At least 100 American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary members from the 9th District gathered outside Post #173 in Versailles on Monday morning. It was a momentous occasion. The newly elected National Commander of the American Legion, Paul Morin, would soon arrive as a part of the National Commander’s Tour.

Ninth District Commander, C.T. “Sugo” Castner, gave some background information on the organization during the wait for Morin’s arrival via an American Legion tour bus, courtesy of American Legion Post #423 out of Orland.

The American Legion is the largest veteran’s organization with a membership of approximately 2.7 million. Based in Washington, D.C., it is the only organization of its kind with an official office inside the pentagon. Nationwide, the American Legion boasts 5,000 posts.

Morin and his entourage, his aide, Auxiliary President Vickie Koutz, Sons of the American Legion President Mike Sheets and many other department officers, arrived at the Versailles post promptly at 9:00 a.m. for breakfast and a brief address by Morin. The National Commander’s Tour Indiana leg will make whistle stops at 24 Indiana posts in five days between October 8-12.

Members of the 9th District were out in force to greet the new commander, and were rewarded with warm handshakes offered to every man and woman by Morin and his compatriots.

What was billed as a “light breakfast” was, in reality, a feast provided by the ladies of the post. The hall was filled to capacity. The atmosphere was one of respectful anticipation.

District Commander Castner spoke first. “We don’t get this opportunity very often,” he enthused. “We’re proud of it and I’m proud of it,” Castner told Commander Morin and the crowd. Castner, a 41-year member of the Legion, then introduced James Delaney, Commander of the American Legion Department of Indiana. Delaney said of Commander Morin, “He leads by example and results.”

Delaney went on to inform the gathering that Morin is a Vietnam veteran who has served as Department Commander and as a member of a number of national commissions. He chaired the Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission, as well as the Legislative and Employment Commissions and served on the Legislative Council and Commission. Morin is on a leave of absence as Superintendent of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke and a resident of Chicopee, MA. He will spend Thanksgiving and Christmas overseas serving our troops holiday meals.

To a standing ovation, Morin took the podium. One of his goals is to boost membership. To that end, Morin told the assemblage, “Legion membership is the best insurance card you can carry for benefits to veterans.” He encouraged members to recruit veterans and their family members to join the organization so that the men and women who are serving now will be taken care of.

Morin received another round of applause when he stated, “Serving our country is an honorable profession.” He explained that he recently visited the Walter Reed Hospital and sat down for one-on-one interviews with 14 service members who have suffered injuries sustained in combat. Morin said that each one of these soldiers reported that they were proud of their service and wished to return to active duty. He also said that these service men and women told him that the American presence overseas is making a positive impact. Morin praised, “They are what America is all about. We need to be their voice in America and we need to be the strength for Americans.” He encouraged the crowd, “Be there when they leave and send them off as heroes, and be there when they come back to welcome them home as heroes.”

Morin then shared his “front-burner issues,” things that are important to him to accomplish in his year of service as National Commander. He stated that the PERA Bill is a top priority. The PERA Bill protects public expressions of religion such as crosses on veterans’ memorials, the words “under God” in the pledge of allegiance, and “In God We Trust” on money. Morin noted that local congressman Mike Sodrel co-sponsored the Pledge Protection Act.

On the American Legion website, Morin is quoted as saying, “It is time to put an end to this outrageous exploitation of a law designed to encourage individual plaintiffs injured by racial discrimination to seek judicial relief,” and added, “some have twisted this civil rights legislation to achieve results the American Legion believes Congress never intended.”

Morin also addressed the issue of disabled veterans. He wants to see military commissaries serve disabled vets on the same basis as military retirees. Morin also wants past veterans to be allowed to use their Medicare benefits at VA facilities.

In closing, Morin once again encouraged local legionnaires, “We need to leave it to the next generation a better organization.”

CINDY DIFAZIO PHOTO The National Commander of the American Legion, Paul Morin, paid a rare visit to Southeastern Indiana earlier in the week. Here, Morin, (left) is shown shaking the hand of Versailles Post #173 Commander, Frank Braley (right).