3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Opens American Legion National Convention

Photo By Staff Sgt. Gary Hawkins | Brig. Gen. Michael Lally, 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) commanding general, speaks to Legionnaires from Joint Base Balad, Iraq during the opening ceremony of the American Legion National Convention in Phoenix. Lally noted that "the American Legion has dedicated itself to serving communities, serving veterans, and serving our country."  

BALAD, IRAQ

08.26.2008

Story by Spc. Michael Behlin 

3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ – The 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) opened the American Legion National Convention Tuesday in Phoenix via satellite.

3d ESC commanding general, Brig. Gen. Michael Lally, spoke to American Legion members about the importance of their organization and its significance to former and current members of the United States Armed Services.

"For almost 90 years, the American Legion has dedicated itself to serving communities, serving veterans, and serving our country," Lally said. "It's special for me to be able to welcome you today and I want to thank you personally for your past and continued service to our great country."

Participating with Lally during the opening ceremonies were several 3d ESC Service members, and fellow Legionnaires which included a mixed quartet of Soldiers and Airmen who performed The National Anthem.

The American Legion was founded in Paris by members of the American Expeditionary Force in 1919. Chartered by Congress the same year, the American Legion operates as a patriotic, mutual-help, war-time veteran's organization. Veteran membership dates back as far as those who fought in World Wars I and II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Nationally Headquartered in Indianapolis, the American Legion is the world's largest veterans' association. With membership hovering near 3 million members, the American Legion has about 15,000 posts worldwide which are broken up into 55 departments; one for each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines.

The organization has fought for benefits of veterans and family members of veterans who died at war. The Preamble to the Constitution of The American Legion states that its purpose is to:

Uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and goodwill on earth; to safe guard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.

Lally ensured convention attendees that the 3d ESC, which is the senior logistics headquarters under Multi-National Corps - Iraq and is responsible for all logistics operations within the Iraqi theater, will uphold American Legion values throughout its deployment.

"You need to know that the values you fought for, and continue to fight for each day, we carry with us here Iraq," Lally told Legionnaires. "We won't let you down."

• Date Taken: 08.26.2008
• Date Posted: 09.03.2008 08:23
• Story ID: 23153
• Location: BALAD, IQ