Welcome Legionnaires
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VOLUME 7. NUMBER 35
PALMER. ALASKA. THURSDAY. JUNE 24. 1954
PRICE TEN CENTS
cm uiEiiComES IiEgiommires
CMDR. CONNELL
URGES CONTINUED
LEGION STRENGTH
Delegates to the American Le
gion 35th and the Auxiliary/ 31st
annual department convention
being held in Palmer this week
are well into their full four-day
program.
Today’s program opened at 9
a.m. with a business meeting for
Legionnaires at the Elks Home
and Auxiliary meeting at Moose
Hall.
Addressing the Legionnaires
this morning National Command
er Arthur J. Connell told dele
gates that the strength of the Am
erican Legion is in the individual
American Legion posts and in
dividual Legionnaires who under
stand Legion ideals and devote
their time and effort to putting
them into practice. ‘‘My objective
as Commander has been to en
courage and assist that work”, he
said.
He admonished those who will
soon be installed as past com
manders to continue serving the
Legion. He urged they take that
pledge seriously and make good
on it.
In reviewing Legion accomp
lishments during the past year
Commander Connell spoke of the
Legion’s role tn welfare of
veterans entitled to VA service.
‘‘Last fall”, he stated, “the
very heart of the entire veterans’
program—the hospital and medi
cal service—was the object of
sustained attack by powerful for
ces in this country. We met that
attack head-on-not with wild
charges but with facts. We let the
people know there is another
side a factual and honorable
side to the picture that was being
drawn. One of the most gratifying
results of our educational cam
paign in this field has been the
support given us by individual
doctors, members of the AMA
who resent and oppose efforts to
cripple the present veterans’ hos
pital program.
Urges Counter-Subversion
“The American Legion has been
out front in the fight against the
Communist conspiracy for a long
time”, Comander Connell remind
ed Legionnaires. “The fight con
tinues, and our responsibility and
place in it are, if anything, more
vital than ever.”
“Because this issue is so im
portant, I ask that you lead your
personal support in strengthen
ing our counter-subversive train
ing programs within your own
departent and even at the districl
;and post levels.”
Joint opening assembly was
held yesterday, with welcoming
addresses given by Legion, Auxil
iary, Armed Forces, territory of
ficers and city officials. The pasi
president’s dinner for Auxiliarj
members was held that evening
at Williwaw Lodge on Lake Was
ilia and members of the Forty e
(Continued on page 8)
Free Barbeque
Sunday - July 4 throughout the day
BARRY’S FINGER LAKE RESORT
One Head Choice Beef Will Be Served
EVERYONE WELCOME
Mrs. Dorothy Trudell and her four daughters, all members
of Matanuska Valley Unit No. 15, are believed to be the
largest mother-daughter combination in the territory. Mrs.
Trudell and her husband. William Trudell joined The
Americain Legion together in 1950, and shortly after their
four daughters were enrolled as junior members of the
Auxiliary. The Trudells came to Palmer, Alaska in 1949
from Florence, Wisconsin and have a home site in the
Butte area. In addition to their four daughters, they have
a young son, Terry, age five years, who will no doubt join
the local Post as soon as his age permits. The five Auxiliary
members pictured above are, left from right: Lana Jean,
312. Coralee Ann, 7, Veronica Alice, 8, Darlene Marie, 10.
and Mrs. Trudell.
In addition to her unit duties, which include three years
junior activity chairman, Mrs. Trudell has been department
Pan-American chairman this year.
ROBERT DRUXMAN
TO HEAD 40 AND 8
Robert N. Druxan of Auke Bay,
was elected Grand Chef de Gare
at the Forty et Eight assembly
held in the Palmer School gym
nasium Wednesday evening. John
J. Dunlap of Palmer was elected
grand chef de train, Harry El
linger, Ketchikan, grand eonduc
teur, Joseph M. Briones, Anchor
age, grand garde de la porte,
John H. Van Horn, Sitka, grand
Avocat, Cheminot Nationale For
bes L. Baker, Fairbanks, Sous
Cheminot Nationale William L.
Sanders, Anchorage; Seth Cook,
Palmer, Walter W. Smith, Juneau,
Einar Tonseth, Fairbanks, Rudd
Smith, Ketchikan, Cormand Mc
Graw, Sitka, all grand chiminot.
Reelected were Sid C. Raynor,
Anchorage, grand correspondant,
and Homer L. Crowther, Ketchi
kan, grand aumonier.
First Aid Course
Planned for Valley
An American Red Cross first
aid course will begin in the Val
ley July 12, Ralph Moore, Palmer
Civil Defense director announced
this week. This is the first class
of its kind for over a year and
everyone interested in taking the
course is urged to sign up and at
tend the first meeting at Carpen
ters’ Hall on July 12. Mrs. Flor
ence Sandel, nurse at the Valley
Presbyterian Hospital will in
struct.
■ The course will be open to all
adults and juniors interested in
availing themselves of the infor
mative course. In spite of the fact
that there have been a few Red
Cross first aid courses given in
the valley over a period of years,
rot many of those persons are
now living here. The course will
include not only first aid in em
ergencies, but will teach care in
the prevention of accidents. Stu
dents will learn proper handling
of injured persons, first aid dress
ings, how to treat and recognize
shock, the Neilsen method of arti
ficial respiration. Many other
subjects relavent to first aid will
be included in the course.
; The classes will be open to all
I interested persons. Those in the
! Wasilla and Butte areas are es
I pecially invited, as are all in
; terested juniors. The first class
; will begin July 12, at 8 p.m. ai
II Carpenters’ Hail.
