[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 125 (Thursday, September 16, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7181-S7182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE AMERICAN LEGION DAY

  Mr. GOODWIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 627, which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 627) designating September 16, 2010, 
     as ``The American Legion Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. SNOWE. Madam President, I rise in support of legislation with 
Senator Lincoln, Senator Collins, and Senator Chambliss, which would 
officially recognize The American Legion and its vital role in 
communities across the Nation, by designating September 16, 2010, as 
``The American Legion Day.''
  Nothing describes the role of The American Legion more beautifully 
than the 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; and 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 for over 90 years The American Legion 
has worked 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. World War I veterans remembered the 
challenges facing wartime veterans from previous generations and vowed 
not to let their fellow comrades face the same hardships, especially 
those with service-connected disabilities. They wanted 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. And most importantly, they wanted medical 
care provided to the wounded and ill returning service members.
  Now, as it did at its founding, The American Legion remains focused 
on supporting veterans, military service members, and their families. 
Since December 2008, The American Legion's Operation Comfort Warriors 
has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy merchandise for 
Wounded Warriors in military medical centers around the country. 
Through the ``Heroes to Hometowns'' program The American Legion 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, or 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 during 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 Federal 
Emergency Management Agency work centers in areas hit by natural 
disasters. Members of more than 14,000 American Legion Posts donate 
nearly 100,000 pints of blood to the American Red Cross each year.
  The American Legion is also proud of its membership's spirit of 
volunteerism. Each year, Legionnaires volunteer about 1 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 performed by The American 
Legion 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 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 to be 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, 2010, ``The American Legion Day.'' I sincerely hope that 
my colleagues will join me in supporting this well-earned measure, 
demonstrating our respect and esteem for this outstanding organization.

[[Page S7182]]

  Mr. GOODWIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 627) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 627

       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, 2010, as 
     ``The American Legion Day''.

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