MINNEAPOLIS. MINNESOTA Pepsi cares about kids... that's why Stan Smith’s on the job. Stan Smith and the Pepsi-Cola Youth Sports Program are giving a lot of kids something they can keep for a lifetime. Stan’s the director of our program- bringing tennis, skiing, bicycling and soccer to neighborhoods all over the country. Local communities and the Pepsi-Cola Company provide the facilities and equipment— the kids provide the enthusiasm, energy and interest. When young people compete in the Pepsi-Cola Youth Sports Program, they learn skills and sportsmanship that they can use tomorrow— while they’re having a lot of fun today. Join the PepsiPeople feelin’freel "PEPSI-COLA" AND "PEPSI" ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF PepsiCo, INC. ; THE AMERICAN LEGION andJR. OUNTRY 57th National Convention WE ASSOCIATE OURSELVES TOGETHER FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America ; to \ntain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars; to SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION 4th National Convention inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship AMERICAN LEGION devotion to mutual by our AUXILIARY 55th helpfulness. National Convention LA BOUTIQUE DES HUIT CHAPEAUX 57th NATIONAL CONVENTION ET QUARANTE FEMMES 54th Aug. 15-21, 1975 • Minneapolis, Minnesota Marche Nationale 1 The American Legion Minneapolis Convention Program INDEX Page Page Airline Information 88 8 & 40 Program 65 Annual Report 88 Final Contest, Musical Spectacular 27 Auxiliary Program 52 Board of Directors, Minneapolis Freedom Bell 79 Convention Corporation 32 Gold Cup Winners 45 Business Sessions, The Legion 38 Officers, Minneapolis Commission and Committee Convention Corporation 30 Meetings 20 Parade Information 82 Contests, Uniformed Groups 22 Past National Commanders 44 Convention Commission 23 Patriotic Religious Service 28 Convention Committee Meetings. 24 Registration, Information Convention Corporation and Tickets 4 Committee Chairmen 50 Reunions and Dinners 25 Directory, Delegation Hotels 16 S. A. L. Convention Program 70 Distinguished Guests 41 Standing Rules of Convention 36 Distinguished Service Medal Recipients 46 Youth Leaders 48 2 National Commander’s Welcome to Minneapolis 57th Annual National Convention Welcome to the 57th Annual National Convention of The American Legion, and welcome to the site of pertinent American Legion history as Minneapolis was the host for the First National Convention of the young American Legion November 10-12, 1919. It was here that The American Legion took many of the important first steps that were to shape the destiny of this great veterans organization. It was here that The American Legion voted to authorize the establishment of an Auxiliary. It was here that Indianapolis, Indiana, was selected as the site of our permanent National Headquarters. The constitu- tion of the new American Legion was adopted here. We still have an American Legion Auxiliary, one of the finest women’s organizations in the world. We still maintain our permanent National Headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Preamble to the Constitution adopted by The American Legion at that first National Convention exists in its original form today, having been altered by a single letter in the ensuing years. The letter “S” was added to the word war to encompass veterans of World War II, Korea, and now Vietnam. Those things speak well for the stability of an organiza- tion formed for the purpose of further service to God and country, and for the wisdom and foresight of our Founders. Though the ranks of our Founders have been thinned by the relentless march of time, their handiwork endures. The organization they founded is today more than four times the size of The American Legion at the time of that First National Convention. The Legion met in National Convention in the twin city of St. Paul in 1924 and again in Minneapolis in 1959. This 57th history that have been lived in these surroundings, and Annual National Convention is our fourth in this area. pledge ourselves anew to ever greater efforts on behalf of the principles and ideals enunciated so clearly here in November During our busy days here, let us give serious thought to at of 1919. least one matter other than that of the Convention proper. JAMES M. WAGONSELLER Let us think of the great moments of American Legion National Commander 3 WHERE TO REGISTER OBTAIN INFORMATION BUY MUSIC SPECTACULAR TICKETS Three locations will be maintained in the immediate Minneapolis downtown area for the convenience of visitors. You may register