Officers Guide and Manual for Ceremonies - …

1 officer 'S. ** Guide **. And Manual OF Ceremonies . Preamble to the Constitution of The american legion FOR GOD AND COUNTRY. WE ASSOCIATE OURSELVES. TOGETHER FOR THE. FOLLOWING PURPOSES: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; To maintain law and order; To foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism; To preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the great wars; To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation;. To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; To make right the master of might; To promote peace and good-will on earth; To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; To consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.

2 american legion . officer 'S Guide . Post officer 's Guide District or County Commander's Guide Manual of Ceremonies NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS. THE american legion . INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46206. Consult the World Wide Web - The american legion Web Site - Post officer 's Guide Revised February 2001. (Thirty-Ninth Edition). Handbook for american legion Officers FOREWORD. The american legion officer 's Guide combines under one cover a handbook on general Post operations and procedures (Section I); a District/County Commander's Guide (Section II); the Manual of Ceremonies , in which all of the Ceremonies prescribed by the National Trophies, Awards and Ceremonials Committee are given (Section III).

3 And an appendix, which is a treasury of information on eligibility, parliamentary procedures, a suggested Post constitution and by-laws, and other subjects (Section IV). Publications are available from your Department Headquarters or from the National Headquarters on all of the major american legion programs. As these program publications are received or obtained, they should be turned over to the responsible Post Officers or committee chairmen. However, the american legion officer 's Guide is intended as the basic handbook issued by the National Headquarters to help american legion Officers fulfill their responsibilities. The community knows The american legion by its Posts.

4 In your community, The american legion is your Post. We hope that this handbook will help you in your many responsibilities and urges that you become familiar with its contents. As the year proceeds, you will receive through various Department and National publications additional information concerning specific programs and many suggestions for worthwhile activities. Should you have questions on american legion policies or procedures, your District officer can usually be of help. In addition, your Department Headquarters is always available for advice and information. When necessary, your Department Headquarters can also call on the National Headquarters for information, clarification, or assistance on any matter.

5 Note: This year, we have added some new information and/or updated some topics check the table of contents for [NEW] or [UPDATED]. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page Section 1 - POST HANDBOOK. 1..Inside Front Cover 2. Foreword ..ii 3. National Organization ..iv 4. Blueprint for the 21st Century ..1-1. 5. Post ..1-6. 6. Post ..1-21. 7. Post ..1-24. Section 2 - DISTRICT/COUNTY HANDBOOK. 1. What Is A District Commander..2-1. 2. Organizing the ..2-2. 3. District ..2-3. 4. Evaluating Post ..2-6. 5. Analysis of Post ..2-6. 6. The Value of Organized ..2-11. 7. New ..2-13. 8. Direct Renewal ..2-15. 9. Paid Up-For ..2-16. 10. Consolidated Post .. 2-19. 11. Project Stay Alive'.

6 2-19. Section 3 - Manual OF Ceremonies . 1..3-1. 2. Plan of Post Meeting ..3-3. 3. Alternate Plan of Post Meeting ..3-4. 4. General ..3-5. 5. Regular ..3-9. 6..3-15. 7. Installation of Officers ..3-24. 8..3-31. 9. Post ..3-36. 10..3-38. 11. Folding the Flag ..3-46. 12. Military Funeral Honors for Veterans ..3-46. 13. Patriotic ..3-47. 14. Flag ..3-56. 15. The Flag Code .. 3-62. 16. Prayers for Special ..3-66. Section 4 - APPENDIX. 1. National ..4-1. 2. National ..4-7. 3. New ..4-11. 4. Suggested Form of Post ..4-14. 5. Suggested Form of ..4-16. 6. Delinquency, Resignation and ..4-19. 7. Simplified Eligibility .. 4-20. 8. Parliamentary ..4-28.

7 9. Uniform Code of Procedure for the Revocation, Cancellation or Suspension of Post Charters ..4-35. 10. Practices and Procedure in ..4-40. 11. How to Write a ..4-44. 12. american legion Life Insurance Program ..4-46. 13. Drug Prescription Discount Program .. 4-47. 14. Surplus Military Equipment and Blank ..4-52. 15. american legion ..4-56. 16. The ..4-57. 17. Publication ..[UPDATED]..4-59. 18. Histories and ..4-61. 19. Helpful Hints for District (also County) ..4-70. 20. Child Welfare ..4-74. 21. Temporary Financial ..4-75. 22. National Emergency ..4-76. 23. Meaning of american legion ..4-77. 24..4-79. 25. National Headquarters ..4-87. SECTION 1.

8 A Blueprint for the 21st Century Purpose: A plan to provide Service to our veterans, their families and their communities is as solid today, in a period of high technology and lightning fast changes, as it was in 1919, when the founding fathers of The american legion met in Paris. They were true visionaries. Much of The american legion 's success rests on its understanding that the fight for veterans rights - past, present or future - is never-ending. While our purposes may remain unchanged, our capabilities must not. The environment is changing and we must stay in front of change to be this nation's leading advocate for veterans. For continued success, we must provide first rate service to our veterans throughout the next century, The basis for this blueprint is the Preamble to the Constitution of The american legion , which was finalized at the St.

9 Louis caucus in 1919 and reaffirmed at Minneapolis in 1994. This declaration reaffirmed the principles on which our great organization was developed (the Preamble Minneapolis Affirmation follows the 21st century blueprint information). And the method for applying this blueprint for success to american legion activities has not changed either. Personal contact at every level of leadership within The american legion is the catalyst that has made us successful in the past and will make us even more successful serving veterans in the future. Since our founding fathers gave us a sound, clear focus, we need to build on this direction as we seek every opportunity to excel in growth and membership in the 21st century.

10 21st Century Key Challenges: The key challenges facing The american legion in the 21st Century, as outlined by the National Executive Committee in October, 1997, have a common denominator to success -- personal involvement of legion Officers . Vision: Every american legion member must focus on service to the veteran, to their families and to the communities as their number one priority. legion Officers at every level must lead the way in reinforcing this vision. Goals: We must have goals to fulfill our vision of service. A mission statement should be in place that includes these goals and spells out a direction of where you and The american legion at every level should be in one, three, five and seven years.