“If You See A Gun: Stop! Don’t Touch, Leave The Area, Tell An Adult.” With a firearm present in about half of all American households, we must teach kids what to do should they find a gun. GUNS ARE NOT TOYS. That’s why the National Rifle Association has reached over seven million young children and their parents with the award-winning Eddie Eagle® Gun Safety Program. Designed in partnership with teachers, school administrators, curriculum specialists, urban housing safety officials, clinical psychologists and National Rifle Association firearm safety experts, the award-winning Eddie Eagle Program teaches preschool through sixth grade children a life-saving message through a fast- paced animated video and fun-filled activity books tailored for each age group. The program, available in three levels, utilizes modern tactile/kinesthetic, visual, and auditory learning methods and is adaptable from a five-day plan to a short, one-day lesson. Recognized for its success by the National Safety Council, the National School Public Relations Associations and the legislatures of ten states so far, the Eddie Eagle Program is the only teaching tool of its kind. Call now to put the award-winning Eddie Eagle Program in your curriculum today! • INSTRUCTOR'S PROGRAM & • EDDIE EAGLE POSTER DISCUSSION GUIDE • STUDENT REWARDS • STUDENT WORKBOOKS • PARENT LETTER • REPRODUCIBLES • MATERIALS AVAILABLE • SEVEN-MINUTE ANIMATED VHS VIDEO IN SPANISH HOSTED BY TV STAR JASON PRIESTLEY For information call: 1-800-231-0752 “We’ve taught the Eddie Eagle Program to over 10, 000young students. Coincidentally, on a recent class outing, several second, third and.fourth graders stumbled across a discarded handgun. Instead of touching it, they all ran to tell the teacher what they’dfound. They said they remembered Eddie’s safety rules! Every school should teach the Eddie Eagle Program. ” -CHIEF MICHAEL DORN, CAMPUS POLICE DEPARTMENT, BIBB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, MACON, GEORGIA. The American Legion 1 9 9 6 National Convention For God and Country Welcome we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States ofAmerica; to maintain law and order; The American Legion 78th National Convention to foster and perpetuate a one-hundred percent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars; Sons of the to inculcate a sense of individual obligation American Legion 25th National Convention nation; to the community; state and to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; American Legion to promote peace and good will on earth; Auxiliary 76th National Convention to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles ofjustice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness. La Boutique Des Huit Chapeaux 78th National Convention Et Quarante Femmes August 30-September 5, 1996 * Salt Lake City, Utah 75th Marche Nationale 1 “I always considered statesmen to be more expendable than soldiers.” Harry Truman Union Federal Savings Bank Trust Services wishes the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary the best of conventions and a great year. George A. Buskirk, Jr. Senior Vice President and Trust Services 317 - 269-4830 ***** t Unionfederal **** SavingsBank FDIC Insured AH Your Bank Should Be WdcDJJlb Programs h Ageiiiks Legionnaires will win in all A comprehensive guide to endeavors as they remain the Convention activities. ” heart “America’s Team. of 17 Patriotic Religious Service 4 Commander’s Greeting 18 Parade Information 6 Salt Lake City Attractions 22 Commission & Committee Sr, 31 9 Registration & Information Meetings 11 President’s Message ^ 23 Reunions & Dinners 13 Welcome Letters 25 Standing Rules of Convention t Governor of Utah 26 Convention Agenda Mayor of Salt Lake City 29 Distinguished Guests Utah Department 32 Hotel Directory Commander 35 National Convention Commission 36 Convention Corporation \t- mtui Me port & Chairmen all The American Legion 37 Honor Roll of Service Commissions and Committees Past National Commanders & report on the year’s challenges and accomplishments. Distinguished Service Award -* 51 National Adjutant’s Report Recipients 58 Commission Reports 38 Auxiliary National Officers 75 Auditor’s Report 38 Auxiliary Annual Report 39 Auxiliary Agenda 42 8 & 40 National Officers and Agenda 46 Sons of The American Legion 25th Anniversary Report 47 SAL Agenda COVER: Colorful flowers surround the State House, which provides a home for the Utah Department Headquarters. Photo by A. Jenny/Uni- corn Stock Photos. THIS PAGE: The Wasatch Mountains offer majes- Table of Contents j The American Legion 1996 National Convention Commanders Message be made and proposed legislation to include spina bifida among those conditions. Welcome to On the other hand, Legionnaires must step up