Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-08-15
Text OF Truman Talk at Dedication


Washington headquarters of the
American Legion. I wish the
Legion every success in it's new
home.
1 have been thinking back to
the early days Of the American
Legion, right after World War I.
You know, I was pretty active in
Legion affairs back in those days.
1 helped to establish four different
Legion posts in Missouri and I'm
still member of all four of them.
We didn't start this organiza-
ton just to look out for our own
interests as veterans or to give us
an excuse for reminiscing about
what heroes we had been. We
Started this orangization so we
could work together as patriotic
citizens for the good Of all Ameri-
cans.
That is what we have been try
ing to do for the last 30 years.
Proud of Record.
Not everything we have done
has been perfect, but the record
is one to make us proud. The
American Legion has been a
powerful and constructive force
in American life.
The Legion has been in the
forefront Of the fight to establish
the best system of help and care
for veterans that any country ever
had in the history of the world.
The Legion has done wonderful
work for the welfare of children.
1t established a National Child
Welfare Division in 1925, and
since then it has carried on a full
fiedged program helping to pro-
vide home care for needy chill
dren.
Another of the Legion's princi-
pal detectives has been to help in
achieving a sound national de-
Tense. At its first national con-
vention in 1919, the Legion
adopted a resolution urging a pol
icy Of universal military training.
1t has consistently supported that
policy from that day until this.
appreciate that support very
much because have recon-
mended universal training to the
Congress at least seven times.
I am glad to be able to say that
We have finally made some real
progress on this issue. On June
IL, l signed into law the Univer-
sal Military Training and Service
Act. This is great step toward
sensible. long range military
program for our coun-
try. You know, that effort was
started in 1890 by George Wash
1ngton himself and we've Just now
got it done. We work expeditions
ly in matters of that kind.
Other Detectives Cited,
The Legion's interest in nation
al defense has extended far be-
yong universal training-it has
extended to all the measures
needed for the protection of our
country. In recent years, the or
ganization has supported unifica-
ton Of the armed services. It
has supported the North Atlantic
Treaty and military aid for Eu-
rope and our own rearmament
This participation by the Legion
IN our national defense activities
is a very healthy thing. The
of the Legion who have
served their country as citizen
soldiers know how important it is
to defend our country from its
enemies. And they know that
citizens must take an active part
IN these matters if we are to
maintain our tradition of civilian
control over the military estab-
lishment.
1t is natural for the Legion to
be especially concerned with vet
Grams affairs and national de-
tense. But am glad to say that
the American Legion has never
considered its responsibilities to
be limited to those fields. It has
recognized from the beginning
that its members are not only vet
Grams; but. more important, they
are also citizens of a great re-
public with all of a citizens duties
and responsibilities.
Quotes From Legion Constitution.
In the preamble to the Legion's /
constitution, its members pledged
MISUNDERSTANDING other things
to uphold and defend the Con-
stitution of the United States . i
to foster and perpetuate a hun
bred per cent Americanism !
to safeguard and transmit to
posterity the principles of justice,
freedom and democracy"
At the present time, it is espe- /
cially important for us to under
stand what these words mean and
to live up to them.
The keystone of our form of +
government is the liberty Of the
Individual. The Bill of Rights,
which protects our individual lib
critics, is the most fundamental
part of our Constitution.
When the Legion pledged it.
self to uphold the Constitution,
and to foster 100 per cent Amer
.canism, it pledged itself to pro-
sect the rights and liberties of all
our citizens.
Real Americanism means that .
we will protect freedom OF speech
we will defend the right of peo-
pie to say what they think, re-
CARELESS Of how much we may
disagree with them.
Real Americanism means free
dom of religion. It means that
we will not discriminate against
a man because of his religious
faith.
Attacks Prejudice.