AMERICANISM COMMISSION Daniel J. O'Connor, New York, Chairman Maurice T. Webb, Georgia, Director The United States of America, as a nation, has been the beneficiary of Americanism activities of The American Legion. The Commission is working actively at the present time to strengthen and expand the established programs of The American Legion in the field of Americanism. At the same time, this Commission is mindful of the ever increasing number of young people in our country, and efforts are being made to enter into programs which will provide the type of training and experience for our young people which will make them better informed and more useful citizens. Each post of The American Legion is given ample opportunity to participate in all the programs of Americanism, and encouragement is given to posts to create additional programs designed to accomplish the end result-informed Americans for leadership in the future. For this reason, the different types of Americanism programs conducted by posts across this land number in the hundreds and are very diversified. In this report, we will be concerned primarily with nationally mandated programs because the report would be too voluminous to cover the myriad Americanism programs carried out by American Legion Posts. American Education Week American Education Week will be observed during the week of November 8-14, 1964. Since The American Legion was the instigator of this annual observance, the organization is happy to report that almost 30 million Americans visited the schools in this country during American Education Week in 1963. Every effort will be made this fall to make sure that, in 1964, more citizens will view the operations of the school systems than in any previous year. Daily Topics for 1964 American Education Week are: INVEST IN LEARNING Sunday-To strengthen moral and spiritual values. Monday-To cultivate the intellect. Tuesday-To enhance personal fulfillment. Wednesday-To improve earning power. Thursday-To develop good citizenship. Friday-To enrich family and community life. Saturday-To deepen international understanding. American Legion Baseball This youth program was the pioneer in the field of interesting boys in the American pastime of “Play Ball!" Today there are numerous organizations providing a supervised baseball program for boys. The American Legion is proud of its part in establishing the idea that boys need the physical activity and the training in good sportsmanship provided through baseball. At the same time, The American Legion has continued to carry out a baseball program which is respected by Americans, in general, as well as officials of organized baseball. This is evidenced by the contribution of $60,000 annually to The American Legion baseball program through Commissioner Ford C. Frick's office. The National Tournament sites and dates are as follows: Bells of America Ringing for Freedom on July 4 Originally designated to be observed by The American Legion on April 19 each year, this date was changed to July 4 by Resolution No. 14, approved by the National Executive Committee during meetings October 16-18, 1963. On July 4, 1964, Bells of America Ringing for Freedom rang out across the land. National Commander Daniel F. Foley named William J. Chisholm, of Denver, Colo., as National Chairman of Bells of America Ringing for Freedom on July 4. Chairman Chisholm contacted each Department (State) Commander of The American Legion and, through this effort, coupled with internal publications, this activity served as a reminder to millions of Americans of our heritage and responsibility as citizens. Boys Nation 1964 Boys Nation was held on the campus of the University of Maryland, July 17-24. This was the 19th session of this training in Government at the Federal level. Besides practical experience in politics, these 98 outstanding young men were privileged to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, President Kennedy's grave, the Pentagon, the U.S. Civil Service Commission, the Washington office of The American Legion, the White House and the State Department. They received instruction and guidance from National Commander Daniel F. Foley, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Selective Service Director Lewis B. Hershey, National Chaplain of The American Legion, The Rev. John J. Howard, and other outstanding Americans. Political activity in this program is centered around two political parties, the Nationalist and the Federalist. Party officials are elected and platforms drafted. This year, a Federalist was elected President, Jeffrey C. Bauer of Boulder, Colo.; and Timothy Battaglia, Belleville, Ill., a Nationalist, as Vice President. Citizenship Day American Legion Posts throughout the country will participate in Citizenship Day activities on Constitution Day, September 17. These ceremonies give recognition to individuals coming of age or becoming a citizen by naturalization during the past year. Community Service In carrying out all Americanism programs, American Legion Posts are participating in positive community service. Notwithstanding the fact that dozens of programs are mandated and carried out by American Legion Posts, the program of Community Service does not end with the mandated programs. At the community level, The American Legion enters into numerous activities for the benefit and betterment of the community. These programs are approached in different ways throughout the land. They include, but by no means are limited to, career days for high school students, teaching first aid classes, buying equipment for hospitals, participating actively in the American Red Cross blood donor program, providing shelter for victims of natural and manmade disasters and supporting community agencies which render service to the needy and ill citizens of the community. Community Service in The American Legion is an ever expanding program because, as the population of our country expands at a very fast pace, the problems with which our