AMERICAN LEGION WEBSITE RESPONSIBLE FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF BALLOTS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION
President George W. Bush and former Vice President Gore are both Legionnaires and both fought an extraordinary battle during the last election. The American Legion remained nonpartisan during that process, nevertheless there can be no doubt that active duty military personnel and veterans were a significant factor in determining the outcome of the election. However, there were a significant number of military ballots being rejected due to the lack of postmark. American troops are deployed to more than 130 countries and aboard ships on the high seas around the world. They have no control over the system that processes and delivers their mail. In many instances it is impossible to obtain a postmark on military mail. For example, troops that are deployed in so-called "peacekeeping" missions post their mail "free," and it may or may not be postmarked. Therefore, the receipt date should be the controlling authority. Unless one of their absentee ballots is mutilated to the point that the person for whom they are voting cannot be detrermined, it should be counted. Ray G. Smith, the American Legion National Commander, will seek authority from the board of directors to draw up a statute that will ensure military absentee ballots are handled uniformly and accurately across the nation. Legionnaires will be working with congress and local state legislators to avoid the partisan politics that happened in the last election. The American Legion's "Veterans Vote 2000" on-line internet poll was heavily promoted to men and women in uniform, especially targeting service members overseas. it provided a means for the military to obtain their absentee ballots. By conducting "Veterans Vote 2000" it gave military voters the option to compare the positions of both candidates. Each candidate expessed in their own words the issues of national security, protection of our U.S. flag, active duty military and veterans health care, along with other concerns that are of vital interest to America's military people. Although the American Legion did not advocate or endorse either candidate, it provided facts that were not being adequately discussed before veterans and military people. This allowed each person to decide for themselves which of the candidates views most closely mirrored thier own. The men and women in the military are the protectors of freedom and democracy. They have guaranteed the right of the citizens of the United States to vote throughout the history of this nation. The military vote is particularly a right of men and women who stand against a hostile world. Many have fought and died for it, many have fought for it, and many still fight for it.
WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS:
Robert A. Bowman Jr.
James Cantrell Daniel Haiston Jr.
Paul Holt
Nestor Makahon
Dale E. Moses
Edward Nundahl
Clarence Patrick
Chief Petty Officer Larry Hebert USN
Captain Kevin Morse USA
Meetings at 7:00 PM every 3rd Tuesday of the month. Please try to attend if you can.
Celebrate the American Legion Birthday at the Post home on March 17th. Roast beef dinner and a speaker about the birth of the American Legion.
Annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Lancaster Primary School at 12 noon on the 10th of April.
12th District Conference at Spotsylvania Post 320 on March 24th.
Walter Balsley received his Korean War Service Medal for his service in the 45th Div in Korea 1953-54. Later assigned to the 5th Infantry Division and promoted to Sergeant and Squad Leader. He was part of the Inchon landing and later manned an outpost on Heartbreak Ridge. He also participated in the battles of Sandy Creek and Christmas Tree Hill.
We are saddened by the loss of John P. Murphy and Betty Davis. We have expressed our condolences to their families.
MANY MORE DETAIL IN THE KILMARNOCK LEGIONNAIRE NEWSLETTER.IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A COPY AND WISH TO HAVE ONE CONTACT GARY NUNDAHL AT PO BOX 1982, KILMARNOCK, VA 22482.
