The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-01
INDIANA LEGION
POINTS TO BIG
GAIN IN YEAR
Summary of Service for
1923 Source of Pride to
Members.

0pieHulu gains are reported 1og
the Department of Indiana of the
American Legion for The year thai
is ending.
1t faces new year with increased
membership and broadened facili-
ties for the service of the veteran
and the community, said Fred A.
wiecking, of Button, department
commander ELECT.
The disabled veteran and the or.
phaned and needy child of the ex-
serviceman are first on the program
of the Indiana Legion as they are
on the program of the national
organization. Valuable ground work
looking toward the location of a
three million dollar United States
veterans hospital to care for the
disabled in indianapolis, has been
laid by Legion committee of which
DR.. George A. Bowman, Of Indian
apolis, is chairman.
More than 1000 orphans of vet
Grams in this state through Legior
efforts have found a good home
either in private families or at
Knightstown.
Relief has been brought to scores
of disabled and needy veterans
through the service department OF
the Legion located at department
headquarters, d., Ross A. Cooper
of Carmel, state rehabilitation
chairman reports.
Immediate benefits derived for
Indiana veterans by this depart
nent between the periods of the
last two state conventions from the
United States veterans bureau
totaled $97, 699.39. Subsequently
monthly payments for disability in
the form of compensation increased
this by thousands of dollars.
Dependency compensation for
widows ad orphans of ex-servicenen
obtained by the service department
totaled $14,333.18 in the same period.
Claims of deceased veterans total
ing $44,475.60 were collected for de-
pendents.
Through the United States veter-
ans bureau, $4,027 for the burial of
veterans was obtained. Emergency
disqualification, food, lodging, and
relief were afforded to many addi-
tional Hoosier veterans.
The internal organization of the
Indiana legion was greatly I'M
proved. The membership of the
Indiana legion today is more than
double that of the same period of
last year. 1t is showing great sta
hility. The Indiana legion has made
great gains nationally, among other
things one of its distinguished
leaders, Paul V. McNutt of Bloom
inton was made national COM
mander at the San Antonio (Tex.)
convention; Frank M McHale of
Logansport, department. comman-
der, succeeding National Comman-
der McNutt as national executive
committeeman.
There are more laws on the
statute books in Indiana for the
benefit of World war veterans than
any other state, according to q
compilation made by Forest A.
Harness Of Kokomo, Judge advocate
Of the Indiana department of the
legion. The legion will continue to
seek assistance for the Indiana Sol
dier and Sailor Orphans Home at
KnightstoWn.
Tt will seek a full time service
officer, similar to those in many
other states, to be paid by the state
and to look after the needs of ex-
servicemen and their dependents. It
will seek the admission free OF
children Of deceased veterans to our
institutions of higher learning.
The Indiana legion has carried on
an abundance of community activ-
ity. 1t has promoted aviation and
the establishment of municipal air.
ports in the state.
Bring 5000 Boys Together
A junior baseball program under
the direction of State Athletic OF
ficer Robert w. Bushee OF Ossian
brought 3,200 Indiana boys together
in part of the national tournament.
The legion has sponsored Boy
Scout troops, engaged in get out
the vote" campaign and given school
awards.
Its community activities number
$50 that are almost as varied as
the individual posts, but all designed
to make the home town a better
place in which to live.
The Indiana legion has this year
seen to become reality the creates
World war memorial in the world,
located at indianapolis. The Indi-
ana legion conceived and backed the
legislation making this memorial
possible.
The auxiliary of the Indiana le-
gion has Loyalty supported. 1t turned
over to the Indiana legion $4,000
rom its poppy sales alone to be
used in relief work. The Forty and
Eight, play and fun society of the
Indiana legion, likewise has aided
the organization in It's progress.
The legion has become firmly in
trenched in the hearts Of the Indi-
ana people and It's opportunity for
service is boundless, said nepart-
ment Commander-eleet Wiecking.
uwnR M IA