AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY

(REPORT TO THE AMERICAN LEGION)

Mrs. Luther D. Johnson, National President

As our 44th National Convention brings to a close this year of endeavor by our American Legion Auxiliary, I believe that we all can be proud of the accomplishments made during this year of 1963-64. Progress has been made and service rendered in all of our national activities. Again we have proved ourselves able to carry the responsibilities of America's largest patriotic organization of women.

It has been a year of trial for our America—a year of need for patriotic service. Early in the year the whole Nation was stunned and plunged into grief by the tragic death of our young President. The sadness of this event has overshadowed the entire year, and has given the Nation renewed understanding of the meaning of patriotic service and sacrifice.

More than 12 months now have passed since our American Legion Auxiliary concluded its 43d National Convention in Miami, Fla., and began the activities of this eventful year. Programs for the year were presented to our departments at the annual Presidents and Secretaries Conference in October. This conference took a new form, that of panel discussions conducted in five panels, each moderated by a National Vice President. It provided an effective method of launching the year's endeavors.

Enrollment of members for 1964 started with a rush. All records for early enrollment were broken when more than 450,000 members were reported in National Headquarters by November 1. This was 100,000 ahead of the same date the previous year and gave us hopes that the annual decline in membership strength had been stopped. On March 1, we still were showing a gain over the same date last year. At close of books for the National Convention on August 22, the national enrollment was 904,496 compared with 906,227 at close of books in 1963. Departments reaching their 1964 membership goal totaled 31.

First major national endeavor of the year was helping bring Christmas happiness to the hospitalized veterans and their families. This followed the pattern so well established in previous years, with Christmas Gift Shops operated in the Veterans Administration hospitals to enable veterans to send gifts to their families, and with personal Christmas gifts going to the veterans from the Auxiliary on Christmas Day.

The Gift Shops again were deeply appreciated by the sick and disabled veterans. They were conducted by the Auxiliary Departments in the States where the hospitals are located, with the support of the units in those departments. They gave the veterans the finest of Christmas gifts-a share in the joy of Christmas giving.

As we emphasized rehabilitation activities in December, special attention was given to the development of the Field Service Volunteers program to aid the veterans outside of the hospitals. The need for this work has increased due to the advanced age of many veterans and to the number of patients discharged from the hospitals and returning to their communities. This field of rehabilitation work is open to all units, regardless of location, and offers extensive opportunity for service of high humanitarian value.

Area rehabilitation conferences were again held in the five areas under direction of the American Legion Auxiliary and proved of great value to the progress of the program.

Another activity given emphasis during December was civil defense, with December 7, the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, being observed as Civil Defense Day. Nearly one-half of all Auxiliary units participated in civil defense activities, cooperating with their local civil defense authorities and endeavoring to keep the women of their communities interested in this work so vital to survival

in time of disaster, either natural or man made. Thousands of Auxiliary women prepared themselves for civil defense duties by taking courses in skills required, and by training and serving in civil defense forces.

With the coming of the new year and the convening of the Congress, the Auxiliary turned its emphasis to legislative matters and to work for the security of the Nation. The American Legion's Legislative program was given enthusiastic support, with Auxiliary women writing thousands of letters to their Senators and Representatives urging favorable consideration of Legion endorsed legislation. Effective efforts were made to bring understanding of this legislation to other women's groups.

With the Legion, the Auxiliary asked Congress to liberalize pension laws; to provide a new nursing-care program for aging veterans; to reopen National Service Life Insurance opportunities for World War II and Korean war veterans, and to act on a proposed Constitution amendment to permit prayers in public schools.

In our activities for the security of the Nation, we gave our endorsement to the national security recommendations of The American Legion, and continued our many years of work to give the women of America a clear understanding of the necessity for Armed Forces superior to those of any other nation. We took part in the Women's Forum on National Security held in Washington, D.C. We conducted local meetings and statewide forums to help bring information about the Nation's security needs to American women. To increase our own understanding, a group of national officers and committee members. toured the Cape Kennedy missile base as guests of the Air Force Systems. Command.

Soon after the 1963 National Convention, I made an inspection tour of the facilities of Radio Free Europe and we continued our support of the efforts. of this organization to send news of the free world to the people behind the Iron Curtain. We have encouraged our R.O.T.C. in our local schools. We have urged the purchase of U.S. savings bonds and have conducted the sale of U.S. savings stamps in schools. In every way open to us we have worked to make our America more secure in its freedom.

In February the spotlight of emphasis fell on Americanism activities. Americanism meetings were held and Americanism projects sponsored by thousands of Auxiliary units throughout the country. More than 10,000 flags were presented to schools, churches, youth groups, and other organizations. Flag codes distributed number more than 100,000. Display of the flag on patriotic holidays was widely urged. Hundreds of units took part in naturalization court ceremonies.

A special Americanism project this year was placing "Pledge of Allegiance Cards" in hotels and motels throughout the country. More than 1,400 units took part with nearly 140,000 of these cards distributed.

Practically every unit of the Auxiliary caried out some Americanism activities, while in the majority of units Americanism was a major, year-around program.

Service to the communities in which they are located was the emphasized activity in March for Auxiliary units everywhere. Work of some kind for the benefit of its community was undertaken by practically every unit. Community Service projects came under four general headings: health, recreation, education, and safety. Surveys were made to discover community needs which could be met by Auxiliary action. Care was taken not to duplicate efforts of other organizations. Cooperation was given to other groups in worthwhile community service projects.

When the last days of March brought disaster to Alaskan communities, Auxiliary units in those communities distinguished themselves in the work of relief. Side by side with the men of their American Legion posts, they helped provide food and shelter for the homeless during the days after the earthquake, then aided in the efforts for rehabilitation of the victims. Auxiliary members from all parts of the Nation responded to the need and sent contributions which totaled more than $40,000 to aid American Legion and Auxiliary endeavors in the disaster area.

Easter saw Auxiliary members busy in veterans hospitals, providing parties, gifts, and favors to brighten the day for the hospitalized veterans.

When April brought spring days to the country, the Auxiliary turned its emphasis to Child Welfare and to Foreign Affairs as April's special activities. Both of these activities are year-around programs, but in April they received intensive attention.