[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 38 (Tuesday, April 12, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                THE AMERICAN LEGION CELEBRATES 75 YEARS

                                 ______


                         HON. ROMANO L. MAZZOLI

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 1994

  Mr. MAZZOLI. Mr. Speaker, the American Legion is celebrating a 
special anniversary this year: 75 years of service to the men and women 
who served our country and its colors, often at personal risk and 
sacrifice.
  The American Legion was born out of comon experiences shared by the 
many men and women who served the United States in World War I. The 
first meeting was held in Paris, France, in March 1919, and soon after 
that initial meeting, Congress granted the American Legion its charter.
  The Legion is first and foremost a patriotic, mutual-help, and 
community-service oriented organization whose primary goal is to be a 
support vehicle for veterans and their families.
  While fewer than seven of the original members of the American Legion 
who met in Paris remain alive today, membership has grown to well over 
3.1 million Legionnaires, including those from World War II, Korea, 
Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, and Desert Storm.
  Legionnaires live in all the cities, towns, and townships of our 
Nation. In my hometown of Louisville and Jefferson County there are 10 
separate American Legion posts--including Post 220, of which I am a 
member--with a total membership of nearly 5,000 under the leadership of 
Department Commander Jim Terrell.
  In the past 75 years, the Legion has made important contributions to 
the Nation's service people, including: authorship of the original G.I. 
Bill of Rights in 1944; sponsorship and support to over 2,500 Boy Scout 
units across the Nation; sponsorship of the National High School 
Oratorical Contest which helps young people gain a better understanding 
of the U.S. Constitution and their responsibilities as citizens; and 
the American Legion's Child Welfare Foundation, created in 1954, which 
awards grants to nonprofit organizations dedicated to solving social 
and health problems of children.
  The American Legion is devoted to voluntarism. And, last year alone, 
it is estimated the Legionnaires gave nearly 2.8 million hours of their 
time in volunteer service to their communities. The selfless dedication 
on the part of the men and women who are proud to be called 
Legionnaires add a special quality to my community and to communities 
all across this Nation.
  I salute all the men and women of the American Legion for their 
service to the Nation and for their devotion to making America greater 
and more just. I salute the American Legion on 75 years of outstanding 
service.

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