Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-08-07
REGIONAL BILLETS
FOR WAR ORPHANS


with the dedication recently Of ths
American Legion's chIldren's billet al
Otter Lake. Mich. the Legion hal
gotten under way with a nationwide
program OF child welfare. Specifically
the Legion intends to care for ali the
children whose fathers were killed In
action or who died as result OF serv-
ice in the American forces during the
World war.
There are at present. according 70
experts, 5000 waits Of war who are
being denied childhood privileges be
cause their fathers died in service. BY
the creation Of regional blllets the Lee
gion Intends to care for all of these.
The plan outlined by the national
child welfare committee Of the Legion
allows for expansion TO meet the re.
qnirements ten years hence. when the
peak load win be reached-S5. 600 OF
them.
The billet at Otter Lake, Mich. II
typical Of the Legion's method o
handling this important phase OF serv.
ice work. II Is neither an institution
nor an orphanage. It opportunities a
home as far as II is humanity possible.
Instead Of having one big dormitory,
the way most institutions are run. the
Legion has small cottages OF from
four to six rooms. Nine children at
the most are housed In one building.
where they are looked after by
house mother. The children dress as
other children. with no semblance Of
uniformity. They attend public school,
leaving in the morning, taking their
lunch, and returning about Ave O'Clock
In time to play until supper time.
The Otter Lake billet which is the
first regional billet, now cares for 20
with three houses built and
ground broken for two more These
are OF every extraction Hun
garian. Polish, French. italian and the
ike. Many OF them came to the billet
In extremely poor health. emaelated
and undernourished.
Overlooking Otter lake, one Of the
prettiest OF Michigan's thousand lakes,
the billet Is ideal for health purposes
and, under the guidance Of Mrs. Eva
supervising mother. the food
prepared is based on bodybuilding
needs. DIR. o. johnson, the superin-
tendent, looks after the health Of the |
.hIldren and not one case Of serious |
illness has been reported since the /
,lllet got under way.
The need FOR more room TO handle
he fatheriess children Is manifested |
" the constant requests for permits
don TO send children to the billet. A |
Waiting list ample in size has con-
Tinced he Legionnairea that they
iced more space As fast as the
money Is available such expansion Is
aking place.
The Michigan billet was frst begun
q an activity OF the Michigan depart
nent of the Legion, with help by the
legislature. However, when the ma
Ional organization Of the Legion went
atoa the problem, Michigan gFaei0usly
urned over her billet to the national
ody.
The second child billet is now under
ray at Independence. Kans. John r.
luinn, national commander Of the LIE
ION. recently dedicated q 4O0-acre
ract of land, where the second series
I cottages will be erected. Kansas
aised 100000 to insure completion /
{ the project by a state wide drive
,r funds. The tract Of land was the
lit of Daniel Dahney. whose two sons
ere killed In aeff0n while serving
ith the American forces In France.
Net only does the Legion care for
lfldren In regional bIllets. but It also ]
Tres for them In childless families.
GLOWING precedents established by
,claI workers. the Legion seeks about J
n ex-seryice men who have no fami- {
Is and who wish to rear one Of the {
aifz of war and allows them to
Iopt one. The Legion takes excep- 4
5nai care IN investigating circum- =
ances 80 thar the child win get the
nder care rightfuIly due.
In other instances the Legion has
und that the mother does NOT wish
be separated from her chIld. In
Oh an event the Legion furnishes
sg support . :
The need for such welfare work is q
owed when II Is known that the I
vernmenf does NOT compensate a Z
dow sufficiently TO insure adequate =
ppurt. A widow with no children :
.elves but SIS o month. With one .
Id. she gets ssS. and 90 for each adj y
ionnI child. AS q result. II is neces 9
" for her to work TO Support her !,
1. and II her child Is very young she .
st place Il In a nursery. II the j.
Id Is but a few years Of age the =
gion has found thar Il runs wild
j, In many cases. the environment "a
sueh that h becomes q @amln
me child welfare activities Of the
gien are the most important. next =.
the care OF the disabled on the Lee =.
MS program OF national service =,
Legion Af@n VIA Frss@sf 70