American Legion Day

WHEREAS, the American Legion was chartered by Congress on September 16, 1919, as a wartime veterans organization based on the four pillars of Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, and Children and Youth; and

WHEREAS, McCrary-Moody Post 34 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was created on November 26, 1919; and

WHEREAS, Edward Montgomery, a longtime resident of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, has been an active member of the American Legion for the past 68 years; and

WHEREAS, Alvin Dupont, former mayor of the City of Tuscaloosa has been a continuous member of the American Legion for the past 60 years; and

WHEREAS, Lee A. Hallman, a retired naval officer and former Licensing Commissioner from Tuscaloosa is a loyal member of the American Legion and has been for 57 years; and

WHEREAS, Leroy McAbee Sr., a longtime resident of the city of Tuscaloosa has been a strong supporter of the American Legion for the past 51 years; and

WHEREAS, the American League Baseball program was created on July 1925, and the Post 34 baseball team has won 24 state championships since 1944; and

WHEREAS, the Tuscaloosa American Legion and the University of Alabama hosted 1,000 students attending the Boy’s and Girl’s State during the summer of 2014; and

WHEREAS, the Tuscaloosa American Legion conducts the Annual American Legion High School Oratorical Contest in Tuscaloosa; and

WHEREAS, the American Legion is a large organization of men and women who have stood to defend our nation in time of war and who continue to stand for a strong national defense in a changing world. These members steadfastly work to preserve the fabric of the United States of America:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim September 16, 2014, as

American Legion Day

in the state of Alabama.