American Legion Archives

Trump Holds Meeting on VA Issues

February 10, 2017/in Military Veteran, Veteran News

President Trump held a series of “White House listening sessions” with various groups and then met with veterans advocates the following day. But apparently when it came to discussing the ways his administration could reform the embattled Department of Veterans Affairs, he failed to invite officials from the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Trump’s pick to head the Department of Veterans Affairs, David Shulkin, did attend the White House meeting hours before his confirmation vote in the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

Kellyanne Conway, a top adviser to Trump, told reporters outside the White House that the president had a “very productive conversation” with advocates about veterans issues.

Conway said veteran care should be “a bipartisan issue, if not a nonpartisan issue.”

Toby Cosgrove, CEO of the Cleveland Clinic, said after the meeting that the discussion had ranged “from governance to modernization to accountability across the organization.”

Cosgrove was once a rumored front-runner for the VA secretary job.

During the campaign, Trump described the VA as “the most corrupt” and “probably the most incompetently run” of all federal agencies.

The president has proposed an ambitious 10-point plan for VA reform that includes giving veterans the option to seek private healthcare if they want to bypass the government-run system.

Trump promoted Shulkin, Obama’s VA undersecretary of health, to a Cabinet position.

Shulkin, a physician who would be the first nonveteran to lead the government’s second-largest agency, is expected to receive broad support in the Senate and is one of few Cabinet nominees who has not faced coordinated opposition from Democratic lawmakers. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee voted unanimously to advance Shulkin’s nomination out of committee on Tuesday.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, and their families.

Soldier’s Wish Meets Military/Veterans’ Needs

By Debbie Gregory.

It all began when ordinary citizens gathered together to create an event to raise funds to help honor and support our veterans and active-duty military. The initial effort raised somewhere around $50,000, which was donated to the American Legion. Having experienced such success in their freshman endeavor, those responsible decided to keep the effort going, and the non-profit “Soldier’s Wish” was born.

It is the mission of Soldier’s Wish to identify unmet needs of veterans of military service regardless of branch or rank and identify or provide resources to meet those needs by providing needed support directly to the veteran service members and/or their families in order that such service members can lead normal and productive lives.

The relationship with the American Legion continues. The American Legion’s mission and core values meet those of Soldier’s Wish, resulting in a relationship that was approved and adopted during the 2013 Spring National Executive meetings. The relationship gives The American Legion an opportunity to promote its programs and services while granting wishes for those who have served and their families.

Dedicated men and women who want to make a difference and help meet the unmet needs of those who have served are the lifeblood of Soldier’s Wish. But no non-profit can exist without funding.

The Soldier’s Wish gift store sells a variety of items, including hats, T-shirts, bandanas, mugs, dog tags and flags. All proceeds from merchandise go to help them in their mission.

The non-profit also offers corporate sponsorships, and hosts fund raising events, such as October’s Night of Honor Steak and Cigar dinner to be held in Tulsa, OK.

If you would like to learn more about this great non-profit or see some of their success stories, please visit them on the web at http://www.soldierswish.org/

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, and their families.

Why Younger Vets Are Not Joining Established VSO’s

March 19, 2016/in Military Veteran, Veteran News

By Debbie Gregory.

Why is there a lack of interest from younger veterans when it comes to joining legacy groups like the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion? Could it be that these organizations are waiting for this younger generation of veterans to just walk in and join like their fathers and grandfathers before them? Or perhaps these veterans are looking for community connections that fit their needs, not the needs of older veterans.

As their membership ages and declines, these organizations need young bloods to maintain the political clout they have built up, and they need to be able to “pass the torch” in order to maintain the ground they have gained.

The VFW and American Legion report that only about 15 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who are eligible to join have done so. Don’t these veterans want to be around other veterans?

Of course they do.

But these service members are the Facebook/Twitter/Snapchat/Instagram generation, and are gravitating toward groups such as Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, The Mission Continues, and Team Rubicon.

Younger veterans say the traditional organizations differ in many ways from groups that appeal to them.

To attract younger veterans, these organizations can take a few simple steps that will yield great results. First of all, they can communicate via email, vs. snail mail. They can make sure that they are as welcoming to female veterans as they are to male veterans.

