History contest entries due Sept. 15

Entries for The American Legion's national post and department history contests are due to National Headquarters in Indianapolis by Sept. 15.

The National Post History Contest is the final level of competition for local post historians who have put together projects, in either the One-Year Narrative or Yearbook category, chronicling the year of 2009 for their posts. These were submitted for judging at the department conventions earlier this year. Each department's first-place entry, certified as such by the department historian, must arrive at National Headquarters no later than Sept. 15. The National Department History Contest is an opportunity for the department historians to submit histories of the year 2009 for their departments, also in the One-Year Narrative and Yearbook categories. These entries must also arrive at National Headquarters by Sept. 15.

Both contests will be judged during Fall Meetings, Oct. 11-14, by a committee of past and present department and national historians. Winners will receive plaques. If you did not put together an entry for the 2009 calendar year, consider starting now on 2010's. These documents can serve as templates for future Legionnaires at your post to continue the activities and community service that make your post special. Use the Consolidated Post Report as a record of events to cover. Handy guidelines and advice on creating archives can be found in the Post Officers Guide, beginning on page 161.