0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE 143 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 0 (317) 635-8411 (202) 393-4811 AMERICAN LEGION NEWS BRIEFS FOR WEEK ENDING 7-3-70 American Legion National Commander J. Milton Patrick has renewed the Legion's determined support for a lasting and honorable peace in Vietnam, pointing out that the Cambodian strike was a significant step toward this goal. # * * H. Ross Perot, wealthy Texas businessman who has chosen to dedicate much of his time and fortune to seeking the release of Americans held prisoner-of-war in the fighting in Vietnam, is scheduled to address the 1970 American Legion National Convention in Portland on Wednesday, Sept. 2. « * * Representatives to The American Legion's 25th Anniversary of Boys Nation will witness the changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns and participate in a wreath laying ceremony in memory of America's war dead, on Sunday, July 19. * # * NOTE TO LEGION EDITORS RECEIVING ALNS MAT SERVICE We have mailed to you a set of photos for use in pre-convention buildup to the National Convention. One of these pictures Portland's Ramada Inn, which will be the Auxiliary's Headquarters Hotel. Erroneously, our outlines say Convention sessions will be held at the Inn. Auxiliary Convention sessions will be in Portland's Civic Auditorium. AMHERST, MASS.—(ALNS)—William D. Lunn, of Muskogee, Okla. , vice president of The American Legion's 1969 Boys Nation will represent the Legion at the National Young Adult Leadership Conference On Birth Defects, Aug. 2U-27 at the University of Massachusetts, here. The conference theme, "Tomorrow's Child - Operation Equal Start," will focus on the prevention of birth defects. The National Foundation - March of Dimes - is sponsoring the conference that is expected to attract some 300 of the country's ablest young people. * * * WASHINGTON—(ALNS)—Approximately 9^0,000 servicemen were separated from military service during fiscal year I969, according to VA's annual report. -alns- MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION —THE AMERICAN LEGION a C. D. DeLoach, Chairman James c Watkins D/recf0(. 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 7-3-70 SKIATOOK, OKLA.--(ALNS)—The American Legion, by resolution had given complete support to President Nixon's decision to eliminate communist military sanctuaries in Cambodia. With the successful operation and withdrawal from Cambodia completed, Legion National Commander J. Milton Patrick issued the following statement to the Oklahoma press: "Two months ago President Nixon announced to the American public his decision ordering American participation with South Vietnamese forces in a series of operations against communist occupied areas in Cambodia. I announced The American Legion's strong support for this decision immediately. "With the withdrawal of all American troops as per the original schedule apparently assured I wish to congratulate President Nixon on the successful accomplishment of most stated objectives in Cambodia and on the wisdom and courage of his decision to destroy the Cambodian sanctuaries and thereby save American lives. I am confident that the events of the months to come will prove even more than the outstanding accomplishments to date that the Cambodian move was a turning point in the war — and a move that will help insure our cherished goal of peace with honor in Vietnam. "As of June 2Uth over 20,^00 individual weapons had been captured; over 13,^00,000 rounds of small arms ammunition had been captured; and over 13,500,000 million pounds of rice had been captured. These are supplies that will never be used against American troops in Vietnam. "No one can deny that the success of the limited military operation into Cambodia has set the enemy back many months. The Cambodian strike has eliminated an immediate danger to the security of Americans remaining in Vietnam and has bought precious time for our South Vietnamese comrades in arms to further prepare themselves for assumption of the total burden of their national defense. "As National Commander of The American Legion I renew our determined support for a lasting and honorable peace. The Cambodian strike was a significant step toward this goal." -alns- INDIANAPOLIS—(ALNS)—A 50-foot high electronic flag pole has been presented to American Legion National Headquarters by Gerrit Van Keppel, Past Indiana Second District Legion Commander and executives from Electronic Flag Poles, Inc., Maywood, 111. The completely automatic electronically operated flag pole will raise the flag with the morning light from its storage position within the pole, and return it with the setting sun. The pole, operated by light sensitivity is so designed that it will never permit the flag to be exposed to the elements of rain, snow or inclement weather. Similar poles also will be donated to the State of Indiana War Memorial Plaza and Indiana American Legion. -alns- 0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE x^X*5 NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION-THE AMERICAN LEGION C. D. DeLoach, Chairman James c Watkins D/rec(0, 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 7-3-70 INDIANAPOLIS--(ALNS)--H. Ross Perot, wealthy Texas businessman who has chosen to dedicate much of his time and fortune to seeking the release of Americans held prisoner-of-war in the fighting in Vietnam, is scheduled to address the 1970 American Legion National Convention in Portland on Wednesday, Sept. 2. American Legion National Commander J. Milton Patrick said he had invited the Texas industrialist to speak to the convention "because of the Legion's deep concern for the well-being of Americans held prisoner by the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong and the plight of their families who are not even sure if their men are dead or alive. "Mr. Perot and The American Legion have a shared concern in this matter and we want to hear firsthand of some of his experiences in attempting to persuade the enemy to permit him to deliver Christmas gifts to our men being held prisoner, and of his other efforts and plans in behalf of our men who have fallen into enemy hands," Patrick continued. Perot, at his own expense, chartered a plane, loaded it with gifts, and accompanied by a group including five wives of men listed as missing in action, got as far as Laos in his effort to deliver gifts to the POWs and to visit them in their prisons. North Vietnam rebuffed his efforts, refused him permission to fly on to Hanoi, and Communist Russia refused his request to intervene. He organized the "United We Stand" movement to help rally American public opinion in the cause of seeking humane treatment for the POWs, and has been quoted as saying his motivation is to help some Americans regain their self-respect and to "restore the love affair between Americans and their country." -alns- P0RTLAND, ORE.—(ALNS)—On June 5, ALNS reported the 5th Annual Past Department Commanders Luncheon scheduled for the forthcoming Legion National Convention in Portland, Oregon was set for Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the Thunderbird Motel. We would like to add to this report, Thunderbird Motel, Jantzen Beach, as there is also a Thunderbird where the National Headquarters staff will be housed. -alns- WASHINGTON—(ALNS)—Representatives to The American Legion's 25th Anniversary of Boys Nation will witness the changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns and participate in a wreath laying ceremony in memory of America's war dead, on Sunday, July 19. Later, the delegates will participate in a discussion of the pollution problem with Eugene T. Jensen, Assistant Commissioner for Operations of the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration. One of the foremost experts in the pollution field, Mr. Jensen has been active in this specialty for over 20 years at several levels of government. -alns- □ MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE 0146 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 0 (317) 635-8411 (202) 393-4811 For release 7-3-70 WASHINGTON—(ALNS)—The American Legion's Legislative and Economic staff, concerned that veterans preference will not be preserved in the proposed reorganization of the Post Office Department, is working to insure amendment of the House and Senate hills in such a way that veterans preference will he assured. A major victory in this area has been won with House passage of an amendment offered by Rep. Arnold Olsen of Montana to the effect that notwithstanding the provisions of the title, or of a collective bargaining agreement negotiated under provisions of the bill, veterans preference will apply to the postal service the same as it applies to the competitive service. Efforts are now underway to secure a similar amendment to the Senate version of the bill. -alns- CORPUS CHRISTI, TEX.— (ALNS) —Posts of The American Legion in this area have struck a bonanza for their membership roles by taking their membership case direct to the prospective member via full page advertisements in the Corpus Christi "Daily Caller." The advertisement contains a statement of the aims and purposes of the Legion, clearly stated eligibility requirements and prominently displays a membership blank and the return address of lUth District Commander Cuban F. Burbank. A list of 38 Posts in the area, together with the name of the person at each to contact, also is featured.