The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1920-02-28
AMERICAN LEGION POST
WILL SECURE CHARTER
No Military Obligations Connected
With Membership in 0rgani-
zation Of Ex-Service Men
Of United States

AffohBcHcuts toF securing u CnaT-
ter for the Eureka Post of the Amer
ican Legion we're made at a meeting
of ex-service men held last Saturday
night in the Red Cross room at the
county courthouse. When the char
ter is received work of organizing a
strong local Post will be started in
earnest.
The American Legion is perhaps
the greatest organization in the Uni
ted States. 1t has for its members
men who have seen service in the
Army. the Navy. and the Marine
Corps. Men who served on active
duty in any of the above military
branches between April 6. 1917, and
November IL, 1918, are eligible to
membership, provided they were hon.
orably discharged. Some idea of its
strength may be obtained from the
fact that the organization is now car
rying through it's task of enrolling it's
second million of members.
There are no military obligations
connected with membership in the
Legion. 1t is purely civilian or
ganization. One of the most i'm
portant clauses in its Constitution
asserts that the Legion shall be alb
solutely non-political, and shall not
be used for the dissemination of par
tisan principles nor for the promotion
of the candidacy of any person seek
ing public Office or preferment.
THE idea that the Legion is a
strike-breaking machine seems to be
prevalent in Eureka County" said
Ted johnson, who was elected tenn
porary chairman at the first meeting
held here in December. But this
idea is a mistaken one. The Consti-
tuition plainly states that each mem
ber shall perform his full duty as a
citizen according to his own con-
science and understanding. 1t only
takes side with issues that are free,
one hundred per cent American in
their nature. The Constitution is
face up. and it's full meaning can be
had by anyone who can read and un-
derstand the English language.
is for mutual helpfulness among ex-
service men. For instance, should
an ex-soldier. ex-sailor, or ex-marine
come here in destitute condition we
should be able to see after his well
fare Just as other fraternal organi-
cations do. Many of the posts have
clubrooms where the members pass
their time, and have for their COM
panions fellows who have been in the
uniform. AS soon as the charter for
this post is received, a meeting will
be held, at which a permanent or
ganization will be established. In
the matter of social actiyities the
posts should afford their greatest ad
vantage to members"
About 80 ex-service men reside in
Eureka County. in the opinion Of Mr..
johnson, and with this number as
nucleus a very effective Post should
be maintained. II any man has
right to a voice in this country 1t is
the ex-service man. and the only way
to get this voice is to get together
anu W StiSh tO6CthOh- kSAhO nus q
Post OF almost 100 % membership, 1t
Is reported.
Many men, having been out of SER
vice such a short time, no doubt do
not appreciate the real value to be
derived from membership in the Leg
ion. But as time progresses, and the
men are drawn closer together. they
will appreciate more and more the
advantages the Legion offers. A case
in point is that of the Grand Army of
the Republic, the living members of
which now comprise only a few vet
Grams, but as they grow fewer and
fewer a strong bond of comradeship
draws them closer and closer togeth-
er.
The American Legion Weekly is
the official publication. 1t is live,
wide awake magazine with contents
of interest to any man. One OF its
most important departments is de-
voted to a service of locating former
buddies for it's readers. 1t also lends
a helping hand to men who have difh-
Guilty with their War Risk Allotment
or Allowance, Insurance, Liberty
Bonds. etc. The official poster de-
picts soldier, a sailor. and marine,
with hands interlocked, with title
reading: I'VE stuck together over
there. let us stick together over
here"
The high purpose of the American
Legion is evident in the preamble to
the Constitution, which is as follows:
"For God and Country. we associ-
ate ourselves together for the follow
ing purposes:
ITO uphold and defend the Consti-
tuition of the United States Of Amer
lea; to maintain law and order; to
foster and perpetuate one hundred
per cent Americanism; to preserve
the memories and incidents of our
association in the great war; to in
culcate n sense of individual obliga-