communities are faced increase at the same time. Education and Scholarship Program The Education and Scholarship program provides service to young people, parents and teachers. "Need a Lift?," the career and scholarship handbook, is one of the most respected publications in this area of operation in the country. Copies of "Need a Lift?" will be found on the shelves of practically every high school library in the United States and young people seeking scholarship assistance find this publication very useful. A pamphlet entitled, "A Guide for Parents & Students," which gives valuable information in planning for young persons' college education, has been given wide distribution. This brief publication has been provided by many American Legion Posts to every high school student within the community. The American Legion Auxiliary has done yeoman service through distribution of this publication. On August 10, 1964, testimony was submitted by The American Legion before the House Committee on Finance, supporting the Amendment of Title II of the Social Security Act to authorize the continuance of payments to students after they reach age 18, but not beyond age 21, so long as they are enrolled in an approved school and remain unmarried. The American Legion was one of the first organizations in the country to come out in support of this subject and continues to support this vital amendment to the Social Security Act. This organization interested itself in the field of education in the early days when The American Legion was in its infancy, and continuous efforts are made to broaden the areas of interests because the members of this organization realize that America's strength lies in an educated and informed citizenry. The American Legion-N.E.A. Joint Committee In working with the National Education Association through the Joint Committee of the two organizations, The American Legion continues to emphasize its deep interest in the education of youth. An established accomplishment of the Joint Committee was the development and dissemination of "Guidelines for Teaching About Communism," designed for junior and senior high school teachers in developing teaching units on communism. This committee has interested itself in the serious problems of school dropouts and The American Legion has developed a filmstrip for distribution to television stations throughout the country, urging young people to stay in school. This particular phase of interest will receive more attention in the coming year because the Joint Committee feels that school dropouts is one of the most serious matters facing the United States today. Flag Education American Legion Posts continue to promote the flag of our country, "Old Glory." This promotion is one of teaching Americans, especially the youth of our country, proper respect of our flag. This program finds its culmination in numerous ways and American Legion Posts devise local programs in cooperation with school officials and other interested groups to increase respect for the flag. The National Americanism Commission is interested in seeing a Flag Conference called at the earliest possible date in order to clarify certain provisions of the United States Flag Code. Efforts will be continued for a Flag Conference to be called so that appropriate revisions may be made to the Flag Code. In the interim, the Americanism Commission continues to interpret, to the best of its ability, present provisions of the Flag Code when questions arise. Immigration The national chairman testified before the Subcommittee on Immigration and Naturalization of the House Committee on the Judiciary on August 5, 1964, setting forth the position of the American Legion in support of the McCarranWalter Immigration Act. Reported below are some excerpts from the statement of the American Legion heretofore mentioned: "We appreciate the fact that there are those who disagree with us on how to best deal with immigration problems. We respect their right and concede that the vast majority of the proponents of this legislation are motivated solely by humanitarian considerations and what they believe to be best for our Nation. However, we cannot overlook the possibility that some proponents may base their support on purely personal, political, self-serving reasons, which are real, but seldom conceded to be in that context. "Our present immigration system is as fair and nondiscriminatory as any in existence throughout the world today. It was devised after many years of study and experience. It was retained basically by Congress as recently as 1952, over a Presidential veto. It is hard to understand some statements of certain proponents of the legislation to the effect that the post World War II Acts of Congress in this field have repudiated our present policy; that it should, therefore, be completely repealed. The enactments by Congress to grant emergent relief to refugees and escapees should not be construed as a repudiation of the basic concepts in the McCarran-Walter Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. "The national origins quota system is based solely upon the sincere belief that it is in the best interest of our country to maintain the present makeup of our cultural and social structure. "We are concerned with problems which increased immigration will aggravate at an accelerating rate as the years pass in the areas of internal security, employment, housing, natural resources, and education. How can we embark upon such a course as is proposed without giving such matters intensive study and consideration?" The American Legion has continued to vigorously oppose emasculation of the McCarran-Walter Immigration Act. Legion and Scouting The American Legion continues to be a staunch supporter of the Boy Scout movement in the United States. During the past year, more than 4,000 Boy Scout Units were sponsored by American Legion Posts and every possible avenue will be followed in the months ahead to increase participation of posts in this most