No. 2815 March 13, 2002

AREA VICE COMMANDER

• Wheeler-Brooks Post #173 of Philip has endorsed Ron Millage for the office of Area Vice Commander for Districts 8, 9 and 13.

Congratulations to Cody Kenneth Horner of Wagner, SD who has been selected as the South Dakota American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year for 2002.

Cody is a member of Boys Scout Troop #261 in Wagner. He is the grandson of Legionnaire Arnold R. Horner of Greer Post #11 in Wagner.

Cody is a sophomore at Wagner High School. He plays football for the Wagner Red Raiders, is a member of the local FFA chapter, and participates in the 4-H shooting program in archery. He has been on either the "A" Honor Roll or the "Honor Roll of Excellence" every semester since seventh grade.

Cody’s Eagle Scout project involved building two cement pads for picnic tables near Wagner Lake. It was completed with the help of several dozen of his fellow scouts from Troop #261. The project was completed August 25, 2000. The cement was purchased and the forms were rented from the local building supply. The tables have been widely used during the July 4^th and Labor Day holiday periods as well as other times throughout the year.

Cody will now be nominated as a candidate for the National American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year competition. He will be recognized as the South Dakota American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year at the State Convention in Rapid City in June of this year.

An entry form is enclosed to each Post Commander for the 2002 American Legion Baseball season. If your Post will field a baseball team this year, the yellow-colored entry form must be completed with the name, address and phone number of the Post Athletic Officer.

The completed form, $70 entry fee and certificate of insurance must be sent so they reach State Headquarters by Wednesday, May 15. The fee will be $110 for registrations received May 16-31 and $150 for registrations received June 1-15. Teams not registered by June 15 will be ineligible for post-season tournament competition.

Teams will not be allowed to register until they prove that they have insurance, which is mandated by state and national rules. As a reminder, your team should not even commence practice until they have the required insurance.

Once a team is registered, State Headquarters will send a copy of the national and state rule books, a plastic-wrapped packet containing various forms from National Headquarters, plus pertinent information to the person named as the Post Athletic Officer.

The American Legion is 83 years old. It was in 1919 that World War I veterans were assembled in Paris to create what is now the world’s largest veterans’ organization, The American Legion. The meeting began March 15 and ended March 17.

The founders, all military men serving in Europe, were trying to organize a fraternity of veterans following World War I. Congress incorporated The American Legion on September 16, 1919, and the organization held its first convention November 10-12, of that year in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

A past National Commander of The American Legion once stated that the Legion was formed "by an inspired group of Americans who decided to join with their fellow wartime veterans so they could ‘stick together’ upon returning home to the states.

After eight decades, "the idea seems to have stuck," the Commander continued. "We are upholding those principles (upon which the Legion was founded) and carrying forth the programs that reflect "America Learns, America Loves, and America Lives Through The American Legion."

From its first membership of 843,013, the Legion has grown to include 2.9 million veterans who served in all eight American wartime eras from World War I to the current war on terrorism, Operation Enduring Freedom.

Today, there are more that 19 million American military veterans eligible to join our organization. Since August 2, 1990, every man and woman serving on active duty is eligible for membership. More than 60 percent of reserve and National Guard members are eligible. New members can always find opportunities for service in this many faceted organization.

We bridge racial and religious differences and cross all economic and social barriers in building a force of 2.8 million men and women who simply want to make our wartime service and sacrifice count for something positive for America.

This year as we celebrate 83 years of comradeship, let us take pride in continuing the legacy. We are American Legionnaires.

We are "Still Serving America.

April 1 is the deadline for all fees and registrations for delegates to the 2002 session of South Dakota Boys State to be in the hands of Registrar Wyland Borth.

The fees and registrations should be sent to Borth at 110 W. Prospect, Apt. E, Pierre, South Dakota 57501. The fee has been increased to $115 per boy this year.

