedication ceremony, including Steve Muro, the Department of Veterans Affairs undersecretary for memorial affairs, and four Gold Star mothers. Julie Vinnedge, whose son Phillip, a Marine, was killed in Afghanistan 16 days into his deployment, spoke during the ceremony on behalf of the Did you know? Members of Post 15 who helped salvage the plaques include Jim Gualdoni (back left), Skip Berger, Jim Restelli and Ben Calloni (front). Photo by Sid Hastings Gold Star Mothers of St. Louis. One of the things a Gold Star mother is always worried about is that her son will be forgotten, Vinnedge said. And whenever I speak, I always try to say, Please, don t forget our fallen. And that s what Skip did; he wasn t going to allow the men and women of World War I to be forgotten. It was an honor to come to the dedication, to see Skip smile, to see The American Legion achieve what they wanted to achieve, and to see that our fallen will not be forgotten. The rebuilding of the Court of Honor memorial has also had a resounding effect on families of the fallen. During the re-dedication ceremony, a man approached Berger in tears and hugged him. His great-great-uncle was killed during the war, and he knew nothing about him until he found his plaque on the memorial wall. By the time the ceremony was over, I don t think there was a dry eye, Berger said. It was almost electric. The rebuilding of the Gold Star Court of Honor was a mission, duty first, and we got the mission done. www.stl-lestweforget.org?? In the month of March, 425 Military Commitment Certificates of Commendation were purchased through Emblem Sales. The award shows appreciation to high school seniors who intend to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces or pursue commissions upon graduation. www.emblem.legion.org Starting May 1, The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation will be accepting grant applications for the 2014 year. Applications must be postmarked no later than July 15 for consideration. www.legion.org/childwelfare? HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE Share your stories on new web page The American Legion is launching an Honor and Remembrance web page www.legion.org/ honor to document the sacrafice and heroism of our veterans and those serving today. And we want you to be a part of it by sharing your stories, memories and photos. The new web page is one way the Legion is living up to the Preamble of its Constitution, which says to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars. The Honor and Remembrance web page will feature stories, photo galleries and videos, as well as a directory of more than 1,200 museums, memorials and cemeteries; information on how to obtain medals and citations; and more. We are interested in featuring your stories, including your family s military history, your time in the service, and your post s activities. To share your story: 1. Visit www.legiontown.org. 2. Log in or create a new account. 3. Click on Share Your Story in the upper right hand corner. 4. Review the available categories and select the most appropriate one. Categories will include Family Legacy, My Time in Uniform, Honor Guard, Honors and Achievements and Post Museum. The Legion is also committed to honoring those who have passed on. Families can submit veterans obituaries for free by going to the Honor and Remembrance web page and clicking on In Memoriam at the top of the page. Once you enter the late veteran s name and obituary and upload a photo (optional), hit the Save button. Have questions? Email: honor@legion.org

6 WHY I LOVE MY POST Our very best good bye Since 1948, when American Legion Post 252 in Greenwood, Ind., received its first ceremonial rifles, our post members have been paying respect to our veterans by conducting military honors at gravesites, marching in parades and performing flag-raising ceremonies. We provide military honors for all veterans in our area if a family requests it. We feel that all veterans are entilted to full honors as part of their funeral services, regardless of his or her rank, service or whether or not they were American Legion post members. And on average, we along with members of other veterans organizations provide military honors for 155 funerals a year. Our honor guard members include men in their 80s, men with illnesses such as dementia, men who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, and men who ve had a stroke or heart bypass surgery. Yet, despite these ailments, we ve been told on several occasions that we re one of the best performing honor guards in central Indiana. Our honor guard is not paid to provide military honors, but we do accept donations from the family members of veterans. These donations help us cover the costs of uniforms, rifle parts and repair, and travel. Whether it s a beautiful spring day, a cold, snowy one, or steaming hot outside, we re there to give the fallen comrade our very best good bye. This is the main reason we want to be a part of Post 252 s honor guard. As a final gesture, our team says thank you by providing a last salute with three-rifle volleys followed by the playing of Taps. It is during these moments that we can feel the bond and unity we have for each other as a group. It s close to brotherhood. Post 252 honor guard members DATELINE: CAPITOL HILL Consolidated appropriations measure signed into law Kenneth F. Governor Chairman, National Legislative Commission On March 26, President Barack Obama signed Public Law (P.L.) 113-6, a measure that keeps the federal government operating for the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. The new law does not eliminate sequester reductions, but it does take steps to affect some cuts by providing flexibility to move monies to other accounts. P.L. 113-6 includes a number of House priorities, including additional funding for embassy security and provisions for launching new weather satellites. It maintains the same level of funding as for most of the government, except for the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA). Included in the law are full-year defense and military construction/va appropriations bills that have been agreed to, in large part, by the Senate. DoD appropriations include $518.1 billion in the base budget and $87.2 billion for overseas contingency operations. Defense spending includes: $32.7 billion for DoD health and family programs, including $135 million for traumatic brain injury and psychological health research. The legislation prohibits DoD from implementing new TRICARE enrollment fees and limits how much money can be transferred into private-sector care. $127.5 billion for military personnel and pay accounts, including a 1.7-percent pay raise for uniformed personnel. It sets a ceiling on the number of active-duty military personnel at 552,100 for the Army (9,900 less than the current level), and proposes that the size of the active-duty Army be reduced by 72,000 between FY 2012 and 2017. $173.5 billion for operation and maintenance. It further appropriates $1.5 billion in unrequested funds for National Guard and reserve component equipment. $70 billion for research and development. Although it is $2.5 billion below last year s spending level, it s still $521 million above the president s request. $100.4 billion for procurement. $10.6 billion for military construction ($927 million is for military medical treatment facilities). $2.9 billion for DoD dependent schools, as well as $40 million for impact aid and $5 million for impact aid for children with disabilities. The law prohibits DoD from spending funds on a new commission to identify the next round of potential base closures. According to the House Committee on Appropriations, savings were found in a number of ways, including $4 billion in rescissions of unused prior-year funding, $515 million for unjustified Army growth funding, and $500 million for excess inventory of spare parts and secondary items. Meanwhile, VA appropriations include $133.9 billion for operations, and medical services will receive $53.3 billion for FY 2013 and $54.5 billion in advance funding for FY 2014. There is $608 million for minor construction, including both health-care and cemetery facilities.

