[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2265]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO EAST GARY MEMORIAL AMERICAN LEGION POST 100

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                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2006

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect and admiration 
that I wish to congratulate the members of the East Gary Memorial 
American Legion Post #100 as they celebrate their 75th Diamond Jubilee 
Birthday. To commemorate this special occasion, Post #100 will be 
having an anniversary dinner on Saturday, March 11, 2006 at the Post 
#100 American Legion Hall in Lake Station, Indiana.
  The East Gary Memorial American Legion Post #100 was chartered in 
1931. Since its inception, the members of Post #100 have dedicated 
themselves to the mission of serving veterans and the community. Post 
#100 members go above and beyond to serve veterans, as evidenced by 
their continued work with the Indiana Veterans Home in Lafayette, 
Indiana; the Knightstown Soldiers and Sailors Home in Knightstown, 
Indiana; and the Hines VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois, where they 
provide visitation and assistance to veterans in need. In addition, 
Post #100 has always been very active in various POW/MIA programs. Post 
#100 has also taken an active role in promoting local public service by 
sponsoring a law enforcement officer/firefighter/EMT competition, of 
which present Commander John Wrolen serves as District Chairman and 
State Co-Chairman.
  Currently, Post #100 and its members also support the following youth 
programs: American Legion Baseball, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts 
of America, the Special Olympics, and several programs that focus on 
patriotism and American government. In particular, they are active in 
Hoosier Boys' and Girls' State, a program that aims to educate high 
school juniors on the structure of American government and its 
processes. Post #100 also provides flag etiquette classes for grade-
school children and sponsors the Americanism in Government program, as 
well as oratorical programs. These competitions test the knowledge and 
public speaking abilities of tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade 
students, allowing the winners to advance to compete at district, 
State, regional, and national levels.
  Throughout the past 75 years, American Legion Post #100 has installed 
37 commanders, 4 of which have gone on to serve as first district 
commanders. These men are: Ralph Becktel (1934), Jay Hott (1968), Hank 
Cook (1992), and John Wrolen (2001). At their 75th anniversary 
celebration, Post #100 will honor all living past commanders for their 
service. They are: Robert Pifferitti, Albert Kinsey, Alfred Hanson, 
Jr., Robert Wilson, John Wrolen, Terry Szostek, Richard Davies, Ronald 
Blaney, and Evin Eakins. All of these past commanders and district 
commanders should be honored for their service and dedication to 
veterans and the community.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues 
join me in congratulating the members of the East Gary Memorial 
American Legion Post #100 on the 75th anniversary of their noble 
organization. These giving and selfless individuals continue to 
dedicate their time and unrelenting efforts to serve local veterans and 
their community. I am proud to represent them in Congress.

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