By By JACK WRIGHT
Chaplain-American Legion Post 90
We Americans know we live in the best country in the entire world. I have been able to visit some of the Third World nations and I tell you, we need to thank our God and heavenly Father for America. We hear a lot of negative things about our country and rightly so sometimes, but that doesn't give us the right or need to down what has been given to us by God and our forefathers who came here to have freedom.
All these many years, people before us have gone to great extremes to keep the freedom you and I know and enjoy. I am proud to be an American as Lee Greenwood so proudly sings.
I cannot forget what a privilege it is to be able to join any organization you want to be a part of. I would hope it would be a church first, but we veteran organizations in Atmore would be glad to have all eligible veterans join our membership and help in patriotic projects and programs we promote each year.
I served during the Korean Conflict and was very glad and proud to do so in order to carry on those dreams and freedom our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters fought for.
I am happy to be a member of the American Legion Post 90 here in Atmore. We have many things happening now and others will be coming in the future. I was so proud to be a part of the program our American Legion and local VFW held at Northview High School to honor all veterans, with the sponsorship of Northview's ROTC unit. They sure are doing a great job in many ways. We salute the school for seeing the need for that type of leadership for our young people who, I think with encouragement from you and me, can be led in the right direction.
Our American Legion Preamble to the Constitution reads:
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 INCULATE A SENSE OF INDIVIDUAL OBLIGATION TO THE COMMUNITY, STATE, AND NATION.
TO COMBAT THE AUTOCRACY OF BOTH THE CLASSES AND THE MASSES.
TO PROMOTE PEACE AND GOODWILL 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.
Please, Americans, don't forget those things your dads, moms, brothers, sisters, even those first pilgrims who landed on America's shores, fought and gave their lives for. So please when you see the American flag (Old Glory), honor it with pride, for many people have given their all for you.
Students and teachers, I encourage you to get involved in programs that promote patriotism. We here in Atmore recognize teachers, along with parents, as the most important leaders of those we have been entrusted with.
So come on, Atmore, let us be the patriots who those who came to this country fought and died for.
Happy Thanksgiving.