Left and sitting- Post 298 Commander Wes Simpkins Middle and standing- Secretary of Veterans Affairs State of Maryland Edward Chow Right and standing- Post 221 Commander, Past State of Maryland Commander, American Legion Legislative Chairman State of Maryland Gail Murdock

VETERAN THROWN OUT OF SUBWAY RESTAURANT BECAUSE OF SERVICE DOG

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Our quarterly Post 298 bingo provided to all residents of Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. Thank you to our fellow Post's, individuals who have contributed to Post 298 in allowing us to provide this activity to all who reside at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home

Charlotte Hall Veterans Home residents and Post 298 members providing memories to a local newspaper (The Enterprise) for Veterans Day. To read the article- click here

Willy Bellamy (above), US Marine Corps Tunnel Rat Veteran in Vietnam and Joe Hall (below), US Army 34th Division (Red Bulls) WW2 Veteran telling memories of combat and when under fire. Both are recipients of earning multiple Purple Hearts

Who is a Legionnaire and what is The American Legion?

From every walk of life they come. Every occupation, every creed, race and color. Men and women. Their single bond is honorable service in the uniform of the United States of America during many periods combative and non-combative periods of hostilities of our nations conflicts. We are veterans just like you. We care about America and our fellow veterans. Our families and our children. As a member of our Post, we continue to serve our God, our Country and our Community.

AMERICA NEEDS YOU! JOIN NOW!

Today, the American Legion, which began as "a movement" dedicated to preserving America by walking in the footsteps of America's Founding Fathers rather than transforming America, is the American Legionnaires of this day who continue to serve America in peace as they served in war, dedicated to protecting and preserving America as the "land of the free and the home of the brave" as envisioned by the Founding Fathers of America, and the Legion Founding Father veterans of WWI.

The American Legion, so constituted, and being faithful to its founding principles, has endured while, since its founding in 1919 and has remained strong because of the allegiance and fidelity of its members to the principles of the American Founding Fathers of America in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and its Bill of Rights, and Legionnaires' fidelity to the vision, values, goals, and principles of their Founders, particularly fidelity to the Ten Principles set forth in the American Legion Preamble.

Every veteran, and thus every Legionnaire, took an oath entering military service to "defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." All Legionnaires know when that oath of duty began. They also know when it ends—it never ends. The late Gen. Norman Schwartzkopf concisely stated a credo to which most if not all Legionnaires would agree: "Some things are worth fighting for. Some things are worth dying for. One of those things is freedom."

Today, every meeting of American Legionnaires begins with a reaffirmation of that their original oath as Legionnaires pledge their allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America under which they served.

The Pledge of Allegiance

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"I pledge allegiance"
(I promise to be true)

"to the flag"
(to the symbol of our country)

"of the United States of America"
(each state that has joined to make our country)

"and to the Republic"
(a republic is a country where the people choose others to make laws for them -- the government is for the people)

"for which it stands,"
(the flag means the country)

"one Nation"
(a single country)

"under God,"
(the people believe in a supreme being)

"indivisible,"
(the country cannot be split into parts)

"with liberty and justice"
(with freedom and fairness)

"for all."
(for each person in the country)

Every meeting begins also with Legionnaires of today reciting the Preamble to the American Legion as originally written and adopted by the WWI veterans who created the Legion in 1919.
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Preamble to the Constitution

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 inculcate a sense of individual obligation to 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 consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.

The Four Pillars of the American Legion

Strong National Security

Taking Care of Veterans

Mentoring Youth

Patriotism and Honor (Americanism)

I Fought For You

In memory of

Robert (Bob) Johnson
1936 - 2014

Korean War Army Veteran

Maryland Veterans Home Commission

Department of Maryland State Chaplain

Department Commander from 1995-1996, Department Vice Commander from 1992-1995, National Vice Commander from 2002-2003, National Executive Committee member from 200-2002, National Americanism Council Vice Chairman from 1982-2000, National Children & Youth Committee member from 2013 to his passing, National Children & Youth consultant from 2003-2006, National Children & Youth Commission member from 2006-2013, National Children & Youth Commission Liaison Committee member from 2000-2001, National Children & Youth Commission Liaison Committee Chairman from 2001-2002, and National Subcommittee on Committees member from 2001-2002.

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