www.legion.org/dispatch 7 MEMBERSHIP INCENTIVES AND AWARDS GOLD AND SILVER BRIGADE Renamed Koutz Scouts for the 2013 Membership Year, the Gold and Silver Brigade program will honor 2012 Gold and Silver Brigade Award recipients who bring an increased number of members in 2013. For every additional member, a 2012 Gold or Silver Brigade recipient obtains in 2013 over their 2012 total, they will receive a monetary award. Gold Brigaders will receive $3 per member they obtain over last year s total; Silver Brigaders will receive $2 per member they obtain over last year s total. National Headquarters will continue to accept submissions for the traditional Gold and Silver Brigade award program, but hopes that those trying for either award will push themselves extra hard to get new members into The American Legion with this cash incentive. National Headquarters will also offer certificates, coins and lapel/cap pins to those who exceed last year s goals. The program will be continued through 2019, so any Legionnaires who want to participate in next year s enhanced Gold and Silver Brigade can participate in 2014 for the new members they signed up during the 2013 membership year. For more information, contact the Membership Division: (317) 630-1327 or ksingleton@legion.org POST EXCELLENCE AWARD CONTINUES The Post Excellence Award program honors posts that show excellence in membership participation, youth activities, community service, and support to veterans and U.S. troops. Criteria Membership. Post membership must be at least one member more than the previous year. A post officer must attend district meetings. Youth activities. The post must sponsor and actively participate in at least one primary youth program: Boys State, Legion Baseball, the Oratorical Contest, Boy Scouts of America or Junior Shooting Sports. Community service. The post must organize a community service project that involves members of the Legion, Auxiliary or Sons of The American Legion. A monetary donation may only be one part of a project. Service to troops or veterans. The post must organize a project supporting troops or veterans (e.g., Family Support DISTRICT LEADERS REWARDED FOR POST VISITS The District Commander Post Visitation Award is an incentive for personal visits to posts by district commanders and vice commanders. Personal contact at this level sets the example for post membership workers to make the personal contacts necessary for a successful membership program. Criteria. The district commander and/or vice commanders must visit each post in the district during their year. For districts with more than 30 posts, the district vice commanders can assist in making visits, but the district commander must visit at least 30 of the posts personally. Certification. A list of posts in each district can be obtained with the assistance of department headquarters. At the completion of the 100 percent visit requirement, the district commander will send the completed spreadsheet to the department, which will forward it to National Headquarters by Aug. 2. Awards. Category 1 (up to 20 posts), $100 Category 2 (21 to 35 posts), $200 Category 3 (36 to 50 posts), $300 Category 4 (51 to 65 posts), $400 Category 5 (65 or more posts), $500 www.legion.org/commander/districtpost Network or Operation Comfort Warriors), that involves members of the Legion, Auxiliary or SAL outside the post. A monetary donation may only be one part of a project. Certification. District commanders must certify posts as having fulfilled the four specified criteria, and submit a list of the post s name, number, address and commander s name to department headquarters. If possible, accompany with copies of press releases submitted to local media that raise awareness for the projects and enhance the Legion s public image. Awards. Each qualifying post, as well as district commanders whose districts have at least 50 percent of posts reach certification, will receive a certificate of recognition. www.legion.org/commander/postexcellence

THE AMERICAN LEGION P.O. BOX 1055 INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46206 Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID THE AMERICAN LEGION April 2013 A National Headquarters Publication WHAT S INSIDE FEATURE STORY: REBUILDING A COURT OF HONOR Page 1 Commander s Message: Our commitment to children and youth Page 2 Adjutant s Message: Halls of history Page 3 Ask a Service Officer: Agent Orange exposure Page 4 Membership: Sign up for automated membership renewal Page 4 Honor and Remembrance: Share your stories on new web page Page 5 MEMBERSHIP Contest recruits new members The American Legion s goal to reach an all-time membership high by 2019 the Legion s centennial has inspired the Department of Kansas to do the same. We are doing everything we can to make Kansas No. 1 in membership, said Paul Sanford, department commander. The department organized a 25-member centennial committee to institute membership recruitment incentives, such as its New Member Recruiting Contest. For each new member a Kansas Legionnaire signs up, he or she will receive an entry into a drawing that will be held during the department s convention in May. Each time a Legionnaire signs up a new member, they must fill out the entry coupon and submit it to the post adjutant. It s an incentive to keep Legionnaires working on recruiting members throughout the membership year because the more members they sign up, the more their name is featured in the drawing and the better their chances of winning prizes, Sanford said. Ten new members drawn from all entries will receive a free second-year membership, and 10 recruiters drawn will be awarded $50 each. An additional $25 will be awarded to any winner registered and present at the convention. This additional monetary award is one way to build our membership attendance during convention, Sanford said. New Member: Phone Number: Post Number: Recruiter: Phone Number: Post Number: Date of new membership: Sample contest entry PLANNER MAY 6-9 National Executive Committee Spring Meetings, Indianapolis 8 100 percent national membership target date 18 Armed Forces Day 27 Memorial Day JUNE 6 D-Day 1944 14 Flag Day, pause for the pledge at 7 p.m. (EDT) www.legion.org/dispatch/ calendar