Boys selected for Journalism City at the 2002 Boys State session have been selected and notified. Remember, Journalism City boys do not count against the regular quota system, which is based upon enrollment figures sent in January with information and registration cards to all schools.

Spring District Conventions will commence Tuesday, April 2, when Legionnaires from District 3 meet in Estelline. District 3 Commander Bob Ching of Castlewood will conduct the meeting.

The business session will start at 8:00 p.m. in the Estelline American Legion Hall. A social at 6:00 p.m. and a banquet at 7:00 p.m. will precede the business meeting.

The District 3 Auxiliary will also meet at 8:00 p.m. in the Estelline Community Center.

The remainder of the Spring District Conventions will be in accordance with the following schedule.

Wednesday, April 3 – Dist. 2 – Arlington

Thursday, April 4 – Dist. 6 – Ethan

Friday, April 5 – District 7 – Tyndall

Saturday, April 6 – Dist. 1 – Centerville

Wednesday, April 10 – Dist. 11 – McIntosh

Thursday, April 11 – Dist. 10 – Gettysburg

Friday, April 12 – Dist. 5 – Cresbard

Saturday, April 13 – Dist. 4 Big Stone City

Thursday, April 18 – Dist. 8 – Reliance

Friday, April 19 – Dist. 9 – Philip

Saturday, April 20 – Dist. 12 – Lead

Sunday, April 21 – Dist. 13 – Rapid City

Saturday, April 27 – Dist. 14 – Leola

The 57^th Annual South Dakota American Legion Bowling Tournament will begin the weekend of March 16-17 at the Winner Bowling Center in Winner, SD. Entry forms were sent to Post Adjutants with an earlier edition of the Up To Now.

The teams, doubles and singles competition will continue the weekends of March 23-24..

The event is hosted by Winner American Legion Post #169.

Nine members of the South Dakota American Legion are returning from Washington, DC after having participated in the annual American Legion Washington Conference. After a send off of ice and snow in Sioux Falls on Saturday, March 9, the group enjoyed spring-like weather in the nation’s capitol.

After a couple of days of attending various meetings of committees and commissions to which they are assigned, the attendees participated in Hill Day on Tuesday, March 12. Hill Day commenced with a national Legion Legislative Rally in the morning, followed by a trip to Capitol Hill by South Dakota Legionnaires, along with Legionnaires from across the nation. On the Hill, Legionnaires met with members of the South Dakota Congressional Delegation and discussed legislative items of interest and concern which are on the legislative agenda of The American Legion. The day ended with the National Commander’s Reception at the hotel to honor all members of Congress.

On Wednesday, March 13, several of the South Dakotans attended the National Commander’s Public Relations Luncheon prior to beginning their trips back to South Dakota.

Those participating in the Washington Conference this year were, State Commander Vern Sip; NEC Paul Evenson; State Adjutant Ron Boyd; Don Clarke, Vice Chairman of the National Security Commission; Don Mason, member of the Public Relations Commission; Ron Tolrud, Region 6 member of Children and Youth; Darrell Haskell, VA&R Region 6 Vice Chairman, Wayne Vetter, VA&R Executive Section; and Gerald Goetzinger, member of the Membership and Post Activities Committee.

The next membership target date is March 17, The American Legion’s Birthday. To qualify for the awards listed in the 2001-2002 Post Adjutant’s Administrative and Awards Manual, membership cards and certifications must be in State Headquarters on or before March 17. Awards available on this target date include:

$250 cash award to the District in each of two goal-size categories that have the highest percentage over that District’s goal (must be over 100%).

District delegations at the State Convention will be assigned seating areas in the convention hall in an order based on the percentage of membership attained by this target date.

March 17 is also the deadline for qualifying to the Post Go-Getter Medallion for having exceeded 95% of goal.

Parade banners and determination of parade position will be based on membership attained by this date.

MEMBERSHIP – 2002 membership totals 25,676.