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EJMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE 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 AMERICAN LEGION NEWS BRIEFS FOR WEEK ENDING 8-6-76 "I join Legionnaires everywhere in extending deepest sympathy to the families of those comrades and sisters who were stricken following the Department Convention in Philadelphia." — American Legion National Commander Harry G. Wiles, in a state- ment regarding the mystery deaths of Pennsylvania Legionnaires. * * * At least 23 American Legionnaires who attended the Pennsylvania Department Convention in Philadelphia, Pa., July 21-24, have died from a painful and mysterious disease, and more than one hundred have been hospitalized throughout the state with similar symptoms to those which claimed the lives of other Legionnaires. * * * The American Legion National Commander Harry G. Wiles and the American Legion Auxiliary National President Lotys Schanel cancelled the scheduled visit to Phila- delphia for the Boys/Girls Nation Program due to the "unknown nature of the disease" which struck Pennsylvania Legionnaires. * * * Ted Williams, former Boston Red Sox outfielder who was hailed as one of base- ball's greatest hitters, will be the featured speaker at American Legion Baseball's World Series Banquet. The Banquet will be held in the Sheraton-Wayfarer Convention Center, Manchester, N.H., on Wednesday, Sept. 1, at 7 p.m., prior to the 1976 Ameri- can Legion World Series. * * * Representative Ray Roberts, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, will be the featured Congressional speaker before The American Legion's Legislative and Veterans Affairs-Rehabilitation Commissions during meetings scheduled for the Legion's 58th National Convention in Seattle. ****************************************** NOTICE There will be no American Legion News Service on Aug. 13, the week prior to the National Convention in Seattle, Wash., Aug. 20-26. Two mailings of ALNS will be made from the Convention City. Normal ALNS operations will be resumed from Indianapolis on Sept. 3. ****************************************** -alns- QMERJCAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE 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 8-6-76 WASHINGTON—(ALNS)—Harry G. Wiles, National Commander of The American Legion^ has issued the following statement in connection with the deaths of Pennsylvania Legionnaires: "I join Legionnaires everywhere in extending deepest sympathy to the families of those comrades and sisters who were stricken following the Department Convention in Philadelphia. "I pledge to them that The American Legion will cooperate in every way with health authorities to track down the cause of this mysterious disease. I pledge, too, that The American Legion at every level will support fully any immunization or other public health program that results from the Pennsylvania investigation. "This tragedy is not limited to the families or to the Legion, It involves all Americans." -alns- HARRISBURG, PA. — (ALNS)—At least 23 American Legionnaires who attended the Pennsylvania Department Convention in Philadelphia, Pa., July 21-24, have died from a painful and mysterious disease, and more than one hundred have been hospi- talized throughout the state with similar symptoms to those which claimed the lives of other Legionnaires. The tragic situation is under investigation by Pennsylvania State Health Department officials and a special team from the Federal Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga. Symptoms include severe headache, chills and fever and chest ailments, and Pennsylvania Department officials are advising anyone who attended the Convention and who experiences any of the symptoms to contact health officials without delay. National Commander Harry G. Wiles dispatched the following wire to Pennsylvania Department Commander Joseph Adams: "Deeply regret the untimely passing of fellow American Legion and Auxiliary members from your Department reported today. I understand all but one had attended the Department Convention and that the deaths are under investigation by State Health authorities. Our prayers are with the families of the deceased and those who remain hospitalized. Please keep us fully informed." -alns- ****************************************** * * * Plan to attend the 1976 World Series of American Legion Baseball on Sept, * * 2-6, at Gill Stadium in Manchester, N.H., and watch future stars in action. * ****************************************** -alns- QMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE 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 0 (317) 635-8411 (202) 393-4811 For release 8-6-76 WASHINGTON—(ALNS)—The American Legion National Commander Harry G. Wiles and the American Legion Auxiliary National President Lotys Schanel have cancelled the scheduled visit to Philadelphia for the Boys/Girls Nation Program. The full text of the joint statement follows: "In view of the unknown nature of the disease that has struck in Philadelphia afflicting large numbers of our members, we consider it prudent to cancel the trip to Philadelphia scheduled for the Bicentennial Boys/Girls Nation, August 5-6. "Boys/Girls Nation will conclude its 1976 session here in Washington, D.C. "We regret the necessity for this action, but must consider the safety of the young people as paramount." -alns- INDIANAPOLIS—(ALNS)--Ted Williams, former Boston Red Sox outfielder who was hailed as one of baseball's greatest hitters, will be the featured speaker at Ameri- can Legion Baseball's World Series Banquet. The Banquet will be held in the Sheraton-Wayfarer Convention Center, Manchester, N.H., on Wednesday, Sept. 1, at 7 p.m., prior to the 1976 American Legion World Series. Though Williams' career with the Red Sox was twice interrupted by service in the armed forces (1943-45 and 1952-53), he recorded six American League batting championships (second only to Ty Cobb's twelve), 521 home runs (among the few to pass five hundred in major league history), and a lifetime batting average of .344 (exceeded by only six hitters of the modern era). Williams is the last major league player to hit over .400 in one season, hitting .406 in 1941. He was named the league's most valuable player in 1946 and again in 1949. He retired as a player in September 1960 and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966. Williams played American Legion Baseball for DeWitt C. Mitchell Post 201, San Diego, Calif., before turning professional. He was named American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year in 1960. Curt Gowdy, popular television sportscaster, will act as master of ceremonies at the event. -alns- NEWTON, KANSAS—(ALNS)—McCulley Ashlock, Kansas National Executive Committee- man of The American Legion (1944-46), died recently here. -alns- "YOUR AMERICAN LEGION — IT'S GREAT TO KNOW YOU BELONG" 0i6t ESMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE 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 0 (317) 635-8411 (202) 393-4811 For release 8-6-76 WASHINGTON—(ALNS)—Representative Ray Roberts, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, will be the featured Congressional speaker before The American Legion's Legislative and Veterans Affairs-Rehabilitation Commissions during meetings scheduled for the Legion's 58th National Convention in Seattle. Roberts will appear before the Commissions at 10:00 a.m., Aug. 20, in the Center House at the Convention Center. Also scheduled for Aug. 20 are appearances by Oliver Meadows, staff director of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Guy McMichael, counsel for the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and Dr. Peter Beach, Office of Veterans Affairs — Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Meadows is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. before the Legislative Commission in the Charleston Room of the Washington Plaza Hotel, and McMichael will address a joint meeting of the Legis- lative-Veterans Affairs-Rehabilitation Commissions at 2:00 p.m. in the Center House. Dr. Beach will speak to the Legislative Commission at 3:00 p.m. in the Charleston Room of the Washington Plaza Hotel. On Aug. 21, Representative Mike McCormick, of Washington, will meet with the Legislative and Economics Commissions at the Center House. -alns- INDIANAPOLIS—(ALNS)--ln cooperation with the American Legion Baseball program, a number of prominent baseball figures have recorded Legion Baseball promotional spots for the upcoming Regional Tournaments and World Series of American Legion Baseball. Lindsey Nelson, popular television sportscaster and voice of the New York Mets, and Bowie Kuhn, Baseball Commissioner, were among the non-players who gave testimony to the importance of the Legion Baseball program. Major League players who parti- cipated in the recording of radio promotional spots included: Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Brooks Robinson, Darrell Chaney, Rusty Staub, Bucky Dent and Catfish Hunter. The spots were produced by The American Legion and will be mailed to a select group of radio stations prior