020u 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 For release 9-2-71 HOUSTON, TEXAS—(ALNS)—John H. Geiger, 46, of Des Flaines, 111., has been elected National Commander of The American Legion, climaxing the Legion's 53rd annual National Convention, Aug. 27-Sept. 2, here. National Commander Geiger was named to the highest office in the world's largest veterans' organization with the unanimous approval of the more than 3,000 delegates and a like number of alternates from throughout the nation and several overseas countries and territories. In his acceptance of the office, National Commander Geiger pledged to continue the theme of "Reach Out," adopted by immediate Legion Past National Commander Alfred P. Chamie, and to expand upon it. "During the 1971-72 American Legion year our theme will be 'Reach Out—It's Action Time,'" he added. Citing that the Legion has, in the past, often waited for crises to occur and then reacted to those conditions, National Commander Geiger said, "I visualize an American Legion of action rather than reaction, and I propose to bring that type of leadership and programming to the Legion this year. Let's resolve, here and now, to anticipate the problems we will face this year and plan to meet them head on, rather than waiting for a crisis to develop and then reacting to it." A World War II combat veteran of service with the 11th Armored Division, the new Legion chief has been an active American Legionnaire since 1945, and is a member of Hiram J. Slifer Post 135, The American Legion, in Chicago. In private life, National Commander Geiger is Special Assistant to the Vice President of Facilities and Property for United Airlines. He served as commander of his home post in 1950; Illinois Second District Commander, 1954; as Senior Vice Commander of The American Legion of Illinois in 1959, and in 1960 was Illinois Department Commander. Other offices in which he served within his home state include that of department veterans housing chairman and Adjutant of the Cook County (Chicago) Council of The American Legion. On the national level of the Legion organization, National Commander Geiger has served as Illinois' Alternate National Executive Committeeman, as National Executive Committeeman in 1964-65 and as a member and vice chairman of the National Convention Commission. His American Legion background long pre-dates his active membership for he participated as a youth in Legion sponsored Scouting, Sons of The American Legion, SAL Drum and Bugle Corps and Boys State. He attended his first American Legion National Convention at the age of six years with his father, the late Hugo Geiger. A registered architect and structural engineer, National Commander Geiger attended the University of Oregon and is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a degree in architectural engineering. Active in professional and civic areas in the state of Illinois, he is a member of Alpha P.ho Chi architectural fraternity, the Construction Specifications Institute, American Society of Registered Architects and United Air Lines Management Club. Born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, he is married to the former Vivienne De Baets, and they are the parents of six children. -alns- 020u HJMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE JHib NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION- ■THE AMERICAN LEGION i mm i C. D. DeLoach, Chairman James C. Watkins, Director HEADQUARTERS P. 0. Box 1055 1608 K St., N. W. m Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 Washington, D. C. 20006 El (317) 635-8411 (202) 393-4811 For release 9-2-71 HOUSTON, TEXAS—(ALNS)--National officers of The American Legion elected to serve with new National Commander John H. Geiger, of Illinois, for 1971-72, include: National Vice Commanders, Harold W. Fann, of Lexington, Ky.; Arthur M. McCarthy, of Tallahasse, Fla.j Roy Sweet, of Windsor, Vt.; Harry G. Wiles, of Topeka, Nan., and Wallace C.S. Young, of Honolulu, Hawaii. Father Paul J. Schwaab, of Ponca, Neb., pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in that Nebraska community, was elected National Chaplain for 1971-72. -alns- KOUSTON, TEXAS—(ALNS)--Hrs. Robert L. (Bertha) Parker, of Tahlequah, Okie., was elected National President of the American Legion Auxiliary for 1571-72, during the organization's national convention held here simultaneously with the 53rd annual National Convention of The American Legion. Other national officers selected by the Auxiliary include: Mrs. Maxine Chilton, of Superior, Ariz., National Vice President; Mrs. Earl Bigalow, of Bedford, Ore., national historian, and Mrs. Lester Nimon, of Lassillon, Ohio, National Chaplain. -alns- HOUSTON,_TSXAS«(ALNS)~August A. Busch, Jr., Chairman of the Board and