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MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE 02SS NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION C. D. DeLoach, Chairman James C. Watkins, Director HEADQUARTERS P. O. Box 1055 1608 K St., N. W. 13 Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 Washington, D. C. 20006 0 (317) 635-8411 (202) 393-4811 AMERICAN LEGION NEWS BRIEFS FOR WEEK ENDING 10-6-72 American Legion National Commander Joe L. Matthews, of Ft. Worth, Texas, has called upon American Legionnaires everywhere to exercise one of the most precious rights of a free people—the right to vote. * * * As of press time the Senate and House Committees on Veterans Affairs appear to have resolved their differences on the Vietnam-era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1972 (H.R. 12828). * * * The American Legion National Public Relations Division has produced five Veterans Day television spot announcements. The spots have been mailed directly to 900 television outlets throughout the Nation. * * * The Sea Service chess team, representing the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, took all the honors at the 13th annual Armed Forces Chess Championship Tournament, held in the Hall of Flags in The American Legion's Washington office. * * * American Legion Auxiliary National President Mrs. T.G. Chilton opened the 1972 annual National Presidents and Secretaries Conference in Indianapolis by challenging the 108 Department officers present to face forward to the opportunities of 1973. * * * A total of 26 graduates of The American Legion Baseball program are eligible for participation in the 1972 National League Championship Play-Offs as the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates square off for this event, Oct. 7-11. * * * WASHINGTON—(ALNS)—American Legion National Commander Joe L. Matthews, of Ft. Worth, Texas, made his courtesy call to the White House and official visit with President Richard M. Nixon on Tuesday, Oct. 3. The Legion chief presented the President with a bound copy of the proceedings of the 1972 American Legion National Convention in Chicago, 111., where President Nixon made his first public appearance after accepting his party's nomination for a second term. Following the Presidential visit, Commander Matthews was interviewed by Forrest Boyd, Mutual Broadcasting's White House correspondent. The Commander then travelled to the Indianapolis National Headquarters where he brought a message of greetings to the American Legion Auxiliary's Presidents and Secretaries Conference. -alns- 0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE 026C NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION C. D. DeUoach, Chairman James C. Watkins, Director HEADQUARTERS P. O. Box 1055 1608 K St., N. W. Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 Washington, D. C. 20006 (317) 635-8411 (202) 393-4811 For release 10-6-72 EDITORIAL EDITORIAL EDITORIAL American Legion National Commander Joe L. Matthews, of Ft. Worth, Texas, has called upon American Legionnaires everywhere to exercise one of the most precious rights of a free people—the right to vote. Every American who is eligible to cast a ballot should do so in this National Election year, for every concerned citizen should exercise his vote in the election of his President. The man whom the American voters send to the White House for the next four years is the President of all of us , not just those of us who voted for him. It is typically American, indeed typically human, to complain, hut the person who fails to exercise his franchise does, in our opinion, also forfeit his right to complain about his elected officials. Every American who is eligible to vote should vote in every election for it is important to exercise your voice and your vote in the matter of who occupies the State House, City Hall, the county commissioners' office and the sheriff's^ office. It is important who sits on the school board and administers the affairs of the school city or system which is responsible for your child's education. In all too many places around the world the right to vote is either non- existent or meaningless, for in totalitarian countries you have but one choice. Here in the United States of America, where the choice is free, make your choice, cast your vote. The American Legion is non-partisan. The American Legion is non-political. The American Legion does not propose to tell its members, or anyone else, how to vote. Freedom of choice is one of the precious freedoms for which members of The American Legion have fought in four wars within this twentieth century. The American Legion does call upon all of its members to exercise this right and this responsibility of citizenship. The American Legion urges all citizens who are eligible voters to do the same. The American Legion doesn't tell you who to vote for, but The American Legion does ask you to vote. On Tuesday, Nov. 7, 1972, join with your fellow Americans, go to the polling place and cast your ballot for the candidates of your choice. It's your country. The officials elected will be your officials. Exercise your right and your privilege in the selection of those officials who will play such an important role in your life according to the manner in which they perform the duties of the office to which they are elected. Vote, and help to get out the vote on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 1972. -alns- 0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE 026 NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION C. D. DeLoach, Chairman James C. Watkins, Director HEADQUARTERS P. O. Box 1055 1608 K St., N. W. Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 Washington, D. C. 20006 (317) 635-8411 (202) 393-4811 For release 10-6-72 WASHINGTON—(ALNS)—As of press time the Senate and House Committees on Veterans Affairs appear to have resolved their differences on the Vietnam-era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1972 (H.R. 12828). If the agreement holds, the measure should clear both Houses of Congress and go to the President for signature within a week. Under the agreement, a single student pursuing a full time academic course would receive monthly education benefits of $220. A veteran with one dependent would receive $26l; with two dependents, $298, with $l8 more per month allowed for each additional dependent. Students pursuing courses on a three quarter or half time basis would receive a proportionate percentage of the amount paid for full time attendance, while veterans undergoing vocational rehabilitation or on-the-job training would receive an increase of approximately kB% over the existing rates. These increases would be effective retroactively to Sept. 1, 1972, and would probably be reflected in checks received at the end of November. The bill, once signed into law, would also: l) similarily expand the educational allowances of certain dependent children attending school under the War Orphans Education Act; 2) provide for correspondence courses for certain eligible widows, and 3) make other improvements in the overall education program for veterans and eligible dependents. Enactment of legislation to improve the "G.I. Bill" this year is a major objective of The American Legion. -alns- INDIANAPOLIS—(ALNS)—The American Legion National Public Relations Division has produced five Veterans Day television spot announcements. The spots will be aired in Oklahoma, Indiana, Georgia, Illinois and West Virginia on Nov. 11, the anniversary of the Armistice ending World War I, or a few days before. In all other states, the spots will be aired on Oct. 23 or a few days before. (Indiana, Georgia, Illinois and West Virginia, through State legislative action this year, changed Veterans Day back to its original date, and Oklahoma never changed the date of observance from Nov. 11 to the so-called 1968 Holiday Bill date of the fourth Monday in Oct.) The spots have been mailed directly to 900 television outlets throughout the nation. Similar Veterans Day spots have been made available to a select group of radio stations. -alns- SEARCY ARK. —(ALNS)—Or an J. Vaughan, 76, former Arkansas National Executive Committeeman of The American Legion (1933-35), died here Sept. l6. A World War I veteran, he served as Arkansas Department Commander in 1930-31. -alns- 0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE 0262 NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION C. D. DeLoach, Chairman James C. Watkins, Director HEADQUARTERS P. O. Box 1055 1608 KSt., N. W. Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 Washington, D. C. 20006 (317) 635-8411 (202) 393-4811 For release 10-6-72 WASHINGTON—(AIMS)—The Sea Service chess team, representing the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, took all the honors at the 13th annual Armed Forces Chess Championship Tournament, held in the Hall of Flags in The American Legion's Washington office building here September 23-28. In winning the championship for the first time in the history of the tournament, the Sea Services team captured the Emery Team Trophy, presented in honor of Thomas Emery, honorary chairman of The American Chess Foundation. Individual honors went to Lt. (j.g.) Zacarias S. Chavez, of the U.S. Coast Guard, competing in his eighth Armed Forces Chess Championship Tournament. Chavez, stationed in Cleveland in the Coast Guard's Ninth District, scored nine out of a possible ten points. Past National Commander Paul H. Griffith, representing National Commander Joe L. Matthews, presented Chavez with a hand carved chess set provided by the veterans of the District of Columbia through the offices of Leo Anderson, director of the District of Columbia Department of Veterans Affairs. The presentation was made at the Awards banquet in the Sheraton Carlton Hotel here. The Sea Services team amassed 30 1/2 points in winning the eleven-round competition. The Army team, with a final score of 28 1/2 points, came in second. The Air Force, last year's winner, finished third with 16 points. In the series to date, the Army and the Air Force teams have won the Emery award four times each, and have tied twice; the Sea Services team the one-time, this year.