Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 19, Number 11, DeMotte, Jasper County, 11 February 1949 — “FOR GOD AND COUNTRY” [ARTICLE]

“FOR GOD AND COUNTRY”

By Mildred Kelly

Serving the American Legion Auxiliary as National Chaplain is in my opinion one of the highest privileges that could be accorded any member. It has given me opportunity to analyze the Auxiliary’s program with the purpose of comparing the work laid out for us with the work prescribed by religion for its faithful. The keynote to the whole work of the Auxiliary is held in the words: “For God and Country” What more inspiring motive could we wish than the fact that we are privileged to serve God'and •Country through the medium of service to men, women and their families glorified by the fact that they have offered their lives in exchange for ‘‘Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men?” Thoughout each phase of our program the fundamentals are invariably those of religious teaching. Our work with the youth of the nation enables us to put into effect the old admonition, ‘‘Train pp a child in the way he should go.” Through our various activities with young people we help teach the value of honesty, fairplay. loyalty, self-reliance and fortitude. Through our Girls States and our support of the Legion’s Boys States we are helping girls and boys to learn to know and choose between right and wrong, to acquire the spirit of service and

sacrifice, to meet both victory gnd defeat, and to put into operation the Golden Rule: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” Community service gives us discipline along the line of unselfishness, for to acquire the thing best for our country community, we certainly cannot consider personal benefits first. To me, the outstanding example of opportunity for Christian endeavor found in the work of our organization is portrayed in our child welfare and rehabilitation programs. No matter what your talent—great or small—there is a place in the program for its effective use. To be successful in this, you must have brotherly love and a desire to serve your fellowman. This work is one of love and most surely the motivation must come from within. Where else can you find so clearly and literally put into action the true meaning of • the following scriptures? “For I was hungered and ye gave

me meat; I was thirsty and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger and ye took me in. Naked and ye clothed me; I was sick and ye visited me; I was in prison and ye came unto me. or “Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.” If you have never known the real joy of giving, then put yourself into this program of unselfish service and you will begin

to know what self-satisfaction can really mean. I have looked back into our record of service for the past 20odd years and have given you my appraisal of it as it appears to me. I trust that we in the American Legion Auxiliary may always

keep these high ideals and prinI ciples before us; that we will : have a unity of purpose, faith in i ourselves and our fellow-men, and ask our Heavenly Father’s guidance. Combining these will enable jus to render our greatest year of service—to our God, to our Country, and to our Auxiliary-