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American Legion and Its Purposes published in the Franklin Tribune September 18, 1919

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Object of Soldier Organization is to Foster Americanism and Support Constitution.

During the past few weeks, there has been some talk of organizing a post of the American Legion at Franklin but no action has so far been taken. This is an opportune time to go into action. Posts have been organized in neighboring towns and the work is carried on with enthusiasm. There are more than sixty soldiers and sailors in the Franklin community and this number would make a strong post.
There seems to have been some doubt as to what the American Legion is, what it stands for and its purposes. The membership of the organization is defined in its constitution and its purposes are set forth in the preamble.
Article 11 of the Constitution is as follows: “All persons shall be eligible to membership in this organization who were in the military or naval service of the United States during the period between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, both dates inclusive, and all persons who served in the military or naval service of any government associated with the United States during the World war provided that they were citizens at the time of application, except those person separated from the service under terms amounting to dishonorable discharge, and except those person who refused to perform their military duties on the ground of conscientious objection.”
The preamble to the constitution reads as follows: For God and Country we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of Amers; To maintain law and order; To foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism; To preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the Great War; To inculcate a sense of individual obligation of the community, state and nation; To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; To make right the master of might; To promote peace and goodwill on earth; To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom, and democracy; To concentrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.”