The Wilmington morning star., 1947-06-14
Welcome, American Legion

North Carolina American Legion Con-
vention at Carolina Beach. To Legion
mares, the 40 ct 8 and to the Auxiliary,
all of Southeastern North Carolina ex-
tends a hearty handshake. We bid you
to make yourselves at home in u fine
beaches and towns, and we wish for
YOU the finest. convention in Legion his
tory.
Much of the four-day program cen
tering in activity around Carolina
Beach is devoted to entertainment and
amusement, but all will not be play for
these men who have fought two great
wars for their country. On the con-
trary, there will be serious matters to
be discussed and decided upon; mat
tiers which in their sum total will have
a considerable bearing upon all of us.
Policies OF the North Carolina depart
ment of the Legion and it's component
parts are to be determined, officers for
the new year are to be elected, and out
of this serious phase Of the convention
will come the lines of action that will
set the course for this organization
during the next IL months.
Two distinguished speakers of ma
tional prominence will bring important
messages to the convention and their
words we will do well to heed whether
or not we are members of the Legion.
They are Gen. Jacob l.. Devers, COM
handing general of the U. S. Army
Ground Forces and a distinguished war
rior whose military genius played a
great part in the Allied victories in
Europe during World War II, and Sen.
William B. Umstead, North Cardinals
junior representative in the U. S. Sen
ate, himself an officer of distinguished
service in World War I.
Registration for the convention be-
gins today, and by tomorrow evening
it is expected by convention officers
that more than $4,000 Legionnaires,
Auxiliary members and guests will be
signed in. Banquets, dances, band con-
certs, a beauty pageant, a spectacular
military Invasion" drill and drum and
bugle corps contest and a spectacular
fireworks show are just a few of this
conventions highlights. Probably no
other convention in the history of North
Carolina, and certainly none in the his
tory of southeastern North Carolina,
ever enjoyed a bigger list of activity
and attractions. For these Legionnaires
and others who will enjoy them, great
credit is due the host post of this years
convention, Carolina Beach American
Post No. 272. A small post in
comparison with many throughout the
state and only about a year old, the
Carolina Beach post has demonstrated
in its excellent preparations for this
years big convention that it must be
recognized as of the most aggres-
sive and lively posts in the state. To
William L. Farmer, general chairman,
himself a member of the post, also go
plaudits for untiring work and accom-
|plishment in preparing for this conven-
|tion. Likewise, the executive officers
of the North Carolina American Legion
department deserve high praise for
their cooperation and assistance in lay
ing the groundwork for the greatest
convention in Tarheelia Legion history.
Not to be overlooked in apprecia-
ton are the efforts Of the Navy de-
partment, the U. S. Marine Corps, the
U. S. Army and the Army Air Forces.
Their cooperation and untiring work in
planning the great Knock INVASION
spectacle to take place just south of
Garcia Beach Monday afternoon is an
example of fine coordination among
our Armed Forces when working to-
ward a single goal. With the assistance
of the Navy, 1000 Camp Lejeune
Marines of the End Division will simu-
late with spectacular realism the beach
head invasion tactics which did so much
to win victory against the Japanese.
All of North Carolina is grateful to the
Marine Corps and other branches OF