GENERAL TELLS OF LEGION’S
VITAL PART IN DEFENSE ROLE
“Legionnaires, and others who
lave their country’s best inter
ists at heart, can help achieve
he unity this nation must have
f it is to survive”, Lt. General
r. H. Atkinson Commander-in
Ihief, Alaskan Command, told
American Legion and Auxiliary
leiegates at opening assembly of
he Legion convention June 23.
'Without the support of an in
ormed and resolute public, your
nilitary leaders at home and
ibroad are gravely handicapped.
“Even more basic “he stated,”
he American Legion has been on
*uard, since its beginning, against
;he various ‘isms’ and idealogies |
;hat afflict the world today. I
hink it is indisputable that the
\rnerican Legion has done far
nore than any other civil organ
zation to expose the web of sub
/ersion that is International Com
nunism.
“You will best serve our coun- j
try and aid in its defense, Gen
eral Atkinson told fellow Leg
onnaires, by ever remaining alert 1
against the most dangerous threat J
to our free way of life. j '•
“You men and women, when |
you were members of the Armed j (
Forces, formed part of the streng- j (
th that was able to preserve our
libeities through two great wars.
Though no longer on active»mil- j
itary duty, “General Atkinson
pointed out,” you are still form
ing part of our strength today, as
members of an organization that
is second to none in its consistent
support of American ideals and
principles.
“Certainly,” he concluded,” the
Legion and Legionnaires have al
ways stood in the forefront of
those who understand and ap
preciate the role played by the
armed services in our national
life. With that knowledge in
mind, I feel confident the armed
services will continue to merit
your understanding and support
in the fight to keep our world at
peace.”
General Atkinson is a member
of the Lowe-McFarlane post of
the American Legion at Shreve
port, Louisiana.
COUNCIL NOTES
A discussion of the construction
of a City fire hall occupied the
early part of the June 22 meeting
of City Council members.
Jack O’Malley, surveyor, was
authorized to lay out lot corners
and building lines on the city
cwned lot on Wasilla Road, and
establish grade stakes 18 inches
above the present street grade.
Joe Kercher was named to do ce
ment and concrete block work at
the rate of $7.50 per hour for him
self and one helper. Members of
the engineering committee were
authorized to go ahead with any
details connected with the con
struction of the building, which
will be 40 ft. by 60 ft. in size. For
the present time only the walls
and roof will be built. Interior
completion will be done as soon
as possible.
The tax roll and assessment of
city property as made and sent
out by the city assessor was ap
proved by the council Tuesday
night, subject to any provisions
made by the board of equaliza
tion.
* * *
The sum of $300 would be
(Continued on page 5)
Acting Mayor Betty Mears of
he City of Palmer this week call
id upon all residents of the city
o join in welocming all visiting
^egionnaires, Auxiliary mem
>ers, and their families to the
Jity of Palmer during The Am
;rican Legion department con7
mention, being held June 23, 24,
25, and 26.
“The city of Palmer is yours,
Legionnaires. Enjoy yourself
vhile you are here, and do come
back again”, Mayor Mears added,
CO-OP TO HAVE NEW
GENERAL MANAGER
AFTER AUGUST 1
By mutual agreement be
tween the Matanuska Valley
Farmers Cooperating Associa
tion board of directors, and
Fred M. Zieke, general man
ager, Mr. Zieke’s contract as
general manager for the fiscal
year of 1954-55 will not be re
newed. The announcement
comes at the regular termina
tion date of the manager’s
contract and is effective Aug
ust 1, 1954.
No successor has been nam
ed. However, board members
are screening applications at
this time, according to John
D. Nash, board president.
Fireworks Prohibited
Under Ordinance No. 12, Section 57 of the
City of Palmer it shall be unlawful to sell, use
or explode any fireworks, explosive or stench
bombs within the city. Any person convicted of
a violation of this section of Ordinance 12
shall be punished by a fine of not more than
$300.00 dollars or by imprisonment for not
more than thirty (30) days, or by both such
fine and imprisonment.
ELIZABETH BARRY, City Clerk
LEADING OFFICIALS
OPEN FOUR-DAY
LEGION CONVENTION
With the American Legion de
partment convention in full swing
today. Valley residents have join
ed local Legionnaires and Auxil
iary members in making the sev
eral hundred visitors feel at
home.
Registration of Legion and Au
xiliary delegates began at the
Matanuska Hotel Wednesday
morning, continuing until noon.
The first event of a long and
busy program planned for the
four-day convention was a joint
assembly of Legion and Auxil
iary members and their families
at the Palmer School gymnasium
at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday after
noon. The gym "had been artfully
decorated with red, white and
blue streamers, welcome messages
and Legion emblems. In memory
of those veterans who have an
swered the final call a cross
marked resting place was creat
ed of green boughs and trees at
the rear of the hall.
The joint assembly was opened
by Foster R. Sims, department
commander with a command for
the advancement of colors. Seth
Cook and Richard Demming of
the Matanuska Valley Post No. 15
were color bearers.
Following the invocation by
Homer Crowther, department
| chaplain, John Weisenberger,
local post commander, welcomed
the delegates and honored guests
to Palmer, and then introduced
the following: Ruth Everett,
president Matanuska Valley Unit
No. 15 who on behalf of the local
unit welcomed the visitors;
Betty Mears, acting mayor, City
of Palmer, who invited the vis
itors to consider themselves as
Palmerites—with all the privil
eges, but none of the duties, of
a resident; Richard Jones, presi
dent of the Matanuska Valley
Chamber of Commerce who told
the assembly of the honor felt by
the Chamber when members of
the Legion chose Palmer, the
hub of the valley, as their con
vention city. He paid tribute to
Commander Sims who brought
credit not only to the Legion but
to the valley itself with his past
(Continued on page 8)
WELCOME
CLUB OPEN TO YOU DURINB THE CONVENTION
LEGIONNAIRES
PALMER ELKS LODGE
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