for the convention ($5.00 per adult), find the answers to your convention questions, and buy tickets for the Music Spectacular scheduled for Parade Stadium on Sunday night, August 16. Booths will be located in the lobbies of the: Leamington Hotel Radisson Hotel (Downtown) Foyer, Minneapolis Auditorium and Convention Hall (adjacent to National Headquarters office) In addition to the above, Music Spectacular ticket sales points will be operated at the following locations on High- way 494, the area known as “The Strip”, for those dele- gations housed in that area. These sales points will be set up in the lobbies of the: Radisson South Hotel Marriott Motor Hotel Also, one Music Spectacular ticket sales point will be set up in the lobby of the: St. Paul Hilton Hotel All booths will operate from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, August 14 and daily thereafter from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. until taken out of service. Tickets for the Music Spectacular are $3.50 for the con- cert section and $2.50 for the general admission section. Ticket prices as listed include state and city tax. The show is scheduled for Parade Stadium commencing at 7:00 P.M. on Saturday, August 16. Headquarters for the Registration/ Information and Ticket committees will be the Convention Corporation Headquarters office located in the Leamington Hotel. All persons (except those under age 12) are reminded that the official convention badge or other approved credentials are required to gain entry into the General Convention Sessions scheduled for the Arena of the Minneapolis Audi- torium and Convention Hall. 4 the white h°use WASHr, ^OTojv Jurif 12 . 1975 r ”ation he A after W WilesS tT coa i »sri/a ® ttat rttc Le st,e* , iave «"> ffi°n n be efi Pr»r„ gthened . ted , °gram« f°unded. thheide J7 of anda al our . Son0X1 whi^ ciiltlZe ch ou „ *s Ilation y°u have ^ * . rue to yo^ you;i^tz«*» Pur you ^ As the at you nati , cf- ^ 0n .f T vea or ifori»s «s »«» - ardn /j1 want Fift hrati* to ~ *%“ Sevens ‘° r a”d AanUal yoUr SUs latitude ^ the au,e Tf^'f con t Cberis ‘ <J ° yo«r h. X adher feUo es h°Pe e to PeclaX2 that „ the 1Zens rj, L OI , her-*r iaPPy lta e and 'neetinff ? We 7 , ^able ouf.^ »o an 6 We want you to drive what you like and like what you drive . And there could be no more beautiful All in all, GM has more than 140 sep- proof of this than the new small cars arate models you can choose from this we’re offering for 1 975. year. Small-size, mid-size and full-size There’s our new Chevrolet Monza cars. Personal models. Station wagons. 2+2, Pontiac Astre, Oldsmobile Starfire America’s only production sports car and Buick Skyhawk—without question and convertibles. Plus a large number some of the sportiest looking cars of vehicles for recreational use, includ- we’ve ever built, and all geared for ing the GMC Motor Home. better overall operating economy. So for the widest selection of cars in the Then there’s our Chevrolet Nova, business, remember General Motors Pontiac Ventura, Oldsmobile Omega when you’re shopping around. and Buick Apollo. They’re restyled with At GM, we want you to drive what you a European flair, and feature a big like and like what you drive. lineup of small engines. GENERAL MOTORS • MAKER OF CHEVROLET, PONTIAC, OLDSMOBILE, BUICK, CADILLAC AND GMC TRUCKS & MOTOR HOMES 7 ctke ESOTft & wlNN PAAJk, • St- juild^e r\AcE ^teveterm® sE «rcoTMM^D£R 3EP* f*T GUeStS i* mbets and ‘ Minnesota .6 ° f the iUar7 bepattmeat ate £ot . t . e s, ^ ^ ^egionaai ^hSOtM ottt S=* Leg^ T u ^n Ametie can VlELCOVffivffihCOVffi ° haveYvave V° ^® behe 0 o££ The ^witllli pleased iti°n bea<i i v Co et day s a ,11 be tremendous^ * ual the y0u «U «* « *«• ?£ ,«•« “°”J e *°* ° . -« Be “£ »r „ 1M “ ~ °“'Tv—“ ” a to 6*' TSi°°- > any way ‘ Convention e a gf* soon- commander a ^ h’egi° a 8 We salute the American Legion’s unceasing efforts to train new generations of patriots through its continuing support of Boys State/Boys Nation, Annual National Oratorical Contest, Boy Scouts of America, Boy’s Clubs of America, American Legion Baseball, and many other outstanding youth programs. A Member of Occidental life Trans ante riea Corporation of California Ik-Underwriters of the American Legion Life Insurance Plan Best Wishes to The American Legion from We are proud to be Consultants to National Headquarters National Headquarters- American Legion Auxiliary and the Departments for The American Legion Employee Insurance Benefit Program Underwritten by Life Insurance Company of North America 11 AMERICAN LEGION EVERY PENNY COUNTS child welfare FOUNDATION. INC.