If there are fewer and fewer World War II veterans, then there
are even less who served during World War I. That war was
called, "The Great War" and "The War to End All Wars." According
to my high school history teacher, Ralph Finchum, World War I
was fought "to make the world safe for democracy." Of course,
there have been numerous armed conflicts since the World War I
Armistice. And, an end to wars is nowhere in sight. On April 7,
1919, at the Hotel De Babriel, a huge military meeting took
place and one of the members was Sgt. Alvin York. The group's
purpose was to lay the foundation of an organization to which
all veterans who served during wartime could claim membership.
The result was the founding of the American Legion. Today, its
headquarters is in Indianapolis and has in the neighborhood of 3
million members. Various posts throughout the United States
organize commemorative and social events; lobby Congress for the
support of veterans'' pensions; sponsor boys' and girls' civic
education and is strongl