There is a correction from last week’s Part4whereIstatedthatMarionAlonzo Holden was buried at our Blanchard Cemetery. Alonzo went down with his ship that was sunk by the Japanese at Guadalcanal in 1942. Only his gravestone is in the Blanchard Cemetery. It is a marble bench located near his family’s graves.
The American Legion Emblem originated from the World War I Victory Button. The larger of two outer rings stands for the rehabilitation of our sick and disabled veterans. The smaller inside ring denotes the welfare of America’s children. The smaller of two inner rings set upon the star represents service to our communities, states and the nation.
The Legion Emblem was officially adopted by the National Executive Committee of The American Legion on June 9, 1919.
On September 16, 1919, Congress charters The American Legion as a patriotic veterans organization. Focusing on service to veterans, servicemembers, and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Over the years the Legion has influenced considerable change in America, won thousands of benefits for veterans and produced important programs for children and youth.
On November 10-11, 1919, the first Legion Convention convenes in Minneapolis. The Constitution and Preamble are adopted. Delegates voted to locate the Legion’s National Headquarters in Indianapolis instead of Washington DC. A resolution is passed in support of the Boy Scouts of America.
Today, the Legion is the chartering agency for more than 2,500 Scouting units made up of approximately 64,000 youth. This is natural for Legionnaires who bring their service-learned skills and experiences as veterans to help build character and positive traits in our country’s youth. The American Legion annually honors the Eagle Scout of the Year at the national convention. The winner of the competition receives a $10,000 scholarship, and the three runners-up are each awarded $2,000. scholarships.
Next week we will learn how the Legion was influential in the creation of the U.S. Veterans Bureau, the forerunner of the Veterans Administration.
