[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 13229-13230]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  50TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICAN LEGION POST 273, MADEIRA BEACH, FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. C.W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 16, 1999

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th 
anniversary of American Legion Post 273, in Madeira Beach, Florida, 
which I have the privilege to represent.
  Since 1949, American Legion Post 273 has been serving the community 
of Madeira Beach and Pinellas County. Post 273 has more than 3,100 
members, making it the largest post in the Great State of Florida and 
the 5th largest post in the World. In its 50 years of service, Post 273 
has a record of service that is second to none.
  Post 273 has many volunteers who perform thousands of hours of 
volunteer service at the Veterans Affair's Hospital at Bay Pines. Among 
these activities are an annual Thanksgiving Day dinner for disabled 
veterans, and a New Years Day luncheon. The Honor Guard at Post 273 has 
performed at 108 funerals in the past 12 months, and has participated 
in several other functions including the biannual reading of Madeira 
Beach's deceased veterans. The Post also provides financial assistance 
to the families of needy veterans.
  The service of Post 273 goes beyond veterans. Post 273 has sponsored 
14 students for Boys State, where enterprising young boys are selected 
in their junior year of high school to go to Tallahassee and 
participate in a detailed study of Florida's State Government. In 
addition, Post 273 also sponsors an annual oratorical contest, where 
boys and girls compete nationwide for more than $18,000 in 
scholarships. Post 273 also sponsors activities and events that inform 
the community's young people about child safety, drug and alcohol 
abuse, and suicide prevention.
  In its service to the community, Post 273 has been active in the 
Special Olympics, giving mentally challenged youth a chance to

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succeed, assists the American Red Cross with an annual blood drive, has 
a strong record of environmental protection, as it sponsors a recycling 
program, and raised money to provide sea oats for the Madeira Beach 
beach renourishment program.
  Finally, I would be remiss if I neglected to mention American Legion 
Baseball. Each year, the American Legion sponsors approximately 86,000 
young men in legion ball. Madeira Beach Post 273 sponsors two teams, 
providing uniforms, equipment, umpires, and travel funds.
  Mr. Speaker, the service that American Legion Post 273 has provided 
veterans and families in the community of Madeira Beach for the last 50 
years is remarkable and I wish all the members much success as they 
begin their next 50 years of service.

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