Military Efficiency on Display

In the past week, the American Legion took one on the nose – and then punched right back.

During a recent Memorial Day observance, a local post in Hudson, OH stumbled. The post had invited a retired Army Officer, and local resident, to serve in the keynote slot for the program. When Lieutenant Colonel Kemter began sharing the role that black Americans and freed slaves had played in the early observances of Memorial Day, the event organizers attempted to silence him by – literally – turning off his microphone.

It quickly became clear through investigation that this act was planned. When questioned about their decision to silence Lt Col Kemter, one of those event organizers stated that his comments were “not relevant to our program for the day.” What a bunch of malarkey.

I didn’t see the news on this until it reached national outlets like the New York Times. It would be a severe understatement to say I was disappointed by what I read in the reporting. Yet, before I could even get properly irate, the Ohio Legion attacked the situation like they would an enemy artillery emplacement. They fired for effect.

From the Ohio Legion’s Press Release:

Effective Immediately, Department Commander, Roger Friend, has suspended the Hudson Lee-Bishop American Legion Post 464 Charter pending permanent closure. Upon demand, Jim Garrison has also resigned as a Post Officer and we have since demanded that he resign his membership altogether. The American Legion Department of Ohio does not hold space for members, veterans, or families of veterans who believe that censoring black history is acceptable behavior.

I’m proud to be a Legionnaire, if not a terribly active one. I’m sparing in my decisions to join organizations, but in Ohio, the American Legion is active and strong – with a strong track record of public service. Like many others in the Legion community, I was baffled by how this all could happen.

What I’m not baffled by, however, is the swift response of our state headquarters element.

Within days the state command team had issued a blistering rebuke of the decisions made by the post leaders in Hudson. Further, the state headquarters suspended the local post’s charter. This is a big deal. That level of response, that swiftly, should be celebrated within our Legion community.

There is no room for prejudice, or silencing history, in our ranks.

The Ohio Legion set a bold example in their response to this stupidity. They immediately held the responsible parties accountable, and more importantly, laid out the principles behind their decision as a reminder to our members. I, for one, will be happy to renew my membership.

In a time when so many seem happy to dither, resolution like this stands out. We are called to be stewards of ideals. For the Ohio Legion, that was an easy task.