Monday, August 27, 2007

Vietnam War Facts

VIETNAM WAR FACTS:


-- 9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the official Vietnam era from 5 AUG 64 to 7 MAY 75. Vietnam is the only war with 2 separate start dates for veterans. December 22, 1961 is the other.


-- 2,709,918 Americans served in uniform in Vietnam which represented 9.7% of their generation.


-- 240 men were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War


--58,148 were killed in Vietnam. The first man to die was James Davis, December 22, 1961. He was with the 509th Radio Research Station. Davis Station in Saigon was named for him.


-- 75,000 were severely disabled of which 23,214 were 100% disabled


-- 5,283 lost limbs and 1,081 sustained multiple amputations


-- Average age of men killed: 23.1 years. Of those killed, 61% were younger than 21,   11,465 of those were younger than 20 years old, and   17,539 were married


-- Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old. The oldest man killed was 62 years old.


-- As of 15 JAN 04, there are 1,875 Americans still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War


-- 97% of Vietnam Veterans were honorably discharged


-- 91% of Vietnam Veterans say they are glad they served


-- 74% say they would serve again, even knowing the outcome

 

-- Vietnam veterans have a lower unemployment rate than the same non-vet age groups.


-- Vietnam veterans’ personal income exceeds that of our non-veteran age group by more than 18%.


-- 87% of Americans hold Vietnam Veterans in high esteem.


-- There is no difference in drug usage between Vietnam Veterans and non-Vietnam Veterans of the same age group (Source: Veterans Administration Study)


-- Vietnam Veterans are less likely to be in prison. Only one-half of one percent of Vietnam Veterans have been jailed for crimes.


-- 85% of Vietnam Veterans made successful transitions to civilian life.

 

Posted by Bill Moran at 11:42:15 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Sunday, August 26, 2007

History of the Pledge of Allegiance

History of the Pledge of Allegiance

The original Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy. It was first given wide publicity through the official program of the National Public Schools Celebration of Columbus Day which was printed in The Youth's Companion of September 8, 1892, and at the same time sent out in leaflet form to schools throughout the country. School children first recited the Pledge of Allegiance this way:

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all."

"The flag of the United States" replaced the words "my Flag" in 1923 because some foreign-born people might have in mind the flag of the country of their birth instead of the United States flag. A year later, "of America" was added after "United States."

No form of the Pledge received official recognition by Congress until June 22, 1942, when the Pledge was formally included in the U.S. Flag Code. The official name of The Pledge of Allegiance was adopted in 1945. The last change in language came on Flag Day 1954, when Congress passed a law, which added the words "under God" after "one nation."

Originally, the pledge was said with the right hand in the so-called "Bellamy Salute," with the right hand resting first outward from the chest, then the arm extending out from the body. Once Hitler came to power in Europe, some Americans were concerned that this position of the arm and hand resembled the Nazi or Fascist salute. In 1942 Congress also established the current practice of rendering the pledge with the right hand over the heart.

The Flag Code specifies that any future changes to the pledge would have to be with the consent of the President.
Posted by Bill Moran at 18:15:55 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Salute the Flag - USC Title 4

The USC Title 4 issue has a long way to go and is being widely discussed and getting a slew of e-mails regarding this action. 
It is suggested that everyone Go to the Military.com's Legislative Action Center where you can write directly to elected officials. 
Because this bill is now in the House, the correspondence should be directed to your congressional representative, along with the chairman of the House Judiciary committee and ranking minority member. 
In your remarks section make mention of the confusion area, and how the legislation should be worded.  Because it hasn't gone through the House committee - we have a chance to get it right before it comes to a vote on the floor in the House before going to the President.
 
The Legislative Action Center link is - http://vote.military.com:80/military/issues/bills/?bill=10173166  

Then click on the "Let your public officials know how you feel! " this link will bring up a page that will allow you to inform your elected officials how you feel about this issue as well as a link to email this information to all your friends. 
The Sponsor of this Bill is U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.)

The House Judiciary Committee Chairman is - Rep John Conyers (D-MI), the ranking minority member is Rep Lamar Smith (R-TX).
 
Another option is you can email the Judiciary Committee Chairman and ranking minority member directly -

But, I would also recommend the use of the Legislative Action Center link to ensure your communication gets to your elected congressional representative too.

 

Posted by Bill Moran at 17:34:03 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Monday, August 20, 2007

Cap Etiquette

CAP ETIQUETTE

 

-         The LEFT SIDE (emblem side) of the cap is reserved only for the Legion emblem, city county, district, or state lettering.

