FROM THE DESK OF
Randy D. Edwards
Department Commander 2013-2014
The American Legion Department of Utah
Committees Reports
Thank you for a great year. As your Commander I feel it an obligation to report our 2013-2014 activities. Each of our Committee Chairs will have the opportunity to write the Department Committee Reports and report the active role we each play in Utah. We should always demand leadership accountability from our Department to represent us in a manner that you elected them.
Personal success is not something that is consistent, because personal success is different for everyone. When we work our hardest to be our best – that is success. I am honored to work with so many individuals who work for us daily always giving their best like Greg Rowley and Virginia McKay. To have advisors assist us with difficult issues like Greg Rowley, NEC, Terry Schow , Bill Christofferson, Past NEC, Judge Advocate Bob Jones and our Department Service Officers Hans and Ken, - as they have on many occasions. Area Commanders that have the working relationships with their District Commanders and District Commanders that works with our Post Commanders and Adjutants where the real work gets done.
This year our Motto is “Pride in Ownership”. Our Department Service Pin is a Special Forces patch insignia representing an elite group of Soldiers. Captioned in the airborne tab is “Pride in Ownership”. Under the tab is an “Arrowhead” representing the Silent Indian culture taught us to serve quietly and reverently. Centered in the sharp point of a spear always piercing forward. In the center of the “Arrowhead” of the patch is the “emblem of The American Legion”. Taking pride in our Organization, duties, responsibilities and honoring the 4 Pillars of - The American Legion - Youth, Americanism, National Security and our honored Veterans. Missing are the “3 lighting bolts” that would represent Retain, Renew and Recruit. Remembering that membership is the Life and Blood of every organization.
Together we fulfilled our requests for the Department making Utah the best Department in the nation providing help and support in completing all our goals and projects. We have had over 6 Blood Drives that give tribute to Collin Rowley, who show us everyday how he and his family are examples of a family caring and providing support and comfort to others above their own. His example is “Selfless Service.” Of all the values we can posses in the “Army Values” - It is the most honorable value above all the rest. Collin’s young life with mature living examples to help others in his struggles is testimony for all of us providing the reason for “Gift of Life” to others.
We completed all our Department Service Projects by helping the Auxiliary in the Christmas Gift Shop. We put up and took down 3 Christmas trees for our Veterans in the VA George Whalen Veterans Hospital and Administration Building. We raised and are still raising funds for our National Commander’s Project the National Emergency Fund (NEF). (I hope every Post presents their committed request of .50 cent per member during convention.) We held our Department Executive Meetings (DEC’s). We held our Department Veterans Day, Christmas Socials and hosted our National Commander, Western National Vice Commander, Our National Commander Elect and for the first time ever our National Son’s of The American Legion, Vice Commander. We participated in the landscaping and dedication of the “Utah Veterans Fallen Warrior Memorial” in Fort Douglas, Native Indian, “Warrior Memorial” in Duschene, Dedication and The “Utah Freedom Memorial,” in Sandy.
We participated in legislation that provided Boys’ and Girls State funding through education, Gave the Veterans Service Organizations (VSO’s) a prominent chair on the Governors Commission Committee, and allowed us to provide our own representatives rather than be selected. We supported the “Vietnam Day Recognition” and “Call a Soldier Day” in support to Veterns Suicide Awareness. We provided Legionnaires for a “Veterans Day Telethon”. We provided Flag Ceremonies, Details, Funeral Honors and Retirements. In a plea from the “Governor’s Day” to “Support Suicide Awareness”, we took action and provided a 2 day “Volkswalk” in Awareness to Veteran’s PTSD, TBI and Suicide. We took action. In pushing words in to action I hope that by the end of this Department Convention we can take Resolutions of “Veterans Consensus”, “SAVE Program”, and “Inclusive Service Star Banners and Flags” resolutions to National.
In summary: We have accomplished much more than this. (Just look at your Post level events and programs) It is the Department’s desire that we receive 100 – “Post Consolidated Repots”. It is not the bragging rights we ask – it is the reason for our consolidated efforts to let Congress and local leadership know what we do. It is an opportunity for you and your Posts to validate how important you are to your Communities, States and Nation. Consolidated Reports are your purpose to stand before your cities, towns, and County Commissions and let them know how valuable you are to their communities so when the time comes and you can not exist to provide funds for your meeting spaces - They will provide you the space at no cost because of your importance to National Security visibility, Youth Programs, Americanism, Patriotism and the expert advisor American Legion organization in support for the need to provide assistance to our Veterans.
This year at “Boys State” I was moved as the Boys clasped arms around each other from City, County and a Nation in the song “We are the Champions”. For that few minutes in song they were not divided cities they were a Nation – so strong that nothing in this world could have separated them. It is this moment in my departure we Are the Champions. We are the largest Veterans Organization in the world because of each and everyone of us. Let us never be divided by other VSO’s, Wars that we were associated with, Branch of Service we served or race, religion, Creeds and gender. May we always remember that we are one of Veterans united. Thank you for your trust and confidence that allowed us to represent you this past year. Thank you for your support and hard work. We worked our hardest to be our personal best – we succeeded - above and beyond because we were one voice - and for that we were successful. Linda and I are grateful for this wonderful year to have served you. This is our report.
For God and Country
Randy D. Edwards
Commander (2013 –2014)
Department of Utah
The American Legion
