Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-12-07
PURPOSES OF THE
AMERICAN LEGION
Local Publicity Officer Asks Sup.
port - Building To Be Erected
Meeting In Boone and at Mable
Soon.

composed of young men who have
not had the time nor opportunity to
acquire wealth, yet it is doing a
great work for it's country and suf-
:fering humanity. 1t is composed of
fellows who know the war of the
cannon and the horror of war. In
other words it is composed of young
men who shouldered their guns, mar
ched to the bloody battle fields of
France to fight and if need be, lay
down his life that the world might
be free from the iron yoke of auto
,cracy.
Now since the war is over there
arose another battle to fight and this
battle is on-This is the upliftment
and betterment of the country, Why
was this great world war fought?
What has the United States accomp-
lished for the sons she leaves in
France, though poppies bloom where
they be?
These are some of the questions
that arose in the minds of the boys
who fought "over there" and before
returning to America went to work
to establish some way by which they
could make the country for which
they had fought, a better place to
live in. They decided that this could
be done in no better way than thru.
organization, because it was organ
.ization, comradship and red blooded
Americans that won the world war.
This organization was begun in Paris
by American boys and known as the
American Legion.
We have in this county a branch
Il Of the American Legion but regret to
say that all Of the fellows who
shouldered arms to fire the gun have
not fallen in line with the orginiza
ton to uphold that for which they
fought. Of course all that went to
the Army or Navy are true Ameri-
cans and are glad they had chance
to serve their country nj whatever
manner the country could use them
best. Now fellows the battle is not
over, the fact of the matter is it
has just started. There is a certain
responsibility and a certain work for
you to do. Are you willing to should
er this and march against the foe
as you did in the years Of ~ and
'1S?-This responsibility is'set forth
in "The Purpose of the American
Legion, which are as follows:
/. To uphold and defend the con-
stitution of the United States.
2. To maintain law and order.
3. TO foster and perpetuate one
hundred per cent Americansm.
4. TO preserve the memories and
incidents of our association in the
Great Word War.
5. TO inculcate a sense of obli-
CATION to the community, State and
Nation.
i. To combat the autocracy of
botD the classes and the masses.
T. TIC make right the master of
m,ght.
s. To promote Peace and good
will on earth.
8. To safeguard and transmit to
prosperity the principals of justice,
freedom and democracy.
10. To consecrate and sanctify our
comradeship by our devotion to
mutual happiness.
Are these things worth while, and
are they worth the consideration of
the public in general? We have this
question for yoL to answer for your
self. But we believe every man that
was in the service ought to join the
American Legion, and every citizen
that offered support during the war
ought to live up with this orginazi-
alton and give it no light consider
alton, and all their moral support,
because the future of our country
depends largely on the kind of citi-
zens we have in it. 1t is the purpose
Of the American Legion to make bet
ter Americans.-Are you with us?
We have been holding meetings
in different sections of the county
for the purpose Of explaining to the
public what the American Legion
stands for, and encouraging the men
who are eligible to join. Through
the courtesy of Prof. l. G. Greer
who has been making this round with
us and giving in detail what the
Legion stands for, we have been hav-
ing some fine meetings. 1t would pay
you as war vetran, it would pay
you as civilian to attend one Of
these meetings. We are especially
interested in having the people un-
derstand more thoroughly what the
principals are, and if you will meet
us at Mable, Saturday Night, Dec.
8 and in Boone Saturday Night Dec.
10th we will have speakers who will
show you the organization from start
to present time.
We admit our local post has not
done what it should have but we
have ben Handicapped on account Of
!, having no place to hold our meet
ings or a place to call the. home of