American Legion National Commander Michael D. Helm observed the birthday of the nation’s 16th president.
American Legion National Commander Michael D. Helm observed the birthday of the nation’s 16th president in Springfield, Ill., Thursday morning by comparing President Abraham Lincoln’s “House Divided" speech.
“Abraham Lincoln did not have focus groups, polls or television pundits to shape his moral compass and offer unsolicited advice,” Helm said during the 81st annual National American Legion Pilgrimage to the Tomb of Abraham Lincoln.
Surrounded by memorial wreathes and flanked by Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, Auxiliary National President Janet Jefford, Sons of the American Legion National Commander Mike Moss and a number of other public and Legion officials, Helm gave the keynote address before a packed crowd gathered at the final resting place for Lincoln, his wife Mary, and two of their sons.
Helm quoted from a campaign speech Lincoln delivered when he ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate. “'A house divided cannot stand,’ (Lincoln) said when he ran for the United States Senate right here in Illinois," Helm said. "Abraham Lincoln was right then, and his words still ring true today. America cannot be divided in battling today’s scourge, international terrorism.”
Helm then drew a direct comparison to fighting the Islamic State. “The American Legion has supported the president in his bombing efforts against ISIL. Today, we get closer to more military engagement. If military action is the course we must take, then key objectives and the overall strategic goal – an endgame, if you will — must be clearly stated. We need to give our troops the support, equipment and weapons they need to succeed. At home we must comfort their families and make sure we are well prepared for their safe return. Finally, we must assure our troops that we are sending them to win and this nation won’t quit halfway through their game.”
Rauner, who was recently sworn in as Illinois governor, recalled that Feb. 11 was another milestone day for Lincoln. “Yesterday marked the anniversary of President Lincoln’s departure from Springfield to become president of the United States,” Rauner said. “It was a daunting time. During his departure speech President Lincoln said, ‘I leave not knowing when or whether I may return. I leave with a test before me greater than which rested upon Washington.’ Tragically, he never truly returned for the rest of his life. But he did serve us long. He brought us together, he re-unifed our nation and allowed us to become the greatest nation on earth.”
At an American Legion luncheon following the pilgrimage, Helm credited Lincoln for preserving the Union through his “iron will.”
“In many ways,” Helm said, “I believe it is The American Legion that in the 20th and 21st centuries have kept America worth preserving. I am in no way saying that America would not exist without The American Legion, but I do believe that Lincoln espoused the very same Four Pillars upon which we would later be founded.”
Auxiliary National President Jefford also expounded on the similarities between Lincoln’s philosophy and that of The American Legion family.
“One of my favorite quotes from Abraham Lincoln is that we should not be concerned whether God is on our side – but our greater concern is whether we are on God’s side, for God is always right," she said. "I think God would have on his side an organization like the Legion family. A family that in Lincoln’s words does take care of those who have borne the battle and for their widows and their orphans. A family who teaches others what it means to be a veteran, what they sacrificed for this country, and what they deserve and how they deserve to be treated and taken care of. A family that teaches our young and others about patriotism.”
- Honor & Remembrance