QMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE 04^ NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION C. D. DeLoach, Chairman James C. Watkins, Director HEADQUARTERS P. O. Box 1055 1608 K St., N. W. Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 Washington, D. C. 20006 (317) 635-8411 (202) 393-4811 AMERICAN LEGION NEWS BRIEFS FOR WEEK ENDING 3-6-70 A just and honorable peace in Vietnam and continued Congressional support to insure an adequate Veterans Administration Medical and Hospital care budget for 1971 were two major objectives of The American Legion Rehabilitation-Legislative program presented to Congress by National Commander J. Milton Patrick. Patrick outlined the Legion's objectives in the National Commander's traditional appearance before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, during the Legion's Tenth Annual Washington Conference. George Shehane of Atlanta, Ga., is the new President of The American Legion Department Service Officers Association. He was elected to succeed as Association President Harry Sawyer of Helena, Montana, during the group's annual meeting held in conjunction with the Legion's U7th National Rehabilitation Conference in Washington. Richard (Red) Skelton was the recipient of The American Legion National Commander's Public Relations Award during the National Public Relations Commission luncheon at the Legion's Tenth Annual Washington Conference. Due to illness, Mr. Skelton was unable to attend the luncheon and Humorist Herb Shriner accepted the award on behalf of Mr. Skelton. WASHINGTON—(ALNS)—Administrator of Veterans Affairs Donald E. Johnson has reported that participation by minorities in purchase of property owned by the Veterans Administration has increased by some 9 percent during the past year. Johnson said minorities accounted for 35 percent of the sales throughout the nation in December of last year compared with 26 percent in December, 1968. According to Johnson, the majority of sales of VA properties in the large urban areas of Baltimore, Jersey City and Newark, during the month of December were made to Negroes. High rates of sales, exceeding 50 percent, were registered in many of the large urban centers in the east, midwest, far west and south. Factors accounting for increased minority participation were stepped up emphasis generally, and particularly in VA loan guaranty service, on the non- discrimination aspects of the program. Johnson also attributed improved economic conditions prevailing among minorities for their increased participation in the purchase of VA owned properties. -alns- U.S.A. "Unity and Service for America" QMERICAN 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 3-6-70 WASHINGTON—(ALNS)—In testimony before the House Veterans Affairs Committee, American Legion National Commander J. Milton Patrick reiterated the Legion's stand for a just and honorable peace in Vietnam, and called for continued Congressional support to insure an adequate Veterans Administration Medical and Hospital care budget for fiscal year 1971. Expressing the deep concern of The American Legion with current and projected funding for the V.A, medical and hospital programs, Commander Patrick pointed out that 'if the Veterans Administration does not have, or is not permitted to use, sufficient funds to carry on its medical and hospital programs, then this nation is not going to have a medical program for veterans that is second to none. "The American Legion continues to receive reports from the field indicating that all is not veil in V.A. hospital facilities." He pointed out such items as "non-activated beds- special care units for heart, kidney, surgical, blind and other life sustaining facilities and equipment that have not been activated; shortages of vitally needed equipment, and lack of critically needed hospital personnel," resulting in the fact that there are "veterans who are not being treated by the Veterans Administration who need and are entitled to treatment." Commander Patrick expressed particular concern over "what seems to be a long-range program to phase out the tremendous medical and hospital program of the Veterans Administration," citing statistics showing a decline in occupied hospital beds and daily patient census in V.A. hospitals from 1958 to the present. The Legion Chief also recommended increased compensation for service disabled veterans to meet the inflationary spiral, and other legislation for raising annual income limitations and liberalizing rates under the Death and Disability Pension, Dependent Parents Indemnity, and Dependency and Indemnity provisions of law. In concluding his testimony before the House Committee, the Legion Commander requested programs for increasing the amount of Servicemen's Group Life Insurance and provisions of a National Service Life Insurance program for Vietnam Veterans. He further recommended an increase in the allowance payable by the V.A. toward the burial and funeral expense of a veteran. Rep. Olin E. Teague, of College Station, Texas, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs presided at the committee session. Commander Patrick, who outlined the Legion's current legislative objectives before a capacity crowd of Legion leaders from every state in the Union and several foreign countries , was congratulated by the chairman and members of the Committee on the conciseness of the report. Many of the Committee members used such terms as "modest" in commenting on the Legion's legislative proposals and promised their support of the program. -alns- □ MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION —THE AMERICAN LEGION C. D. DeLoach, Chairman James C. Watkins, Director HEADQUARTERS P. O. Box 1055 1608 K St., N. W. Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 Washington, D. C. 20006 (317) 635-8411 (202) 393-4811 For release 3-6-70 WASHINGTON—(ALNS)—George Shehane of Atlanta, Ga. , Georgia Department Service Officer, is the new President of The American Legion Department Service Officers Association. He was vice president. He was elected to succeed in the top position Harry Sawyer, of Helena, Mont., Montana Department Service Officer during a meeting of the group held during the Legion's U7th National Rehabilitation Conference here. Fred Heinle of Milwaukee, Wis., Wisconsin Department Service Officer, was elevated to vice president from sergeant-at-arms. Walter Hyde of Providence, R.I., Rhode Island Department Service Officer, was reelected to his eighth consecutive term as secretary-treasurer. Robert MacFarland of Augusta, Me., Maine Department Service Officer, was elected sergeant-at-arms while Charles Kohler of Philadelphia, Pa., Pennsylvania Department Service Officer, was elected Chaplain. MacFarland was Chaplain. -alns- EMP0RIA, KANS.—(ALNS)—''The year 1970 marks the beginning of a new decade which could hold great promise for the future of all humanity or take us down the road to enslavement or even the annihilation of mankind," James R. Wilson, National Director or The American Legion Security-Foreign Relations Division told Kansas Legionnaires at their Mid-Winter Forum here. "By action of the National Executive Committee of The American Legion in November, our organization stated its belief that the course President Nixon had chosen is a reasonable one, perhaps the only solution short of resuming all-out war against North Vietnam as called for in resolution 2U0, unanimously adopted by the Atlanta National Convention in Aug., 1969," the Legion security director pointed out. "The American Legion is watching the situation in Vietnam intently. We share the President's feeling that if Hanoi increases the level of combat the United States should not hesitate to take strong and effective measures to deal with that situation," he added. "The decade ahead, during which the United States of America celebrates its 200th birthday, could determine the destiny of freedom for centuries to come. Today, while the Soviet Union builds all elements of its armed forces, there is a rising cry from elements in our society, even in the halls of Congress, for unilateral disarmament,1' Wilson continued. The Legion security director said The American Legion must make its voice heard in behalf of modern, strong military forces until the climate of world conditions makes the outlook for genuine peace more promising than they appear now. "Veterans know from experience the defense of this great heritage founded upon freedom has never been and never will be perpetuated without pain, or struggle, or of individual and collective concern and effort. This truth must be faced by every generation, in every year and in every day of the life of this nation and society," he concluded. -alns- 0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE 04b NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION C. D. DeLoach, Chairman James C. Watkins, Director HEADQUARTERS P. O. Box 1055 1608 K St., N. W. Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 Washington, D. C. 20006 (317) 635-8411 (202) 393-4811 For release 3-6-70 WASHINGTON—(ALMS)— Richard (Red) Skelton was the recipient of The American Legion national Commander's Public Relations Award during the National Public Relations Commission luncheon at the Legion's Tenth Annual Washington Conference. National Public Relations Chairman CD. (Deke) DeLoach announced the painful news that Red Skelton was too ill to attend the luncheon. Following is the text of the telegram message: ''You know my respect for the great American Legion, and of my pride in being a member of a group of Americans who wholly believe America is a purpose and that to preserve freedom takes not words but action. "Knowing your dedication to God and Country, it pains me beyond this illness that now prevents me from being present to accept the honor that you were so graciously about to bestow upon me. Gentlemen, I pledge to you that when health permits it at a later date, I shall give to you my fullest devotion and full measure of my talent. "To ask you to understand is difficult, for each of you there has contributed far more to country and our American way of life than I.