chief of navn'eTh °2 T T ^^-Busch, Inc., today accepted for his firm and for John wTn The,Al°erifn LeS^'s fourth Estate Award for his firm's sponsorship of and Joan Wayne ^performance fche television spectacular „ * J originally aired in November of 1970. ^l^^c^^-'738 preS^nted hy Sam Latimer, Vice Chairman of the Legion's Public Nations commission and J.C. Watkins, Public Relations Director. Accepting the award, Mr. Busch said, "We are truly honored. This occasion will always remain in our memory, not so much because of the award, but because it comes from a group of dedicated men who understand the full meaning of freedom!" -alns- HOUSTON, TEXAS«(ALNS)--Speaking before the 53rd National Convention of The American Legion, General Andrew J. Goodpaster, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe reported on the status of the NATO forces as a whole and of the U.S. Forces as a part of NATO. He said, "...the main message I would like to leave with you—loud and clear—is that the structure of our forces has retained its integrity and its military effectiveness, 'e do not have an undisciplined body and we do not intend to have one We have not compromised our standards of conduct and the qualities required in the performance of duty." Commending the Legion's devotion to the nation's security needs, he said "The contribution of The American Legion to the moral fiber of our society is of tremendous importance. In a very real sense, you veterans continue to serve." -alns- 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. m Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 Washington, D. C. 20006 0 (317) 635-8411 (202) 393-4811 For release 5/2/71 HOUSTON, TEXAS—(ALMS)—The American Legion is growing, not "fading away," American Legion National Commander Alfred P. Chamie told the Legion's 1S71 National Convention here today as a part of his report to the Convention on the state of the Legion at the conclusion of his term of office. Commander Chamie said the Legion, the world's largest veterans organization, surpassed its total 1970 membership late in July, and has now passed the 2,700,000 marl- for the first time since 1S59. It is the seventh consecutive year the Legion has logged a membership increase at the national level. He also noted that the Legion actually is growing younger because of the influx of Vietnam era veterans, who are expected to number about 425,000 by the end of this year and will constitute the second largest membership component within the Legion, outnumbered only by World War II veterans. Legionnaires of today have sought to make the Legion relevant to the times in which we live and a review of recent Legion resolutions from National Conventions demonstrates that The American Legion is attuned to the mainstream of America and to the consensus of Congress which annually enacts many Legion proposals into law, he continued. Commander Chamie cited a number of public laws enacted by the 91st Congress to illustrate his point, including legislations providing improvement in the veterans home loan program, improved monthly benefits payments for widows, orphans and dependent children, increased insurance for members of the armed forces, improved veterans and dependents pension program and many others. He also called attention to two top priority programs for the Legion year ending with this Convention, under his national theme of "Reach Out." "As a matter of top priority this year we sought to arouse the American people, as well as world public opinion, to the plight of Americans held prisoner of war or listed as missing in action in Southeast /.sia. There are some 1,659 personnel who are missing in action in Southeast Asia. We understand 460 of these are in prison. We do not know the status of the others. The American Legion is determined that these men shall not be forsaken. To this end, we have developed television spots that have been seen by some 44-million viewers, radio announcements, a motion picture documentary and an American Legion Prayer that has been used throughout the country in churches, synagogues and at appropriate civic events. "We have solicited proclamations from governors, mayors, legislatures, city councils, boards of supervisors and other civic groups that have designated a prisoner of war day, week or month. We have made office space available in our Washington offices to the National League of Families of the Prisoners and Missing in Action in Southeast Asia. We note with pleasure that Congress in joint session recognized the week of March 22, 1971, as a week of concern for the POW/MIAs, and that the United Nations last December, by resolution, recognized the need for humane treatment of prisoners of war in accordance with the provisions of the 1949 Geneva Convention.