Badger
“For God & Country”
&“Wisconsin”
aire
January 17, 2013 Vol. 90, No. 1
Official Publications of The Wisconsin American Legion Family
www.wilegion.org
The mission of The American Legion, Department Of Wisconsin is to provide service to veterans, their families and their communities.
Oratorical Competition Scheduled Four Chaplains Service Date set for February 16, 2013 at Ripon College – Ripon, Wisconsin
The 74th Wisconsin Regional and Department Oratorical Contests are scheduled February 16, 2013 at Ripon College, Ripon, WI. Regionals will begin at 10 AM. The state finals will begin at 2 PM. The American Legion Oratorical Scholarship Competition is designed for high school students, including home schooled, who are looking for an academic challenge and enjoy public speaking. The contest was developed to increase awareness and appreciation for the Constitution of the United States. Participants develop leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly, and become prepared to accept the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship.
Students begin at the local Post level and progress through County, District, Regional and State Competitions. Winning orations are based on content and presentation. The subject matter is based on some aspect of the Constitution of the United States with emphasis on the duties and obligations of a citizen. Complete rules and information can be found at www.legion.org. • District winners eliminated at the Regional Competition receive $600 scholarships • 3 Regional winners receive $1,000 scholarships and compete for the State title • 2nd runner up receives an additional $1,000 scholarship • 1st runner up receives an ad-
ditional $1,500 scholarship • Department winner receives an additional $2,000 scholarship and competes at the National American Legion finals in Indianapolis, IN • Ripon College offers a $5,000 scholarship to each of the three Department finalists upon enrollment at Ripon College • National finalists rceive scholarships of: 1st place $18,000; 2nd place - $16,000; 3rd place-$14,000. If you are interested in volunteering to assist as a moderator, judge, host or helper, contact Kim Shanks at Department Headquarters. Kim can be reached at (608) 745-1090 or by e-mail at kim@wilegion.org.
2013 Badger Boys State
Important Information About This Years Session
• Session dates June 8-15, 2013 • Location–Ripon College Campus • Sponsorship is $250 per boy The Sponsor Chairperson is the person responsible at the local level to organize your Boys State Program. The Chairperson arranges for sponsorships, maintains contact with schools, and ensures the paperwork is complete and forwarded to the BBS Program Coordinator at Department Headquarters. Please keep in touch with your selections right up to opening Saturday. The initial mailing was sent to the Badger Boys State Sponsor / Chairperson and was mailed in November 2012. It included a Tri-Fold Program Brochure explaining the Program and a 2013 Reservation Card. The Reserva-
tion Card is used for sponsors to “reserve” a slot for as many boys as they intend to sponsor. This card is usually returned to Headquarters along with a check for $250 per boy sponsored by January 31. This is to ensure “Reservations” are available for each boy sponsored. The Badger Boys State Sponsor Chairperson should have already called on schools to inform the appropriate official about the program and how many boys will be sponsored. Upon receiving the white Reservation cards at Department Headquarters, a Registration Card is mailed for each boy selected along with an Alternate Card. The cards are clearly marked to distinguish between them. The
Registration cards are mailed when the reservation is received. Registration by the delegates must be completed online. The Registration Card is each boys commitment to attend. Registration cards are brought to Badger Boys State for registering and contain the medical consent information. To sponsor a boy, or for more information on the Badger Boys State program, contact Sandy Ryce at (608) 745-0341 or e-mail sandy@wilegion.org. Visit our website at www.badgerboysstate.com. –Russ Hanseter Chr. of Bd. BBS Inc
The Four Chaplains, also sometimes referred to as the “Immortal Chaplains”, were four US Army Chaplains who gave their lives to save other civilian and military personnel during the sinking of the troop ship USAT Dorchester on February 3, 1943, during World War II. They helped other soldiers board lifeboats and gave up their own life jackets when the supply ran out. The chaplains joined arms, said prayers, and sang hymns as they went down with the ship. The four men were relatively new chaplains, who all held the rank of first lieutenant. They included Methodist minister Reverend George L. Fox, Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, Roman Catholic priest Reverend John P. Washington, and Reformed Church of America minister Reverend Clark V. Poling. Their backgrounds, personalities, and faiths were different, although Goode, Poling and Washington had all served as leaders in the Boy Scouts of America. They met at the Army Chaplains School at Harvard University, where they prepared for assignments in the European theater, sailing on board USAT Dorchester to report to their
new assignments. Each year, ceremonies are held to honor the Four Chaplains, who set an example of service and sacrifice for us all. 2nd District – Four Chaplains Dinner and Observance will be held on Saturday, February 2, 2013, at Beaver Dam Post No. 146, located at 300 Beichl Ave, Beaver Dam. Cocktails start at 5:00 PM, Dinner at 6:00 PM, Ceremony to follow. 3rd District Observance – Four Chaplain’s Observance will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, February 3, 2013 at Oakwood Village – Prairie Ridge Campus, 5565 Tancho Dr., Madison, in the Tree of Life Chapel. The service will be conducted by Department Chaplain Robert Herried and Assistant Department Chaplain Greg Simonis. 5th District Observance– Four Chaplain’s Ceremony will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, February 3, 2013 at the Zablocki VAMC - Matusek Auditorium, 5000 W. National Ave., Milwaukee. The service will be conducted by 5th District Chaplain Ken Leidel and 5th District Commander Ensley Brown.
2013 Membership Goal: 59,760 • January 8th Total: 53,922 – 90.23%
1ST
2ND 3RD
4TH
5TH
6TH
7TH
8TH
9TH 10TH 11TH 12TH
Dist. 10 88.33%
Dist. 4 87.39%
Dist. 9 86.45%
Dist. 8 85.55%
Dist. 6 85.48%
Dist. 5 83.98%
Dist. 7 83.96%
Dist. 1 83.52%
Dist. 3 86.82%
Dist. 2 83.11%
Dist. 11 82.67%
Dist. 12 82.17%