•44 NEWS from: THE AMERICAN LEGION INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46206 P. 0. BOX 1055 ME 5-8411 National Headquarters AMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE (ALNS) LEGION NEWS BRIEFS FOR WEEK ENDING 5-7-65 Membership strength in The American Legion for 1965 has every indication of pro- ducing gain by close of the books on Dec. 31, National Executive Committee informed. ***** A detailed report on expanding American Legion membership eligibility, prepared by a special study committee, is receiving wide public attention as result of step-up in U.S. involvement in Viet Nam and the Dominican Republic. ***** National Rehabilitation Chairman Robert M. McCurdy has declared that "The American Legion is not ready to compromise whatsoever on the closing of any VA region- al office." ***** The Legion petitions President Johnson to curtail Bureau of the Budget in its unauthorized effort to originate and influence policies and practices of other governmental agencies. ***** Seed sacks of "growing money" totaling $50,000 presented to the Legion by the American Legion Auxiliary for use in veteran rehabilitation and child welfare programs. ***** Disarmament is definitely not a pattern within his "design" for United States' survival, Gen. Thomas S. Power, USAF (Ret.), has informed Legion leaders. ***** In response to current endeavors in Congress to revise U.S. immigration program, Legion sets forth five principles for consideration in event of amendment of existing legislation involving immigration. ***** Enthusiastic conmendation from Legion given to President Johnson's 'prompt and decisive' action to protect American lives endangered by rebellion in Dominican Republic. ***** The Legion declares support of continued unilateral action, if necessary, by U.S. to prevent another Communist-controlled government in the western hemisphere. ***** The American Legion, a national spokesman for the country's children, outlines its 1966 child welfare program encompassing child safety, juvenile delinquency, day care, outdoor recreation, and emotionally disturbed children ***** NEWS from: THE AMERICAN LEGION 00145 INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46206 P. 0. BOX 1055 ME 5-84U National Headquarters AMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE (ALNS) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5-7-65 INDIANAPOLIS —(ALNS)--- Membership strength in The American Legion for I965 has every indication of producing a gain by the close of the books on Dec. 31, the National Executive Committee has been informed. National Membership Chairman Earl D. Franklin, Jr., reported to the NEC on May 5 here, that Legion membership for that date was 2,^19,337, a gain of 13,7^5 over the enrollment for the same date in 196^. Chairman Franklin attributed consistent gain which has been recorded all year to several factors, including: 1. The dedicated leadership by National Commander Donald E. Jobnson, together with the understanding support which he has given the efforts of the National Member- ship and Post Activities Committee. 2. The National Membership Workshop last August which helped to stimulate earlier membership work and more complete planning. 3. Progress in the campaign to charter new American Legion Posts to replace those which have withered away and to serve veterans living in areas which are not now being adequately covered by The American Legion. He announced that this year's National Membership Workshop would be July 27-28 at National Headquarters in Indianapolis. One of the major points of emphasis will be methods to find, interest, enroll, and keep the new member. INDIANAPOLIS —-(ALNS)— A special study committee submitted to the NEC a UO-page report on the question of whether or not The American Legion should change its eligibility requirements to admit veterans of current military actions. As a fact finding body, the special committee did not attempt to reach any final conclusion on this question, but pointed out that the authority to change eligibility require- ments rests with the annual National Convention which this year will be in Portland, Ore., Aug. 20-26. (MORE) Special Study Committee Report continued page 2 The American Legion was formed by Veterans of World War I in March 1919, and until 19^2 limited its membership entirely to men and women who had served honorably in the military forces of the United States between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, the dates of the actual shooting war. When membership was opened to World War II, the dates of actual hostilities were again used — December 7, 19^1, to Septem- ber 2, I9U5. A second change in eligibility requirements was subsequently made to open membership ranks to Korean War veterans who served between June 25, 1950, and July 27, 1953. The fact finding committee has pointed out that combat conditions now exist in Viet Nam, but that there has been no declaration of war nor designation of a national emergency. The committee felt that