important endeavor. Working with the national committees and staff of Boy Scouts of America, American Legion Posts will be urged to sponsor more than one Scout Unit and those posts, not presently sponsoring Boy Scout Units, will be encouraged to get into this prorgam which means so much to the security of America in the years ahead. Marksmanship The National Rifle Association cooperates with the American Legion in carrying out the marksmanship program. The National Rifle Association prepares annually a brochure, which is distributed throughout the organization, relative to this cooperative program. The program includes Sons of the American Legion Postal Rifle Matches as well as adult participation. Through this marksmanship program, firearms safety is a key objective and the reduction in deaths, through the training these young men receive, is contributing to a safer America. The safety program in marksmanship is in addition to the recreation value provided through this program. National High School Oratorical Contest The National High School Oratorical Contest sponsored by The American Legion has provided, since its inception, more than $180,000 in scholarships to those students winning the National Contest each year. Literally, thousands of high school students are provided the opportunity and the incentive to study the Constitution of the United States and to speak before an audience on that specific subject. Through this program, The American Legion is educating the youth of our Nation on the basic precepts upon which our Nation was founded. The participants account for a portion of this training because these fine young people speak before high school audiences nationwide, and a tremendous number of high school students learn more about the Constitution by listening to these capable orators. The 1964 National Finals were held at the Hillsborough High School, Tampa, Fla., on April 16. David Bruce Marth, Wausau, Wis., was the winner, receiving a $4,000 scholarship. The second-, third-, and fourth-place winners received $2,500, $1,000, and $500 scholarships, respectively. The first-place winner was privileged to address the Democratic and Republican National Conventions and appeared on nationwide television. School Medal Award Program The School Medal Award program continues to provide recognition to students for the following qualities: Courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship, and service. The number of School Medal Awards presented continues to increase and during the past 12 months, more than 21,631 medals were presented to deserving students by American Legion Posts. Testimony Before Congressional Committees The past 12 months have been active months in the field of Americanism testimony. The chairman has made himself available for this purpose and, with the assistance of the director and his staff and the National Legislative Commission, testimony has been presented on numerous subjects. These include, but are not limited to, Prayer and Bible-Reading in Public Schools; Immigration ; and the Extension of Social Security Benefits to Authorize Continuance of Payments to Students after they reach age 18 but not beyond age 21, if they remain in school. Much serious thought and study goes into statements presented in behalf of American Legion mandated policy and this testimony provides to the Congress guidance in acting on pending legislation. Through positive support of those mandated positions and opposition to those things which The American Legion feels are inimical to the best interest of the United States, The American Legion continues to provide a valuable service to the lawmakers and citizens of this country. Service to God and Country The duty of serving as liaison to the National Chaplain and assisting him in carrying out his duties, including his work with Department (State) chaplains, is one assigned to the Americanism Commission. The chairman, members of the Commission, the Director and his staff, have worked very closely during the past year with the National Chaplain. The Rev. John J. Howard, Hampton, Phoebus, Va. During the year, each living Past National Chaplain was recognized with a laminated plaque, indicting his service to The American Legion and America as National Chaplain for one year. A beautiful plaque containing the name of each Past National Chaplain was created during the past 12 months and hangs in the National Headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind. The title of the “Back To God Handbook”" was changed to "Service To God and Country Handbook," and was completely revised and up-dated by a Revision Committee, headed by Past National Chaplain Rev. Dr. Feltham S. James, D.D., Lake City, S.C. The "Service To God and Country Handbook" has received very favorable response in the field and serves as the publication to remind Legionnaires of their obligation to God and country. AMERICANISM COUNCIL Rabbi Albert M. Shulman, Chairman The members of the National Americanism Council, who number approximately 500 individuals throughout the country, have rendered service during the past 12 months to the cause of Americanism and support of Americanism programs. The National Americanism Commission has called upon the members of the council on six occasions to take specific action in support of certain mandated positions of The Americans Legion. The most important service rendered was the support of the members of the council of the organization's mandated position on prayer and Bible-reading in public schools. Members of the council wrote hundreds of letters to Members of the Congress and made personal contacts in support of Resolution No. 25, adopted at the 1963 National Convention, which establishes The American Legion's position in support of praver and Bible-reading in public schools. During the coming year, the Americanism Commission will continue to utilize the services of these distinguished Legionnaires, who serve as members of the National Americanism Council. |