Do rich people have more friends than the rest of us? Are their bat bags, suitcases or grocery bags any bigger? Does their definition of value and trust differ from our own? Are we the only car company that doesn*t think so? Because the way we see it, everyone deserves a nice c comfortably and has ABS bral<es, six-way power seats, 17 cubic I filtration system and remote keyless entry. Making it a car trul ;k. .. Official Car of American Legion Baseb; 4'i % k * traction control! seats six comfortably remote keyless entry air filtration system tire pressure monitor ABS brakes V6 engine optional six-way power seats optional dual zone climate control A luxury car for everyone. 1 12 Vol. 145, No. 4 The Magazine for a Strong America October 1998 ARTICLES PARADE OF TERROR By Anthony Miller A new mural casts the Centralia Wobblies more favorably; the Legion remembers its martyrs. 1 THE mi DITCH IN AMERICAN GIVEAWAYS By G. Russell Evans The Panama Canal begins to slip away from U.S. control. n LOCKED AND UNLOADED interview The canal will continue to operate smoothly, promises a U.S. official. THE HONOR PRINCIPLE By Andrea L Houk An appreciation of the Air Force Academy code by one who learned from it WORKING OVERTIME FOR VETS By Robert C. Imler Hire Quality and The American Legion team up to match vets to good jobs. CART SOLDIER By John Mulligan A Vietnam veteran tells how he battled back from PTSD and homelessness. 22 IN THE FLOW OF LIFE By Joe Stuteville Harold L. "Butch" Miller dons the National Commander's red cap. I^EIPARTMENITS I ISSUES Should Campaign Finance Be Reformed? VETVOICE I VETERANS UPDATE II VETS WASHINGTDN WATCH i LEGION NEWS 1 PARTING SHOTS 34 COVER The Panama Canal's Miraflores locks /International Stock The American Legion Magazine, a leader among national general-interest publications, is published nnonthly by The American Legion for its 2.7 million members. These wartime veterans, working through nearly 1 5,000 community-level Posts, dedicate themselves to God and country and traditional Ameri- can values; strong national security; adequate and compassionate core for veterans, their widows and orphans; community service; and the wholesome development of our nation's youths. OCTOBER 1998 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • | mwM FOR GOD AND COUNTRY 700 N. Pennsylvania St. P.O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, IN 46206 317-630-1200 National Commander Harold L. "Butch" Miller Publisher/Edilor-in-Chief Dick McNally Art Director Simon Smith HERE'S A DEAL Managing Editor Robert C. Imler Assistant Editors Layne Cameron THAT WILL AI>PEAL David Penticuff TO YOUR STR0N6 Editorial Administrator Joan L. Berzins Publication Design SENSE 0 F VALUES. Caron M. IVIorales General Administration Patricia Marschand Robyn Black Production Manager Jon Reynolds Production Assistant Advertising Assistants Cathy Frakes Susan M. Bader Indianapolis, IN 46207 Publisher's Representatives Fox Associates, Inc. Save Chicago: 312-644-3888 New York: 212-725-2106 Los Angeles: 310-841-0280 Detroit: 248-543-0068 Atlanta: 404-252-0968 20% San Francisco: 415-989-5804 The American Legion Magazine Commission On your next stay Milford A. Forrester, Chairman, Greenville, SC; Dennis J. Henkemeyer. Vice Chairman, Sauk Rapids, MN: James R. at Rodeway Inn. Kelley, National Commander's Representative, Wayne, PA; George F. Ballard, Belleville, IL; Samuel Barney, Lancaster, This offer expires 12/31/98 not and may be OH; J.O. Berthelot, Gonzales, LA; J. Leslie Brown Jr., You can save big used in combination with any other discount. deal. To reserve Louisville. KY; Joseph F. Chase, Hatboro, PA; Donald R. Subiect to availability Conn, South Bend, IN; James W. Conway, Charlestown, at Rodeway Inn I 1 your room, cal MA; Bettylou Evans, Laurel, DE; James H. Hall, Hopewell, NJ; Hoy M. Haught, Huntsville, AR; Ada P. Henderson, — 20% in fact when you use 1-800-228-2000 and just ask Kenova, WV; Halbert G. Horton, Topeka, KS; Eugene J. Kelley, Savannah, GA; Henry E. Lamb Sr., Lacey, WA; J. this coupon. And with 200 for LADRTE #00057633 when Fred Mitchell, Brewton, AL; Russell H. Laird, Des Moines, lA; Everett G. Shepard III, Woodstock, CT; George G. locations nationwide, you know making your reservation. Or call Sinopoli, Fresno, CA; Tom C. Smith, Oklahoma City, OK; James J. Charleston, Arlington Hts., IL, and Casimir F. there will be a Rodeway Inn your travel agent. Sojka, New York, NY, Consultants. Copyright 1998 by The American Legion most anywhere you're going. The American Legion (ISSN 0886-1234) is published monthly by The American Legion, 5561 W. 74th Street, So stay at Rodeway. There's Indianapolis, IN 46268. Periodicals postage paid at Indiana- Rodeway polis, IN 46204 and additional mailing offices. something very American INN Annual non-member and gift subscriptions, $15 ($21, for- eign); Post-sponsored and widows' subscriptions, $6; single copy, $3.50. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The about finding such a good www.rodeway.com American Legion, Input Services, P.O. Box 1954, Indianapo- lis, IN 46206. Internet address: http://www.legion.org. Change of Adaress: Notify The American Legion, Input Services, P.O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, IN 46206. (317) 328-4640. Attach old address label, provide old and new addresses and current membership card number. Canada Post International Publications Mall (Canadian Distribution) Sales Agreement No. 546321. Re-entered second-class mail matter at Manila Central Post office dated Dec. 22, 1991. Save your money. Stay at Rodeway.'" i6 Printed in USA Member Audit Bureau of Circulations • • 2 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE OCTOBER 1998 The International Wolf Center Presents An Historic World Premier! The Timber Wolf Collector Knife shown approximately actual size of 81/4" (20.95 cm) long. International Wolf Center champions the survival of The Limited Edition Collector Knife. wolves by educating the world about this extraordinary A Please mail by October 31, J 998. species. To further that goal, this distinguished organiza- tion has collaborated with the acclaimed wildlife artist Ted Franklin Mint Collector Knives Crown to create his first-ever collector knife. The precision-cast Franklin Center, PA 19091-0001 frame, lavishly accented with sterling silver, bears original full- Please enter my order for The Timber Wolf Collector Knife, authorized and authenticated by the International Wolf Center, Ely, MN. I need color art in which he portrays a mighty Wolf in the timberlands. SEND NO MONEY NOW. 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THE FRANKLIN MINT First, the matter of the BSA ban on Hot All Bad known or avowed homosexuals has ENJOYED "As Bad As It Gets," but been in litigation in various places since Mr. Medved made a big omission 1981. There have been a number of from his list of positive films: John court and administrative rulings on this Wayne's "The Green Berets." Not all and other issues. Last April, the Califor- Hollywood productions are anti-mili- nia Supreme Court unanimously ruled in tary. How about "The Rough Riders," favor of the BSA in a proceeding on the "Gettysburg" and "Glory"? I never leadership status of an avowed homo- object to a movie because of too much sexual. Just for the record, the Boy sex, violence or portrayals of "us" as Scouts of America has never been the bad guys. What bothers me is a bad required by any court to accept a known plot, bad acting, excessive preaching or avowed homosexual and is not now and falsifications of historical subjects. compelled to do so. MattEgloff I appreciate what The American Belgrade, Mont. Legion has done on behalf of our long- standing relationship in support of the Scouting program. Decorate Him Thomas R. Deimler MICHAEL Medved deserves a BSA Relationships Division Director, Misses Point medal for his article. The hugely h-ving, Texas MICHAEL Medved's story, "As distorted portrayals of American Bad As It Gets," misses the point life, history and everything else by the when he says Hollywood often is entertainment industry have become so out of touch with the public. From this distasteful that I have given up on most READING Jim Brady's article veteran's point of view, Hollywood is in movies and television. Maybe the ("Korea's Lingering Grasp," July) touch with the public because every moguls don't care what we think, but brings back fond, but sad, memories. weekend it "touches" the public for sev- they aren't getting my money or time. We met in January 1951. My best buddy eral millions of dollars with their fami- Shirley Morris from WWII, Dick Brennan, was in the lies. Hollywood has no scruples or Hartford City, Ind. same platoon with him, in a refresher morals; all it wants is the almighty buck. course for reserve officers called back to George A. Backus duty. Jim "Wild Horse" Callan, Doug Palmer, Mass. Moral Differences Bradlee and Carly Rand were also there.