PROCEEDINGS of the National Executive Committee THE AMERICAN LEGION NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA May 6-7, 1970 43 PRINTED IN U.S.A. PROCEEDINGS of the National Executive Committee THE AMERICAN LEGION NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA May 6-7, 1970 143 PRINTED IN U.8.A. INDEX Page Page COMMISSION, COMMITTEE AND PUBLIC RELATIONS 27 SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS PUBLICATIONS 61 AMERICANISM 47 Resolutions following: REHABILITATION 35 No. Resolutions following: 14— PrayersNo. in Public Buildings 53 15— Annual Observances of Moon Shot. 53 19— Rescinding National Rehabilitation CHILD WELFARE 115 Non-Legislative Policy resolutions... 40 Resolutions following: 20— Funds for Operating VA Medical No. and Hospital Program 41 38— Supplementary21— Income of the Disability Pension 42 Under Employed 121 22— Amend 38 USC, Chapter 35 42 39— Including23— Servicemen’s Families Amend 38 USC, Chapter 3104 43 in Welfare and Social Service 24— Treatment and Rehabilitation of Programs 121 Veterans with Chronic Alcoholism. .. 43 40— Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children 122 25— Participation in Conference on Aging 44 41— Rescinding33—Transfer of Non-Legislative of National Life Policy Resolutions 123 Insurance Funds 45 CONVENTION 90 REORGANIZATION SUB-COMMITTEE... 69 Resolutions following: Resolutions following: No. No. 9—National Convention Badges 91 4— Redesignation of Child Welfare 10—National Convention Registration Fee 92 Commission 71 CONVENTION, REPORT on 1969 62 5— Redesignation of Publications Commission 72 ECONOMIC 85 6— Redesignation of Rehabilitation Resolutions following: Commission 73 No. 34— RemoveSECURITY Limitations on Loans 87 13 35— AmendResolutions Dual Compensation following: Act 88 36— Postal No.Reform Legislation 88 37— Career Civil Service Employees 89 26—Vietnam 16 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE 98 32—The Reid Amendment 17 FINANCE 99 1— Draft Evaders and/or Deserters.... 17 2— Prejudgment of Accused Servicemen. 18 EMBLEM 99 3— Support Preservation and Expansion Resolutions following: of Fleet 18 No. 11— Pay increase for Military 17— Specifications,Enlisted Bids andMen Contracts... 100 19 18— Rescinding12— Non-Legislative Policy Retention of Coast Guard Reserve.. 19 Resolutions 101 13— Certificates of Commendation for 43—Awards for Oratorical Contest Winners 102 Law Enforcement Officers and 47—Life Insurance Expenses 102 Fire Fighters 20 45—Life Insurance Funds for Awards. 103 MISCELLANEOUS 42—Appointment of “The Spirit of ’76 Committee’’ 104 Appointment of the “Spirit of ’76” Committee 133 FOREIGN RELATIONS 22 Approval of Meeting Dates 136 Resolutions following: Benediction 112, 140 No. Charters of American Legion Posts 7— Okinawa and Squadrons 23 134 8— AmericanCommander, Servicemen-Prisoners National, J. Milton Patrick of War 24 Opening Remarks 5 INSURANCE AND TRUST COMMITTEE. 93 Closing Remarks 139 Confirmation of Interim Appointments. 134 INTERNAL AFFAIRS 105 Final Report of Resolutions Resolutions following: Sub-Committee 138 No. Hurricane Camille Emergency Relief 16— Canadian FriendshipFund Awards 96 for 1970 Ill Invocation 3, 113 LEGISLATIVE 63 Memorial Resolutions 8 MEMBERSHIP AND POST ACTIVITIES. 124 Minutes of Previous Meeting 5 Preliminary Report of Resolutions Resolutions following: No. Sub-Committee 7 President, National, The American 17— Charter forLegion Barney Auxiliary, Condo Post Mrs. H. 131Milton 28— Charter forDavidson Dinaluphian Post 131 6 29— Charter for Associated Veterans Post 131 Resolution No. 46, Prisoners of War Pay 137 30— CharterResolution for President No. 48,Manuel Direct L. Loans for Quezon Post 132 Mobile Homes 138 31— CharterRoll for CallNaga City Post 132 3, 113 PROCEEDINGS of the National Executive Committee The American Legion WEDNESDAY MORNING SESSION May 6, 1970 . The opening session of the National Executive Committee of The Amer- ican Legion held at National Headquarters, Indianapolis, Indiana, on May 6 and 7, 1970, convened at 9:05 a. m. on Wednesday, May 6, 1970, Mr. J. Milton Patrick, National Commander, presiding. ... National Adjutant William F. Hauck acted as Secretary. NATIONAL COMMANDER PATRICK: Let’s come to order, gentlemen. We will stand and salute the Colors and then remain standing for the Invocation by Father Curtis. SALUTE TO COLORS . The Colors being in place, the Colors were saluted by the NEC. INVOCATION Father William D. Curtis, Minnesota National Chaplain O God, our Father, we assemble to bring discussion and decision to pro- grams designed to promote the glory and dignity of our heritage as American citizens. Assist us with Your wisdom as we call upon Your Name. Amen. NATIONAL COMMANDER PATRICK: Gentlemen, be seated. We will now have the Roll Call by the National Adjutant. Let’s have the Past National Commanders stand when your name is called. ROLL CALL . National Adjutant Hauck called the roll and the following were pres- ent: NATIONAL OFFICERS J. Milton Patrick, Oklahoma, National Commander Fr. William D. Curtis, Minnesota, National Chaplain William F. Hauck, Indiana, National Adjutant 3 4 Proceedings of