to the plate for Gulf War veterans whose combat-related illnesses are still dis- missed by our government as products of Salt Lake City, site of their imaginations. We hung tough for many years on the Agent Orange contest and we scored a victory. Don’t count us out on Gulf The American Legion’s War Syndrome. The American Legion will chalk up a win in that contest, too. Some of our teammates are missing, a cir- 78th National Convention cumstance which has not left our memory. We will never forget our POW/MIA com- rades. Their families and this nation must know that The American Legion will continue to push for a full accounting and a hero’s wel- S I REFLECT on my term as National come for all of the brave Americans who Commander, I wonder if this is what it’s fought for their country. A like to be a baseball manager who is turn- The American Legion Family Support ing over his dugout duties to work elsewhere Network, reactivated to aid military families for the best team in the game. during the Bosnia deployment, is effective We are gathered in Salt Lake City for the because Legionnaires are willing to help ser- 78th National Convention to reaffirm our vice members and their dependents. From commitment to winning each of the contests bridging communication gaps between troops on our schedule for the coming year. and their loved ones to offering financial Leading a roster of 3 million “players” is assistance to families in need, the FSN is a fulfilling thrill and challenge. Like Tommy relieving American service members of prob- Lasorda as well as “Sparky” Anderson, I lems at home so they can concentrate on car- leave my field-leadership position awed and rying out their duties in the former humbled at the respect and appreciation Yugoslavia. from a winning team. ..my team. ..your The American Legion has invited our team... our team. women and men serving in Bosnia to join Remember the old saying: It doesn’t mat- “America’s Team.” Our nearly 15,000 posts ter whether you win or lose; it’s how you play are offering free one-year Legion member- the game? Frankly, the person who believes ships to Bosnia service members from their that doesn’t play a game that matters. communities. We’re doing that because we Legionnaires are engaged in a contest that DANIEL A. LUDWIG understand how a connection to home can matters to 26 million veterans and their fami- National Commander make us feel better about performing inher- lies who count on us to fight for benefits they ently dangerous duties while enduring separa- deserve. Legionnaires are engaged in a contest The American Legion will be back when the tion from loved ones. that matters to youngsters who benefit from next Congress convenes. We will be there rep- As we welcome these troops to The Amer- our Children & Youth initiatives. Legionnaires resenting the majority of Americans, veterans ican Legion, let us also strive to increase our are engaged in a contest that matters to right- and non-veterans alike, who believe our Flag membership through tapping the domestic thinking Americans who believe the U.S. Flag deserves protection by the U.S. Constitution. pool of wartime veterans. Our goal is to swell must hold a special place in our society. We’ll also be on Capitol Hill with a bold our ranks to 4 million members by 2000. We I’m not knocking the defending World measure to improve the openness, the level of have our work cut out for us in this arena, but Series champions, the Atlanta Braves, but I care, and the financial stability of the Depart- we will prevail. strongly believe The American Legion is ment of Veterans Affairs Medical System: I’m proud of each member of The Ameri- “America’s Team.” “The GI Bill of Health.” The VA health care can Legion who has taken the theme “Still Legionnaires are engaged in a series of system was created more than 50 years ago to Serving America” to heart and, in so doing, public policy struggles which is part contest meet the needs that existed then. Its rules and contributed to the success of our programs. and part war. We have to win to keep our resources haven’t kept pace with the changing I am honored to have had your support nation strong and our government responsive needs of the aging veterans’ population. “The during my term as National Commander. I to its people—a must-win situation. GI Bill of Health” is designed to ensure that am proud to remain— a member of The Ameri- The right men and women are on “Ameri- the VA can change to meet the challenges of can Legion team “America’s Team.” ca’s Team” because we know what real war is the next century. For God and country, we will continue like. So we certainly are not going to shrink What Legionnaires do for the health of our winning ways on the home fields of our from any political battles.