AMERICAN LEGION
Department of Utah
Friends of The American Legion
It is an honor to represent The American Legion as the Department Commander of Utah this year.
I come to represent the State of Utah at a time where our Past Commander Bill Dunlap leaves with the distinct honor of” Department Commander Excellence Award” as Department Commander”. 103% Membership receiving “The 100% Department Membership Award” Which gave us the “Most Improved Department in Category IV. For the Nation. And we received the Distinguished Award of “The 100% Target Date Award.”
The Utah Department was the envy of our National Organization and we were honored to sit in front rows at the National Convention and be called on stage to receive the National 100% Membership Award in front of the entire Delegation.
We have a legacy to follow. With our distinguished NEC Committee Chair Bill Christofferson retiring we have a lot to do to continue to be recognized.
As the Department Commander I want to make a clear statement of why we belong to The American Legion and why it has been important for me to keep my personal membership current year after year.
It was after I retired from my civilian employment that I realize there was a reason and an explanation to why I stayed a member to this great institution and how you have become my family. We have a common relationship, soul bonding commitment to those like ourselves who needed companionship, give us self –worth to support and volunteer in our communities and be available to our fellow brethren in arms.
An honor we can all say to ourselves no matter how long we served. We are all honorably discharged war - time veterans
We voice for the American veteran and for our brothers and sisters still serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
We believe that our elected officials try to break promises made to those of us who have honorably served our country, during times of war and times of peace, we are here to sound the alarm of moral and lawful responsibility to protect our Veteran rights.
We understood that along with the price of freedom and liberty that we were charged with the responsibility to protect those rights and liberties. So is it in retirement we spend our time voicing, lobbying them and talking to anyone who will listen. Apathy is not our life style. We make choices because if we do not someone will make them for us. Glen Beck just said in a meeting I attended last week “ If we want Government to do less…We need to do more.”
We are here to say we will not tolerate inadequate healthcare for our wounded veterans.
We will not tolerate reductions in retirement benefits, we will not tolerate the robbing of monies meant for veteran’s programs, we will not tolerate the abandonment of a surviving spouse and children by our government.
We are here to make calls to and write to our elected officials and work with them when we can provide solutions and answers.
We are here to spread the word to all people… civilian, veteran, and our young active military Service men and women about injustices perpetrated by our elected officials upon those who have shed blood and died to protect our American way of life.
We are here to hold our government accountable and help ensure that America’s veterans and service men and women get what they were promised and what they have earned.
We set in our Mayors Veterans Councils, Our county Veterans Council and our Governors Veteran Council to assist, advise, monitor and voice the opinions and needs of our Veterans. I have come to realize that everything important in America happens at the local Post level.
The American Legion members are two and a half million membership strong (And that does not include the Auxiliary and 360,000 Sons of the American Legion and the ever growing Legion Rider membership).
Our objectives are supporting the 4 Pillars of American Legion that support Veterans Rehabilitation, Americanism, Child Welfare and National Security
We are members of The American Legion because we are bound to do good and promote peace and good will.
If you are looking for the right gift for the family member that has every thing or you want a great stocking stuffer this Christmas, or if you want to do something surprising, for a birthday, holiday, or anniversary. If you want to purchase the perfect gift of preserving our great country and want to support The American Legion Values…. buy the membership that keeps on giving peace, Freedom, Liberty and “Pride in Ownership” with in your own community. I urge you to buy the patriot spouse or patriot member of your family a membership to The American Legion, Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion or The Legion Riders.
Every member of my family now has a membership because I believe in what we represent and set as examples to our Country.
I am involved and dedicated because I want an accounting of our country who sat back and let things happen like: Obama Care, Weapons Control, Gas Prices, Lost homes, Welfare escalation, Grant regulations, Government controls, Office of Personnel Management to take 6-8 Months for our retired employees to get their full retirement checks, We complain about VA backlog, there is no excuse our seniors have to wait for Office of Personnel Management (OPM) retirement checks when they worked for 30-40 years for their government employer.
We want to make our statement clear of why we belong to The American Legion and why it is important for us to keep our membership current year after year. “It’s Pride in Ownership” supporting an organization that gives 100% of it’s money to the program it was intended for with no administrative costs to distribute it.
We are Americans and we believe in our Flag, the Constitution of the United States of America and our Bill Of Rights that are our determining factors of who we are and what we believe as Americans.
We believe in and have faith in our Youth the Boys and Girls Stators the future of our great country.
We believe that “In God we Trust” and without him we have no purpose.
In Conclusion: We are not Ordinary…We are Extraordinary Americans still serving our country.
James Barnney said and I quote “Those that keep their “Attitude” in “Gratitude” despite life’s adversities are those that eventually triumph over doubt and failure.”
If our posts are small and we have no hope to be active. Keep your positive attitude. Have the gratitude of those that were before you that struggled as you are. Despite life’s adversities the time and season and the right person will come along when you need them the most and you will triumph. Together as an American Legion Family we will not fail.
For God and Country
Randy D. Edwards
Commander
Department of Utah
The American Legion
