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Showing posts from February, 2013

Tuesday- The American Legion Department of Michigan goes to Washington DC.

Members of the Michigan Legion will be heading to the offices of our US Representatives this afternoon following the Commanders Call.  Appointments have been made and the Legion message on key issue's will be delivered.

Vote for the GR Veterans Home

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Aprons in Action from Home Depot Help the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans win a $25,000 prize from the Home Depot.  If the Home wins the prize they wish to do: VOTE TODAY AND EVERYDAY!!!  http://apps.facebook.com/apronsinaction PROPOSED PROJECT If Grand Rapids Home for Veterans were to win the $25,000, they would work with Team Depot to enhance the facility’s grounds and provide additional activity space for their members. Projects would include creation of an outdoor gathering space and the installation of a potting shed to their greenhouse, one of the most utilized areas of the facility. Members and visitors would benefit from the new gathering area and enjoy the additional space to participate in gardening. The American Legion Department of Michigan represents over 70,000 members in the State of Michigan. The American Legion was founded in 1919, based on “The Four Pillars”; veteran rehabilitation, Americanism, child welfare, and national security and continued

Legion leader says “no” to military pay cut plan

  WASHINGTON (Feb. 6, 2013) -- The leader of the nation’s largest wartime veterans’ service organization, The American Legion, is taking strong exception to a recommendation by outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta that would effectively cut the pay of active duty military personnel. Panetta, in a speech at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. ,  Wednesday, said he plans to ask Congress to limit troop salary increases to 1% in 2014. Since this hike is below the estimated rise in the cost of living for that year, the limitation would effectively reduce service members’ pay. “This is not the way to go about saving money,” said James E. Koutz, national commander of the 2.4 million member Legion. “Making the men and women of the military pay for out of control spending by others is unwarranted, unfair and just plain wrong. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines deserve a raise to at least keep pace with the cost of living -- certainly not a cut. This unwise move would puni

Highlights from the Commanders Group of Michigan's Feb 2013 Meeting

Lansing, MI - The Commanders Group of Michigan heard from the several officials today concerning veterans and services offered to them. Service and Rehabilitation Chairman for the Group Dan Crocker of the VFW reported that the Detroit Regional Office currently takes 16-18 months to process a veterans claim, however, he stressed that if the veterans claim is "fully developed" before being submitted then the process is shorted to 4-6 months.  He encourages all veterans to use an Accredited service officer to work their claim.  He also reported that the current backlog is 32,000 claims in the Detroit Regional Office and 1.6 million claims behind nation wide. Fort Custer National Cemetary Director Roy Luera reported that Rick Anderson, director of the Great Lakes National Cemetary retired on Jan 11th, 2013.  Roy has taken over as acting director for Great Lakes in addition to his duties at Fort Custer.  Fort Custer has a total of 29157 veterans, spouses, and family members inte

Help Wanted: 2013 Summer Season Temporary Employment Opportunities

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2013 Summer Season Temporary Employment Opportunities US Forest Service, Eastern Region Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan The National Forest Service is looking for Summer Help.  Click here for information and how to apply Employment Information Locations: Raco, St Ignace, Munising, Rapid River, and Manistique Michigan. The American Legion Department of Michigan represents over 70,000 members in the State of Michigan. The American Legion was founded in 1919, based on “The Four Pillars”; veteran rehabilitation, Americanism, child welfare, and national security and continued above all its mission as a consumers’ advocate for veterans. For more information contact the Michigan Legion at 517-371-4720 ext 16, mark@michiganlegion.org, or visit our website at www.michiganlegion.org.