[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 127 (Thursday, September 10, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9274-S9275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE AMERICAN LEGION DAY

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 260, which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 260) designating September 16, 2009, 
     as ``The American Legion Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise to support this legislation I 
introduced with Senator Lincoln, Senator Collins, and Senator 
Chambliss, which would officially recognize this Nation's largest 
veterans' service organization, The American Legion, and its vital role 
in communities across the Nation, by designating September 16, 2009, as 
``The American Legion Day.''
  Nothing describes the role of The American Legion more beautifully 
than its preamble to its constitution which is recited by its members 
at the beginning of every official meeting.

       For God and Country, we associated ourselves together for 
     the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution 
     of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; 
     to foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism; 
     to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in 
     the Great Wars; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation 
     to the community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy 
     of both the classes and the masses; to make right the Master 
     of Might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to 
     safeguard and transmit to Posterity the principles of 
     justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify 
     our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.

  I think we all would agree that these are extremely lofty goals for 
any organization, but amazingly The American Legion continues to work 
towards these objectives--not for themselves, but for America.
  Most people are surprised to learn that The American Legion was 
actually founded in Paris, France. You see World War I veterans 
remembered the challenges facing other wartime veterans from previous 
generations and vowed not to let their fellow comrades face the same 
hardships, especially those with service-connected disabilities. They 
were concerned with employment opportunities for returning combat 
veterans. They were concerned about the survivors of combat veterans 
who had paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. They 
were concerned about medical care for the wounded and ill returning 
service members.
  Now, as at its founding, The American Legion remains focused on 
supporting military service members and their families. Since December, 
The American Legion's Operation Comfort Warrior raised over $170,000 to 
buy merchandise for Wounded Warriors in military treatment centers 
around the country. The American Legion also established the ``Heroes 
to Hometowns'' program which helps local communities prepare ``welcome 
home'' events when wounded warriors are finally released from military 
or veterans' affairs medical centers. Since the first Gulf War, The 
American Legion has maintained its Family Support Network which assists 
deployed service members and their families, especially members of the 
National Guard and Reserves. Some requests are for financial 
assistance, but other requests are simply for household chores, such as 
lawn work or car maintenance, that would normally be done by the 
soldier, sailor, airmen, Marine, were they not deployed. No request is 
too large or too small.
  Many Legionnaires can be found in public schools on Veterans' Day or 
Memorial Day talking about their military service in periods of armed 
conflict to make sure the next generation of Americans understands the 
sacrifices and hardships of previous generations of wartime veterans. 
Legionnaires also teach students about the proper display and care of 
the Flag of the United States.
  The American Legion works closely with the American Red Cross--the 
largest organization of blood donors and a working partner in disaster 
assistance. Many American Legion Posts serve as Red Cross and FEMA work 
centers in areas hit by natural disasters.
  The American Legion is also proud of its membership's spirit of 
volunteerism. Each year, Legionnaires volunteer over a million hours of 
services in VA and military medical facilities, State veterans' homes, 
and other such community volunteer opportunities.
  And one of the most solemn of functions is providing burial details 
for fallen comrades of every generation. The American Legion Color 
Guards, Buglers and Rifle Squads perform thousands of burials in 
veterans' and private cemeteries around the Nation.
  As all of us in this chamber know, The American Legion remains today 
an active and vigorous advocate for service members, veterans and their 
families here on Capitol Hill. Among its greatest legislative 
achievements was the enactment of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 
1944, the GI Bill of

[[Page S9275]]

Rights. The initial draft of the GI Bill was written by Legionnaires at 
the Mayflower Hotel here in Washington, DC. Many consider the GI Bill 
as one of the greatest pieces of legislation ever enacted.
  Congress presented The American Legion its Federal charter on 
September 16, 1919; therefore, I think it only fitting that we proclaim 
September 16, 2009, ``The American Legion Day.'' I sincerely hope that 
my colleagues will join me in supporting this well-earned measure, 
demonstrating our mutual esteem and reverence for this outstanding 
organization.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 260) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 260

       Whereas, on September 16, 1919, Congress issued to the 
     American Legion a Federal charter as a wartime veterans 
     service organization;
       Whereas the American Legion remains active in communities 
     at the national, State, and local levels;
       Whereas members of the American Legion (commonly referred 
     to as ``Legionnaires'') provide millions of hours of 
     volunteer service to medical facilities of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs and State homes for veterans throughout the 
     United States;
       Whereas the American Legion continues to sponsor activities 
     for children and youth, including the National Oratorical 
     Contest, Boy Scouts, American Legion Baseball, Boys State, 
     and Boys Nation;
       Whereas the American Legion awards millions of dollars in 
     college scholarships to young men and women;
       Whereas the American Legion National Emergency Fund 
     provides financial assistance to Legionnaires displaced by 
     natural disasters;
       Whereas the American Legion Family Support Network provides 
     assistance to members of the Armed Forces of the United 
     States and their families;
       Whereas the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation has 
     provided millions of dollars to programs focused on youth in 
     the United States, including the Special Olympics and the 
     Children's Miracle Network;
       Whereas the American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance 
     provides grants to veterans with children experiencing 
     financial hardships;
       Whereas the American Legion remains second to none in 
     steadfast support of strong national defense;
       Whereas the American Legion supports maintaining a viable 
     and principled foreign relations agenda;
       Whereas the American Legion is a staunch advocate for the 
     principal missions of the Department of Veterans Affairs;
       Whereas the American Legion wrote the original draft of the 
     Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (58 Stat. 284, chapter 
     268), commonly referred to as the ``G. I. Bill of Rights'';
       Whereas the American Legion continues to support employment 
     programs and opportunities for veterans; and
       Whereas Legionnaires believe that a veteran's service to 
     the United States continues long after the veteran is 
     honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United 
     States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate designates September 16, 2009, as 
     ``The American Legion Day''.

                          ____________________