Chaplain Center
God and The American Legion
Like our nation’s founding fathers, the veterans who founded The American Legion acknowledged God as the source of all our rights and freedoms. The Preamble to or Constitution begins,
For God and Country we associate ourselves together…
Apart from God, our history as a people has no meaning. In this faith our institutions were created, our laws enacted, and our liberties secured. To safeguard our sovereignty and our prosperity, that same belief must direct our political, social and economic paths today.
Conceding the erosion of moral and spiritual values in recent years, and recognizing our dependence upon God, The American Legion reaffirms its commitment to bring all Americans closer to their Creator and remind them of His proper place at the center of the nation’s life. “Service to God and Country” – it’s an American Legion program, yes, but the saying describes just as well our members’ attitude and way of life.
Nondenominational and nonsectarian, the Legion’s support for religion in the public square is basic Americanism. Rather than acting independently of religious groups, the Legion desires to cooperate with and join them in reminding the American people with one voice that God is the author and architect of our beloved “land of the free.” Without God, there is no Americanism.
The brochure “What To Do Before A Veteran Dies” is a good resource that Post Chaplains and other leaders can use to help during a difficult time for veterans and their families. It explains the importance of advance planning including the gathering of records and covers the many of the resources and benefits available to veterans. Service to God and Country National Chaplain’s Message National Chaplain, Ed Harris, Post 711, Indiana Four months that all chaplains must remember: February – The Four Chaplains Service is one of the most honored events that should never be forgotten.
May – Ensure that posts place a wreath on the grave of every veteran within their community, across the country over Memorial Day. “Let’s ensure that everyone’s has a wreath.” Post Everlasting is a poignant reminder for all of those who have passed on throughout the year and we must find the time to honor them.
November – Veterans Day is a time to a day remember the sacrifices made by those who served at home and abroad, each giving of their time. We must remember all veterans who came before us and that we [The American Legion] stand for something. Never forget.
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- December – Pearl Harbor Day
- Read more: National Chaplain’s Message
- Arlington National Cemetery
- The History of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Memorial Amphitheater
Remembering the Four Chaplains The first Sunday in February is Four Chaplains Sunday. More than 70 years after they made the supreme sacrifice, the story of these heroic chaplains – Methodist, Jewish, Roman Catholic and Dutch Reformed – is still being told.
On that day in February 3, 1943, a torpedo struck the ship USAT Dorchester reducing its time afloat on the surface of the Atlantic to only an additional 20 minutes. What happened during those few minutes is the reason we remember this day and the acts of courage and sacrifice that took place on her deck every year since.
Four first lieutenants gave the supreme sacrifice that day; each one an Army chaplain. They included Methodist minister, The Reverend George L. Fox, Reform-Rabbi Alexander D. Goode (Ph. D), Roman Catholic priest the Reverend John P. Washington, and Reformed Church in America minister, The Reverend Clark V. Poling. Their backgrounds, personalities and faiths were different. They had met at Army Chaplains School at Harvard University where they became friends as they prepared for service in the European theater, all sailing on board USAT Dorchester to report to their new assignments. All having one God as their father. The Four Chaplains: Forgotten Heroes of History
Read more about the Four Chaplains HERE and HERE
The following information is from the CalVet website.
During emotional times, times of chaos, and strife, prayers can give us all a spiritual connection. During such times, members of our Legion Family may want to share a prayer with their comrades. Prayers become an antidote for the anxieties of life.
Share your payer with your comrades by entering it into the “Comment” section below.
