The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-05-29
American Legion Goals

AIllcIlCdII AcSlOIl NOdIO
Looking beyond Memorial day and the coming state
convention of the American Legion here and regarding
the everyday activities Of the organization these give
an impression entirely aside Of the military significance
of the term Service" men. One thinks of the projects
carried on for the sake OF others, OF community welfare,
of beneficences in behalf of comrades and OF children.
The idea that the Legion is a social organization drawn
together for the preservation of war memories, to make
whoopee now and then in conventions and to exercise
political cooperation fades away in the face OF its wei
fare work.
Here the Legion mainly works in behalf OF the boys
of the city, as %exemplified in Its sponsorship OF the jun
ior baseball league. which is meant to develop an outlet
for boyish spirits that otherwise might take q course
harmful in the development Of character. Good sports
manship is made a goal solely as q means to nurture
character, while the sport is provided as the heritage Of
all youth.
In some places the Legion has the means to under
take more ambitious sponsorships. Take the village Of
Otter Lake, Michigan, for example. There the Michigan
department Of the Legion is quietly and faithfully going
ahead with a task that never gets a great deal OF pub
licity but that provides, all by itself, q thoroushgoins
answer to all of the critics Of the Legion.
At Otter Lake the Michigan Legionnaires have built q
modern hospital and q group Of cottages, on . 97-acre
tract of land in pleasant, rolling country.
This institution they call the "Children's Billet" It is
home for some 80 children, who otherwise would be hay
ing a pretty tough time Of it in this world.
Some Of these children are orphans-children whose
fathers, war veterans, and mothers are dead. Others
are the children of veterans who have run into tough
luck. Perhaps the father was left q cripple by the war.
Perhaps he has contracted tuberculosis or some other
disease that has ended his career as q breadwinner. The
mother, in some cases, is dead; in other cases. the father
is dead and the mother is left with children she cannot
support.
1r,o N6icbiwon T noionvoirce r4oke IL their business tn
look out for such children. When they find them they
bring them to Otter Lake. There the youngsters are
given homes. The dreary, soul-killing air Of the ordin-
airy orphan asylum" is missing. Instead the children
are made to feel that they are loved. They have good,
home-like rooms to sleep in. They have good food, ex-
pert medical attention, broad fields where they can play
and scanper about and build up their bodies.
If one or both parents are alive the Legion does what il
can to make it possible for a normal home life to be re-
sumed. Where the father or mother is entitled to . pen
sion the Legion sees to 1t that the pension is paid. II
disqualification is needed, it is obtained. II it Is q job
that is needed, the Legion does its best to supply one
Wherever it is possible things are arranged 50 that the
~children's stay at Otter Lake can be short. -
But where both parents are dead, or the home for any
other reason is hopelessly shattered-then the Legion sets
itself to give the children a break throughout childhood.
The Otter Lake Billet is an inspiring place to visit. 1t
is an inspiring place to read about. It Is one Of the fin
est things that any organization in America Is doing. You
might just keep it in mind the next time you are tempted
to think that the Legion is just another social or political
organization.