the Legion should retain its historic character as an organization of war veterans. Only the delegates to the National Convention will have the authority to determine whether the present situation, or any prior or future situation requires a change in the eligibility provisions of The American Legion Constitution. The fact-finding committee in the closing sentence of its report recommended that, if a change is made, August 5, 1964, be the date for opening eligibility. This was the date of the U. S. retaliatory attack on North Viet Nam forces in the Gulf of Tonkin. All that has transpired during this session of The American Legion's National Executive Committee on the matter of membership eligibility has been the submission of the report by the special committee appointed to study this matter, reports to the contrary notwithstanding. The report vas received by the National Executive Committee, but no action was taken either to grant or to deny any change in the membership eligibility require- ments, and no such action can or will be taken until the 1965 National Convention of The American Legion scheduled for August 20-26 in Portland, Oregon, at the very earliest. 0.0147 NEWS from: THE AMERICAN LEGION INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46206 P. 0. BOX 1055 ME 5-84U National Headquarters AMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE (ALNS) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5-7-65 INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS)-— The American Legion is not ready to compromise whatsoever on the closing of any Veterans Administration regional office, National Rehabilitation Chairman Robert M. McCurdy has declared to members of the National Executive Committee. In his report made at the final session of the spring meeting here, McCurdy noted that the Legion has traditionally supported a minimum of one VA regional office in each state. Taking cognizance of the fact that the Bureau of the Budget appears to be dedicated to the elimination of the veterans program and to the disintegration of the VA, NEC approval was given to a resolution petitioning President Lyndon B. Johnson to curtail the Bureau of the Budget in its unauthorized effort to originate and influence policies and practices of other agencies of the government. The reso- lution further petitions the President to negate and cancel, forthwith, the unin- formed, ill-advised and uneconomic attempt of the Bureau of the Budget to close VA hospitals, domiciliaries, and regional offices. The NEC also resolved that the Legion shall sponsor and support legislation, establishing a "floor" of 17,000 VA domiciliary beds and a "floor" of 125,000 VA hospital beds. Opposing "cross-servicing" and seeking legislation to prevent VA from hospitalizing non-veterans at the expense of veterans, The American Legion called upon the VA Administrator to examine the legality and propriety of an arrangement whereby the admission of eligible war veterans to VA hospitals is delayed or denied so that non-veterans can be provided care. If necessary, the Legion stated that it would sponsor and support legislation to prevent the VA from conducting a hospital program within its facilities for non-veterans. (MORE) 00148 Rehabilitation Resolutions Approved (continued page 2) Other Rehabilitation Resolutions Approved Other resolutions passed requested that the VA Administrator authorize issuance of a medical emergency signal device to those veterans whose critical medical problem is service-connected; supported the enactment of H.R. 1077, a bill to provide that members of the Armed Forces shall be retired in the highest grade satisfactorily held in any Armed Force of the United States; supported legislation to increase travel allowance for VA beneficiaries; and endorsed a change in VA regulations to permit recoupment of severance pay at less than the full rate of disability compensation payable to ease economic hardship in an individual case. INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) In approving the report of the National Con- vention Commission, The American Legion's National Executive Committee has released a tentative National Convention schedule as follows: Portland, Ore. (Aug. 20-26, 1965); Washington, D.C. (Aug. 26-Sept. 1, 1966) and New York City (Sept. 1-7, 1967). INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS)— The 1965 fall meeting of The American Legion's National Executive Committee will be conducted at National Headquarters here, on Oct. 6-7. The Commanders and Adjutants Conference and the meetings of the standing commissions and committees will take place on Oct. 4-5. •49 NEWS from: THE AMERICAN LEGION INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46206 P. 0. BOX 1055 ME 5-8411 National Headquarters * *^ jib AMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE (ALNS) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5-7-65 INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) Seed sacks full of corn and "growing money" totaling