AVON AMERICAN LEGION POST 145

Senate Joint Resolution 14, the Flag Protection Constitutional Amendment, falling four short of the necessary 67 votes, is lost 63-37 in the United States Senate. Once again a clear, but insufficient, majority supported it. Once again, a small number of US Senators made it clear they place no trust in the American people and have a mere spoken regard for the importance the people place on the Flag of the United States.

For the remainder of the year, the Citizens Flag Alliance focuses in two broad areas: recognizing supporters in the 106th Congress and determining the position of every candidate seeking a seat in the 107th. Three hundred sixty-eight members of Congress (305 Representatives and 63 Senators) receive a formal, personal thank-you and a small memento from the CFA groups in their state. More than 1,000 candidates for federal office are queried on their support for a flag protection amendment. When election returns are finalized, more than 300 Representatives and 60 Senators are seated and on the record as flag amendment supporters.

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The CFA produces another in a continuing line of video pieces that depict the importance of the flag and call to action, during the 107th Congress, the 141 Organizations that make up the Citizens Flag Alliance.

A press conference is called in Washington, DC, to announce the introduction of the flag protection amendment in both chambers of the 107th Congress. Senators Max Cleland (D-GA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) become the Chief Cosponsors in the US Senate, while Representatives Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) and John Murtha (D-PA) champion the cause in the US House of Representatives. The House resolution, HJR 36, enjoys official cosponsorship from more than 100 members. In the Senate, SJR 7 counts 40 official cosponsors. Efforts toward a cosponsor drive in both chambers continue.

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The American Legion takes lead in conducting “A Day To Remember” events to mark the anniversary of the terrorist attack on the nation.

The American Legion launches national “I Am Not A Number” campaign to identify and document the delays veterans face in obtaining earned medical care benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The American Legion turns up the effort to eliminate the Disabled Veterans Tax, known as ‘concurrent receipt’ in political circles. As the last quarter of the year begins lawmakers continue to search for a solution as they feel the pressure from their constituents.