This stance is best maintained by neutrality on individual candidates or political parties. WASHINGTON — There was no way President Donald Trump could sustain a fight for long with the American Legion over Old Glory and Sen. John McCain.He's hung his hat — politically and on policy — on being a champion for veterans. This stance is best maintained by neutrality on individual candidates or political parties. Americanism is a set of United States patriotic values aimed at creating a collective American identity, and can be defined as "an articulation of the nation's rightful place in the world, a set of traditions, a political language, and a cultural style imbued with political meaning". Analysis: Groups representing millions of veterans proved too powerful a political … American Legion Protocol: Non-Political and Non-Partisanby Janet Wilson, Past National Executive Committeeman & Past Department of California CommanderAppropriate wear of the Legion Cover at political events and rallies The Legion cap is considered the official Legion uniform (see p. 42).
Yet he had no choice but to retreat when the leaders of millions of vets came knocking.Analysis: Groups representing millions of veterans proved too powerful a political force for the president.Get breaking news alerts and special reports. And while the pushback from the American Legion and VFW didn't rise to the level of harsh criticism — they simply asked him to honor McCain when he wasn't doing it — their willingness to take on a commander in chief obsessed with loyalty suggests that they have a certain influence with him that neither his critics nor most of his allies do.And in a show of just how urgent it was for Trump to reverse course, the flags at the White House were lowered back to half-staff — where they had stood on Sunday before being returned to the tops of their poles Monday morning — before he issued the official order to federal agencies to honor McCain.Trump doesn't like to back down from any fight. The news and stories that matters, delivered weekday mornings.President Trump ignored repeated questions from reporters Monday about his reaction to John McCain's death. As it turned out — after many hours — the president had found his way to their side.The pressure from the veterans groups had to make clear to Trump that it wasn't just a political loser for him to snub McCain but a threat to the brand he's tried to build by tying himself to America's passion for the military, its veterans and its flag.Trump can't afford to have the nation's veterans turn their backs on him the way he turned his back — or held his flag at full-staff — to spite McCain. "We have not received a response back yet, but hope they are in agreement," he said in a phone interview just before Trump relented. The American Legion by legal definition is non-partisan and supports only issues which impact your Four Pillars.. * This means “non-partisan” in today’s society. The problem is the assumption of endorsement by those who see the emblem or name worn at in improper location, such as a partisan rally.When using post facilities to host candidates, post should remove emblem and Legion flag to avoid any impression of endorsement. Each summer, the American Legion, the nation’s largest organization for veterans, funds Boys State and Girls State, governmental cosplay camps to teach teenagers about civic duty. If attending a political event, The American Legion cap, or any clothing with the emblem visible, should be removed so as not to imply endorsement by The American Legion.
It is not an individual Legion member’s decision on the appropriate usage of the cap and emblem. So when the American Legion and VFW stood up for John McCain, he backed down. Supporting, honorary, or volunteer categories are allowable—but only for current members of The American Legion, the The American Legion Auxiliary, or The Sons of The American Legion Rider “Supporter” status is a post or department determination granted only to those Legion Family members who go "beyond the call" to support the ALR program. Our Pillars, Your Platform There are four major platforms, as there have been in the past – Veterans Affairs, National Security, Americanism, and Children and Youth. The American Legion values its independence and effectiveness on veterans’ issues. Candidates for all parties must be presented equal opportunity at the same time to use the facilities on the same terms and conditions as other competing candidates.If financial contributions are offered by candidates for political office, campaigns, political action committees or political parties, The American Legion should politely decline. Hosting a political candidate at your Post The problem is the assumption of endorsement by those who see the emblem or name worn at in improper location, such as a partisan rally.
Joe Davis, national spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, told NBC News that the group made a similar request to the White House via email Monday morning. He needs to avoid angering them, both to protect his veterans agenda in Washington and for his re-election hopes.McCain is not universally popular among veterans — and insulting McCain's service during the 2016 campaign didn't cost Trump the Republican nomination or the presidency — but turning the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars into enemies would have been politically toxic.Trump, who received educational and medical deferments from serving in the war that put McCain in a Vietnamese prison camp for five-and-a-half years, wants to throw himself a military parade in Washington in the midst of two wars that the U.S. has been engaged in for nearly two decades.He's benefited politically from the support he's pledged to the military and the nation's veterans community — including his work on a spate of bipartisan laws designed to improve conditions at veterans medical facilities — as well as from the fact that many current and former servicemembers agree with him on a wide range of other issues.His retreat in the face of pressure from veterans groups demonstrates that he understands there's a limit to how much he can insult a high-profile veteran without damaging his own standing. Black Legion's uniform and weapons, posed by policemen after arrests. on Boys State Commission Approved Charter Bus PolicyGet email updates from The American Legion Department of California