American Legion Post #60

July 2008

Congress chartered the American Legion in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual help, and wartime veteran's organization. A community service organization, which now numbers nearly 3,000,000 members, men and women, American Legion Posts worldwide. Since 1919 the familiar Legion emblem has signified service to veterans, community, state, and nation. The world's largest veterans' organization has sought to maintain the original basics of its founders: veterans'rehabilitation, Americanism, child welfare, and national security. The Legion's presence on the American scene has been a accepted part of the social and cultural landscape here and in several foreign countries. The Legion has been a presence in towns and cities across America since the end of World War 1. It has affected public policy in ways and degrees that are still ongoing to this very day. The Legion has made a difference in the way the federal, state, and local governments have dealt with a wide range of matters affecting all citizens. From its beginning, the organization has relied on a vigorous brand of volunteerism. In the collective efforts of Legionnaires over the years, it has amassed a truly impressive record in whatever standards one chooses to measure. Inherent in the movement, of course, is the citizen-veteran concept,particular the postwar role. Their concept of volunteerism is expressed through public service. They imagined volunteerism on a national scale. Then, the Legion provided a system at their first National Convention in November, 1919, that subsequently would constitute many times a first rank of help and aid for those many needs throughout the communities they serve.

Just A Simple Soldier

He was getting old and paunchy, And his hair was falling fast; He sat around the Legion, Telling stories of the past.

Of a war he had fought in And the deeds that he had done; In his exploits with his buddies ... They were heroes ... everyone.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors, His tales became a joke, All his Legion buddies listened ... For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer, For ol' Bill has passed away; And the world's a little poorer, For a soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many, Just his children and his wife; For he just lived an ordinary and a quiet uneventful life.

Held a job and raised a family, Quietly going his own way; And the world won't note his passing, 'Though a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, Their bodies lie in state; While thousands note their passing, And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their whole life stories, From the time that they were young; But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land, A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow,who in the time of war and strife, Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

The politician's stipend and the style in which he lives, Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.

While the ordinary soldier,who offered up his all, Is paid off with a medal and perhaps a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago, That the old Bill's of our Country went to battle, but we know ...

It was not the politicians,with their compromise and ploys,who won for us the freedom,that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,with your enemies at hand

Would you really want some politian with his ever shifting stand?

Or would you prefer a soldier,who has sworn to defend, He was just a common Soldier and his ranks are growing thin,

But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,then we find the soldier's part

Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise

Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline in the paper that would say, "OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, For a Soldier died today."

~ A. Lawrence Vaincourt ~