Perhaps an updated look with a few flat screen televisions and a fresh coat of paint is in order. They can host events that will attract the younger crowd; out with the Bingo night and in with college fairs, career days, and veteran service officer Q&As.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, and their families.

Iraq/Afghanistan Vets Seek Out Their Own Connections

December 10, 2015/in Military Veteran, Veteran News

By Debbie Gregory.

Younger veterans are looking for community connections that fit their needs, not the needs of older veterans.

These young vets often feel disconnected from legacy groups like the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion. The timing couldn’t be worse, as legacy groups are desperate to bolster their numbers to make up for an aging membership that has significantly declined over the years.

Both the VFW and American Legion say Vietnam-era veterans make up the largest portion of their membership. Only about 15 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who are eligible to join the VFW have done so.

Today’s returning service members, the Facebook/Twitter/Snapchat/Instagram generation, are gravitating toward groups such as Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, The Mission Continues, and Team Rubicon.

Younger veterans say the traditional organizations differ in many ways from groups that appeal to them, including the types of advocacy they do and their ways of communication: “snail mail” versus email.

But over the years, the VFW and American Legion have built up political clout in D.C., and they need to be able to “pass the torch” in order to maintain the ground they have gained.

“We have some posts that are experiencing great success in recruiting younger veterans,” says VFW Communications Manager Randi Law. For example, a VFW post in Denver has veteran yoga classes and is hosting veteran art exhibits. “Many of our posts… recognize that the younger generation doesn’t want to sit in a dingy environment swapping war stories. They want to be engaged and continue working for their community.”

“These up-and-coming veterans’ groups are extremely important, but I think that in a lot of ways and for a lot of reasons they turn to the local VFW for the support they need,” Law says. “We’ve been around a long time, so we offer a solid support system in thousands of communities across America.”

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, and their families.

Military Connection: Oak Ridge Boys Combat PTSD: By Debbie Gregory

November 4, 2014/in Archived Blogs

The American Legion National Headquarters recently announced the organization’s partnership with country superstars The Oak Ridge Boys.

The American Legion is America’s largest Veterans service organization, with nearly two and a half million members. The Legion exists to support the men and women who have served in the U.S. military. Part of the organization’s function is to raise awareness for Veterans in areas such as benefits, legislation, education, and treatment for ailments that are prevalent among the Veteran community, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

In an effort to reach more Veterans and inform the public about PTSD, the American Legion is partnering with Grammy Award-winning singing group, The Oak Ridge Boys. The legacy of the group dates back to the 1940’s, with all current members performing together since the 1970’s. The group consists of lead singer Duane Allen, bass singer Richard Sterban, tenor Joe Bonsall and baritone William Lee Golden. Besides winning Grammy Awards, The Oak Ridge Boys have won CMA and Academy of Country Music Awards. They continue to tour the country, performing such country and gospel favorites as “Elvira, “GI Joe and Lillie” and “American Made.”

The Oak Ridge Boys have agreed to participate in a national awareness and fundraising campaign to support the detection and treatment of mental health issues in Veterans, including PTSD.

Joe Bonsall, a member of The Oak Ridge Boys since 1973, wrote the inspirational song that was biographical about his Veteran parents, titled, “G.I. Joe and Lillie.” Bonsall’s parents were both World War II Veterans. His father spent much of his life living with the emotional scars of war.

Growing up, Bonsall experienced firsthand how mental health issues can affect a Veteran family, making The Oak Ridge Boys fitting allies for the American Legion.

“Uniting with the American Legion to raise awareness of those who are suffering, as my father did, is work we are proud to champion.” Bonsall said.

The American Legion estimates that around 20% of Veterans from the wars in Iraq and Iraq will face varying degrees of PTSD. The organization has been working with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, several research institutions, as well as individual Veterans who suffer from PTSD, as part of their effort to find solutions and treatments for those who suffer with TBI and PTSD.

The inclusion of The Oak Ridge Boys will help take the American Legion’s fight to an additional front. As part of the battle plan, this alliance will reach more Americans and help more Veterans and Veteran families afflicted with the invisible wounds of war.

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