Wednesday, May 6, 1970 PAST NATIONAL COMMANDERS John R. Quinn, California Harry W. Colmery, Kansas Paul H. Griffith, Pennsylvania James F. O’Neil, New Hampshire S. Perry Brown, Texas Erie Cocke, Jr., Georgia Seaborn P. Collins, New Mexico John S. Gleason, Jr., Illinois Preston J. Moore, Oklahoma Charles L. Bacon, Missouri Daniel F. Foley, Minnesota Donald E. Johnson, Iowa L. Eldon James, Virginia William E. Galbraith, Nebraska William C. Doyle, New Jersey Thomas W. Miller, Nevada NATIONAL VICE COMMANDERS Kent T. Lundgren, Michigan Roland D. Marble, Mississippi Raymond F. Mudge, New Hampshire Earl R. Norgard, Oregon Gilberto M. Font, Puerto Rico Department Committeeman Alternate Alabama Joe S. Foster Alaska George Petrovich Arizona Robert E. Cockrill Arkansas J. W. Steinsiek California Leo W. Crawford Canada Robert I. Hendershott Colorado Robert B. Grauberger Connecticut Joseph G. Leonard Delaware James E. Heal D. of C. Stewart W. Parker Florida Arthur M. MacCarthy France James E. Zulick Georgia W. D. Harrell Hawaii Wallace C. S. Young Idaho Max Hanson Illinois Eric H. Smith Indiana Melvin H. Heckman Iowa Ray Patterson Italy H. Armand deMasi Kansas U. S. Grant Kentucky Harry A. Greene Louisiana Robert Charles Smith Maine Merlon R. Kingsley Maryland Robert E. L. Eaton Massachusetts Mexico Fred W. Soto Michigan Duane T. Brigstock Minnesota Eugene V. Lindquist Mississippi Ralph M. Godwin Missouri Leslie Wrinkle Montana P. W. Kelley Nebraska Jerome H. Henn Nevada Thomas W. Miller New Hampshire New Jersey Edmund G. Lyons New Mexico G. Y. Fails New York Michael J. Kogutek North Carolina Leroy S. Lakey Proceedings of Wednesday, May 6, 1970 5 Department Committeeman Alternate North Dakota Patrick T. Milloy Ohio Donald L. Gruenbaum Oklahoma Eldridge Colston Oregon Don Eva Panama Arnold A. Hannberg Pennsylvania Daniel A. Drew Philippines Edward T. Berling Puerto Rico Wm. Feliciano Ruiz Rhode Island John J. O’Connell South Carolina E. Roy Stone, Jr. South Dakota Glenn R. Green Tennessee Robert M. Summitt Texas Jack W. Flynt Utah Wm. E. Christoffersen Vermont Roy Sweet Virginia Thomas J. Gear Washington D. O. Engel West Virginia L. O. Bickel Wisconsin Martin T. Jansen Wyoming Irving B. Selmer NATIONAL ADJUTANT HAUCK: There is a quorum present. NATIONAL COMMANDER PATRICK: There is a quorum present. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS NATIONAL COMMANDER PATRICK: The minutes of the previous meet- ing have been distributed, and I will ask for a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes. Motion was so made by Past National Commander Foley, Minnesota; seconded by National Vice Commander Mudge, New Hampshire, and carried. OPENING REMARKS J. Milton Patrick, Oklahoma National Commander Gentlemen, while we are awaiting the National President, let me say at this point that I welcome you to your National Headquarters. I wish time would permit me to go down each one of these aisles and mention the individ- ual visits I have had with many of you, and thank you for the many courtesies that have been extended to me and in many instances to my wife. I want you to know the deep feeling that I have for all of you. I am deeply proud to serve as your National Commander, and I am sure that other former Commanders before me had the feeling that I have in my Commanders and my NEC. It is truly nice to welcome you to our National Headquarters, and at a later point, I will make some observations. At this point, we have the National President here, and so would Seaborn Collins and “Tiny” Reed escort the National President and her distinguished group to the rostrum. The National President and members of the Auxiliary were escorted to the rostrum amidst the applause of the delegation. National Vice Commander Font assumed the Chair. NATIONAL COMMANDER PATRICK: Don’t they look lovely? Madam President, welcome. NATIONAL PRESIDENT MRS. H. MILTON DAVIDSON: Thank you, I am very happy to be here. I brought quite a few of my people along with me. NATIONAL COMMANDER PATRICK: First let me say, Marcella, on behalf of the Legionnaires here, and as the National Commander, I want to tell you of the deep pride that I have in you. 6 Proceedings of Wednesday, May 6, 1970 You know, I go across this Nation, and I encounter the National President. I have also been to Mexico twice. And I can tell you, she is a most gracious, lovely, wonderful person. She is a credit to our organization. And I assure you, gentlemen, she is like myself, seeking ways of doing things to further the cause of this country that we love so much. I know of no person who is more representative of the American way of life than this lovely, gracious, wonder- ful person. So I am proud to present to you, Marcella Davidson, from the National Auxiliary. MBS. H. MILTON DAVIDSON, New Mexico National President American Legion Auxiliary Mr. Commander and members of your National Executive Committee, I long looked forward to today, to be able to come over and to present you a small gift to carry out our joint theme of “Unity and Service for America.” I have brought with me a spring bouquet, and I hope that you will use it here in your National Headquarters.