SR 22, aS ADOPTED BY SENATE, mARCH 13, 2019

senate resolution no.22

Senators Bizon, Barrett, Outman, Hollier, Nesbitt, Daley, Chang, Johnson, Stamas, Victory, Theis, Horn, Lauwers, VanderWall, Bumstead, MacDonald, MacGregor, Ananich, Moss, Lucido, Santana, Zorn, Runestad, McBroom, Schmidt, LaSata, Alexander, Bullock, McCann, McMorrow, Polehanki and Irwin, Barrett, Outman, Hollier, Nesbitt, Daley, Chang, Johnson, Stamas, Victory, Theis, Horn, Lauwers, VanderWall, Bumstead, MacDonald, MacGregor, Ananich, Moss, Lucido, Santana, Zorn, Runestad, McBroom, Schmidt, LaSata, Alexander, Bullock, McCann, McMorrow, Polehanki and Irwin offered the following resolution:

A resolution to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the American Legion.

Whereas, A group of World War I service members gathered in Paris, France on March 15, 1919 to organize a new veteran service organization; and

Whereas, The American Legion has been a staunch advocate for veterans and their families since 1919; and

Whereas, The American Legion began its journey when Colonel Fred M. Alger was appointed Chairman of the Michigan Temporary Committee of the New York meeting which met under the leadership of Theodore Roosevelt Jr.; and

Whereas, The American Legion of the Department of Michigan held its first meeting in the Hotel Statler in St. Louis, Missouri; and

Whereas, The American Legion of the Department of Michigan was then divided according to Congressional Districts with George C. Waldo as Temporary Chairman, Benjamin B. Bellows as Temporary Vice Commander, and Lyle B. Tabor Temporary Adjutant; and

Whereas, The American Legion Department of Michigan was incorporated under a State Charter and headquartered in Detroit. The headquarters relocated to Lansing in 1974, while maintaining a Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation office in Detroit; and

Whereas, The American Legion Department of Michigan has fulfilled the Legion’s mission since 1919 through programs such as Boys State, Scouting, an American Legion Hospital, American Legion Children’s Home, the American Legion Riders, Baseball, Accredited Veteran Service Officers, and many others throughout the decades; and

Whereas, The American Legion was founded on the four pillars of care for veterans, a strong national defense, Americanism, as well as our children and youth; and

Whereas, The American Legion has played a leading role in initiatives and breakthroughs that have affected the lives of Americans in every community, from the United States Flag Code to the GI Bill; and

Whereas, The American Legion is celebrating its centennial anniversary on March 15, 2019 and we want to thank The American Legion Department of Michigan and the veterans it serves for one hundred years of dedicated service and commitment to all Michigan Veterans; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the American Legion and honor all 56,567 members who live in the state of Michigan and the 2 million members who live in the United States; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the American Legion’s Commander of the Department of Michigan.