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American
Legion Has a Well Kept Secret
John Lenotte, American Legion
Yes, the American Legion
has a secret. The secret IS the American Legion and what
it is all about.
The first thing that comes to people’s mind is a bar
where folks get plastered. Well, some Posts do not have a
bar. Many do have a bar and a function hall. And they
abide by the rules/regulation governing liquor
establishments. What the Legion is all about stems back
to its roots in 1919. The American Legion is about
advocating for veterans benefits, community service,
national defense, supporting children and youth
activities.
The American Legion along with other veterans groups
fought to get what is now the Veterans Administration
established. Have you ever heard of the GI Bill of
Rights? Well, the American Legion is recognized as the
originator and fought to get it through Congress. It was
one of the greatest pieces of social legislation when you
think of how many men and women went to school and bought
homes with their benefits.
How about American Legion baseball? Haverhill’s own
Carlos Pena played Legion ball. Albert Pujols, Ted
Williams, Carl Yaztremski, Carleton Fisk, Johnny Bench,
Yogi Berra and many others benefited from Legion ball.
There are now 50 members of the Baseball Hall of Fame who
played on a Legion ball team. We have many politicians
who attended Boys State and Girls State programs. In
Massachusetts we have a Student Trooper program. At our
state convention, police and firefighters are recognized
for their courage and sacrifice to the community. We have
been allied with the Boy Scouts since our beginning.
Various posts also sponsor blood drives, cookouts for
veterans from the Bedford and Chelsea facilities. Post 4
Haverhill members put on a music show this last February
at the Soldiers Home in Chelsea. Donations are given to
flood recovery programs, the Make a Wish foundation and
many others.
Where do you think this money comes from? Much of it is
from the money coming in from the bars, function halls
and fund raisers. And there are countless hours given by
the American Legion family members which includes the
Legion, Sons of the American Legion and the Auxiliary.
We give so much back to the community, yet are thought of
as drunks sitting at the bar. My drink of choice and you
can ask the bartenders, is a diet cola. And if you are
eligible to join our family, please do so. We need more
members. Eligibility can be found at www.masslegion.org. Or stop by your local
post.
John Lenotte is the Commander of District 8/Essex County
American Legion
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The September, 2006
Edition of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
Publication.
All Contents (C) 2006, Valley Patriot, Inc.
We publish 9,000 newspapers and distribute in Andover,
North Andover,
Methuen, Haverhill, Chelmsford, Georgetown, Groveland,
Boxford,
Lawrence, Dracut, Tewksbury, Hampton & Salisbury
Beach, and Lowell.
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