 

-         If desired, the folling items must be placed on the RIGHT side of the cap:

 

-              (a)  additional lettering, restricted to either the name of a

 

-                     Post, or to an officer title (such as “Past Commander”),

 

-              (b)  cap insignias or badges (for Past or Present officers),

 

-              (c)  consecutive membership insignia, membership stars,

 

-                     and/or authorized Legion or military services decorations.

 

-         Names or nicknames of individual members cannot be used on caps.

 

-         The Legion Uniform Cap should be worn by its members only when in attendance at official Legion meetings or ceremonies or as official guests at patriotic or other civil functions, or by individuals when officially representing The American Legion on public occasions.

 

-         A member is considered to be in uniform if wearing an official Legion Uniform Cap.  Therefore, it is not proper to wear the cap while EATING A MEAL AT AN OFFICIAL LEGION OR CIVIC LUNCHEON OR DINNER.

 

 

-         The cap should be worn in a place of worship only by the Guard of Honor, Color Guard and Commander of same while in marching order or standing guard.  When returned to and seated in pews, the cap should be removed.

 

-         Legion posts marching in formation into a place of worship should uncover, at the door, hold the cap with the right hand over the heart until the arrival in the pews and commanded to take seats, remaining uncovered during the entire service.  At the close of the service, upon command, the post shall arise; the members holding the cap with the right hand over the heart will march out of the place of worship, and recover after marching thought the door.

 

-         Legion members not in formation will uncover upon entering the place of worship and remain uncovered during the entire service, and will recover after leaving the place of worship.

 

-         When at a funeral, the cap should be held over the heart as one approaches the casket, and is not at any time worn in a place of worship (except by the Guard of Honor or Commander of same while in marching order or standing guard).  At the graveside, the cap should be held in the right hand over the heart during the entire service.  In cold and inclement weather, the cap should not be worn.

 

-         In Legion meetings, the cap should be worn except during moments of the Pledge of Allegiance, prayer, and when standing in silent reverence in memory of departed comrades, when the cap should be held with the right hand over the heart.

 

-         Female members of the Legion should wear their caps in the manner prescribed for female personnel.

 

Posted by Bill Moran at 13:25:08 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Definition of a Veteran

Veteran - whether active duty, retired, national
guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in
his life, wrote a blank check made payable to: "The
United States of America," for an amount of: "up to
and including their life."

That is honor, and there are way too many people in
this country who no longer understand it.

-- Author Unknown
Posted by Bill Moran at 16:14:05 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Thursday, August 16, 2007

A Very Short History of Veteran's Day

A Very Short History of Veteran's Day

World War I, also known as the "Great War" was officially concluded on the 11th hour of the 11th Day of November, at 11 A.M. in 1918.

On November 11th of the following year, President Woodrow Wilson declared that day as "Armistice Day" in honor of the peace. (The term armistice means "truce" or the end of wartime hostilities.)

This day was marked with public celebrations and a two minute halt to business at 11 AM. In 1921, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was dedicated in Arlington Cemetery with a ceremony on November 11th.

After this dedication, Armistice Day was adopted in many states and at the federal level as a day to honor veterans. This was made official in 1938 when an act of Congress made Armistice Day a national holiday.

Woodrow Wilson during a procession for the burial of an Unknown Soldier on an Armistice Day, 1921.

In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

For several years in the 1970s, Veterans Day was observed in October by many states but in 1978 it was returned to November 11th.

Today, Veterans Day is still observed on November 11th as a national holiday to honor all veterans of the United States Armed Forces. (If November 11th falls on a weekend day, the holiday is observed the following Monday.) Throughout the nation, Americans participate in

Posted by Bill Moran at 14:24:28 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Sunday, August 05, 2007

Legion Caps and Uniform Insignia's for sale

The post has the following items on hand and for sale to members:

CAPS:

Size:  7          2 ea

          7 1/2    2 ea

          7 3/8    1 ea

          8           1 ea

These caps are being sold at cost from Emblem Sales @ $35.00 each.

National has raised the price on all future order to $37.95.

So get them while you can at $35.00.  After these are gone the price goes to $37.95.

INSIGNIA'S:

American Legion Printed Emblem 1 1/2 white .95

American Legion Printed Emblem 1 1/2 blue   .95

Service Insignia (All branches of service)   $3.95

For God and County Patches (Left Sleeve)  $1.95

American Flag (Left Sleeve)  $1.25

Posted by Bill Moran at 12:51:18 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |