^ / Otlicial Car of American Legion Baseball As a Legionnaire, getting home means more to you than scoring runs. Rather, it's arriving home safely. To help protect your loved ones, LeSabre offers an impressive list of safety features. Visit www.lesabre.buick.com or call 1-800-4A-BUICK. LeSabre ^Buick GM © 1 9 9 8 G M C Peace of Mind 0 LeSabre is a I registered rk of GM Corp. Buckle up, An Ml AMERICA Vol. 144, No. 6 The Magazine for a Strong America June SOUL OF THE CRESCENT CITY For the 1998 convention, letting the good times roll is policy, not happenstance. 11 LEGIONNAIRES DEDICATE BLACKHAWKS' FLAG A Post strong on flag education connects with strongly patriotic students. 24 PIPELINE OF POISON By Gurney Williams III Why the drug problem just won't go away. B LOSING DIANE By Art Linkletter A death in the family sparked this entertainer's international anti-drug crusade. 20 THE WAR WE'RE NOT FIGHTING interview DEA Administrator Thomas Constantine says we've not yet begun to fight, but should. SI IN A WARRIORS' STEPS By Evelyn Valdez Jenkins Honoring veterans is a central theme in Native American powwows. DEPARTMENTS BIG ISSUES Should Medicinal Marijuana Be Legal? VETVOICE 1 ON DUTY 1 LEGION NEWS uB COMMANDEB'S MESSAGE i YOUB AMERICAN LEGION 11 VETS WASHINGTON WATCH M VETEBANS UPDATE 31 PABTING SHOTS COVER Drug Lords. Photo illustration by John Eder. The American Legion Magazine, a leader among national general-interest publications, is published monthly 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 care for veterans, their widows and orphans; community service; and the wholesome development of our nation's youths. JUNE 1998 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • | . Adjustability Can Change Your Life ! FOR GOD AND COUNTRY 700 N. Pennsylvania St. P.O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, IN 46206 317-630-1200 National Commander Anthony G. Jordan Publisher/Editor-in-Chief FREE Dick McNally Editor Video Joe Stuieville & Brochure Learn, with no cost or obligation, how we've combined the most Assistant Editors luxurious mattress, push-button Trent D. McNeeley adjustability, and therapeutic Julie A. Rhoad massage to create the ultimate Sleep Better! The Best Seat in sleep systems. Feel Better! in the House! No salesman will come to your home! 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Los Angeles: 310-841-0280 Detroit: 248-543-0068 Atlanta: 404-252-0968 San Francisco: 415-989-5804 As seen Every month we The American Legion Magazine Commission Milford A. Forrester, Chairman, Greenville, SC; Dennis J. on TV! give away another Henkemeyer, Vice Chairman, Sauk Rapids, MN; James R. Kelley, National Commander's Representative, Wayne, PA: FREE Rascal! George F. Ballard, Belleville, IL; Samuel Barney, Lancaster, OH; J.O. Berthelot, Gonzales, LA; J. Leslie Brown Jr., Louisville, KY; Joseph F, Chase, Hatboro, PA; Donald R. Next Month's Winner Conn, South Bend, IN; James W. Conway, Charlestown, MA; Bettylou Evans, Laurel, DE; James H. Hall, Hopewell, Could Be You! NJ; Hoy M. Haught, Huntsville, AR; Ada P. Henderson, Kenova, WV; Halbert G. Horton, Topeka, KS; Eugene J. Kelley, Savannah, GA; Henry E. Lamb Sr., Lacey, WA; J. Fred Mitchell, Brewton, AL; Russell H. Laird, Des Moines, To be entered in next month's drawing IA; Everett G. Shepard III. Woodstock, CT; George G. Call Today.. .Don't Delay! Sinopoli, Fresno, CA; Tom C. Smith, Oklahoma City, OK; James J. Charleston, Arlington Hts., IL, and Casimir F. Sojka, New York, NY, Consultants. 1 -800-662-4548 s Copyright 1998 by The American Legion Call & ask about insurance & Medicare reimbursement! The American Legion (ISSN 0886-1234) is published monthly by The American Legion, 5561 W. 74th Street, DON'T DELAY.. .MAIL TODAY! Indianapolis, IN 46268. Periodicals postage paid at Indiana- polis, IN 46204 and additional mailing offices. ±f YES! Please enter me immediately in the Annual non-member and gift subscriptions, $15 ($21, for- eign); Post-sponsored and widows' subscriptions. $6; single "Rascal Mobility Monthly Sweepstakes" and Hello Everybody, copy, $3 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The send me a Full Color Catalog. American Legion, Input Services, P.O. Box 1954, Indianapo- As Miss America... I've learned how to lis, IN 46206.- Internet address: http://www.legion.org. spot a Winner. I've tested the world Change of Address: Notify The American Legion, Input Services, P.O. Box 1954, Indianapolis. IN 46206. (317) Famous Rascal scooter... and it's 328-4640. Attach old address label, provide old and new addresses and current membership card number. Fabulous! The Rascal can help To request microfilm copies, please write to: University City. State _ improve your life! Microfilms, 300 N. Zeeb Rd„ Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 : Don'l forget to include your phone n Canada Post international Publications Mall (Canadian you immediately if you become the t Distribution) Sales Agreement No. 546321. Re-entered second-class mail matter at Manila Central Post office dated Dec. 22, 1991. "Be Be" Shopp Waring.. .Miss America 1948 Mail Your Entry to: Electric Mobility, Printed in USA National Spokesperson for Electric Mobilit O^M^b^y^la^a^ep^^^ejweM^OSOaOj > Member Audit Bureau of Circulations • • I THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE JUNE 1998 . 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Therefore, the one can exploit the elderly. patient is kept from knowing what Here are a few points a consumer other items have been billed. needs to check when looking at assist- Bills are submitted to Medicare by ed-care living: What regulates the cost the provider; the patient never sees for the care you need? Investigate the them. One hospital gives the patient, firm that runs the facility through the "as a courtesy," a copy of the bill they chamber of commerce, senior services would send if the patient were paying or area agency on aging. Visit the ten- directly. As a courtesyl That's my ants, and observe the staff. Examine money they're talking about, whether the contract to ensure the services you it is paid directly [or] via insurance need are part of it. Monitor services premiums or taxes. periodically. J.W. Moorhouse J. Spurling Maineville, Ohio Grants Pass, Oregon Med-Aware AM a general surgeon who has pro- Taking the Lead THE fraud hotline mentioned in I vided honest care for over a quarter |OMMANDER Jordan's article, Layne Cameron's article, "Medis- century. So I was a bit taken aback "Leading a Glorious Charge," in care," sounds like a good idea, but by your article on Medicare—espe- c:'the March issue was impressive. unfortunately it is largely eyewash. cially the artwork which depicted a However, we need to convince mem- Why? Because the system itself is masked surgeon.