Jeff Stoffer, Director of Media and Communications for the American Legion, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about the November edition of The American Legion Magazine. He also discussed the 70th anniversary of Veterans Day.
As it is every year, November’s edition of The American Legion Magazine is dedicated to Veterans Day. Stoffer discussed the history of this important day, which was originally created in 1920 as Armistice Day. In 1936 it became a federal holiday, and in 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all who fought and served for our country. President Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War II, signed the proclamation renaming Nov. 11 as Veterans Day.
Stoffer described how the first Veterans Day had a unique twist. In 1954, the U.S. Attorney General asked the American Legion to lead a naturalization swearing-in ceremony of roughly 55,000 new American citizens at Yankee Stadium. Among the new citizens were thousands who served for America in WWII and Korea, those escaping the Iron Curtain and persons of unusual success in their chosen fields. Today, he said, about 1,800 Legion Posts throughout the nation conduct naturalization activities in their communities and more than 7,000 Posts lead Veteran Day events.
He then discussed an article titled “Help Where You Can.” The piece describes how the country is facing a military recruiting crisis as the Marine Corps. and Space Force are the only branches to meet or exceed recruiting goals. The article examined two key recruitment issues - having the qualifications and a desire to serve. Stoffer said that roughly 23 percent of applicants pass the fitness and behavioral tests required to serve in the military. He also noted there is no longer a desire by this generation to serve in the armed forces.
Stoffer then highlighted a story about Chaplain (Lt.) George L. Fox. Written by Matt Grills, “No Greater Love” tells the story of the legendary Four Chaplains and how Fox was finally honored for his heroic actions. On Sept. 4, a special service was held at Arlington National Cemetery, as Fox received full military honors following the installation of a memorial headstone last spring. On the night of Feb. 3, 1943, a torpedo from a German U-boat struck the U.S. Army Transport Ship Dorchester, which was on its way to Greenland with 902 military and civilian personnel. Fox, a Methodist minister, and Chaplain (Lt.) Alexander Goode, a Jewish rabbi, Chaplain (Lt.) Clark Poling, a Reformed Church in America minister, and Chaplain (Lt.) John Washington, a Catholic priest, unselfishly gave their lives to save others. As the ship began to sink, the four chaplains calmed panicked men, gave their life vests to those who did not have one, helped men into the lifeboats and then remained on the sinking ship, praying for their fellow soldiers’ safety.
For more from Stoffer, please listen to the show above.