The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-10-21
HOW LEGION CAN COOPERATE

1t Is source Of satisfaction to the
Boy Scouts of America to know that
the American Legion not only official
ly indorses the scout EovemeE. but
Is willing and anxious to cooperate
with scouts in their various c0mmu
nifty undertakings throughout the ma
tion. Our boys look with the great
est respect and hero worship to those
other just little older boys who held
the front-line trenches so heroically
while the younger lads ut home
worked gallantly at selling Liberty
bonds and raising war gardens both
for the same great cause and in the
same high spirit.
Now that the war is over 1t is most
fitting that the same fine energy and
devotion TO the nation which was
shown both by the Legion and boy
scouts should go on in other forms
of service, and there is literally no
limit to what the two organizations,
working together. could accomplish by
way of community and national ac-
tivity.
Our patriotic holidays, such as
Memorial day, Flag day, Fourth of
July. Constitution day. Columbus day,
Armistice day, ETC., all offer fine op-
portunities for the Legion to cooper
ate with their younger but no less
loyal scout brothers In holding pa
triotlc meetings and making public re-
dedication to the service of our great
country with its ideals of liberty and
Justice for all as well as the renewal
OF acknowledgment of the debt we
all owe to those who gave their lives
that the nation might win its battle
for the right.
Americanization work-not only of
foreigners but of our own people, in
laying stress upon loyal service to
the nation. the flag and all it stands
for-also offers opportunity for CO.
operation. Last year thousands of for
elgn-born men and women were in
duced through scouts to enter citizen
ship classes in preparation for oh
taIning naturalization papers, and the
Legion could materially assist in car
rying out this important work on an
even greater scale, using newspaper
and other publicity.
1t is difficult to suggest in general
article specific ways by which the two
organizations, working together, may
accomplish Worthwhile results. Local
conditions and needs will govern the
selection of the object sought. Com
munity swimming pools and play
~ fx,tx lie in. l.eG tfl
adopting war orphans. conducting
home-service bureaus. taking part in
local campaigns. such as safety-first,
fire prevention, city clean-ups. etc, may
all be undertaken with good effect
wherever there Is local scout head
quarters The executive in charge
will gladly offer suggestions and ideas
as to the best and most practical
kinds of cooperative service and will
place his groups Of trained boys at
the Legion's call wherever possible
Readiness to help is n boy scouts
chief Characteristic. If you haven't
tested this fact out for yourself, try
it and see what happens. Nothing
could make a scout happier or proud
er than to help n member of the Le-
gion. or Legion post whether the
good turn required is great or small.
Finally. perhaps, the very biggest
opportunity for service TO the com
munity is the opportunity offered to
the Legion to go in for active scout
leadership. No one Is better fitted
than a veteran of the World war to
become scoutmaster or an instruc-
tor