Michigan Legion Media Room

Legion National Commander: 'VA Christmas card ban defies law'   INDIANAPOLIS (December 26, 2013) -- Handwritten Christmas cards from schoolchildren were denied distribution to veterans at the Dallas VA Medical Center this week because they referenced the holiday by name, and American Legion National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger is not happy  about it. Neither is the Liberty Institute, which has sided with the Legion in opposing a number of other attempts to prevent free expression of speech and religion. Also this week, the VA hospital in Augusta, Ga., announced a new policy that turned away high-school students who intended to sing Christmas carols to veterans, as they traditionally have in past years. And in Iowa City, American Legion members were told they could not hand out presents to veterans if the wrapping paper said Merry Christmas, a problem they solved by filtering the gifts through the VA chaplain. The American Legion has asked VA Central Office for...

Listed below are the events I have for the next 14 (things are slow) days here in the Metro Detroit area.  I have also attached my latest event listing which has 4 new items on it.  You can also go to the Legion 328 website to download any flyer for these future events.  http://www.legionpost328.org/events.html   Clicking on "attached flyer" for each event either below or on the future listing will get you the flyer for that event. You can get a monthly view of events by going to: http://www.michiganveteranresources.com/Events.aspx ANNOUNCEMENTS! HAPPY NEW YEAR! "Oakland County Parks will recycle old Christmas Trees" Oakland County Parks and Recreation offers 11 park locations to make holiday cleanup easy and environmentally friendly by recycling Christmas trees. Dec. 26, 2013 – Jan. 13, 2014, seven days a week. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Addison Oaks near Oxford; Catalp...

Listed below are the events I have for the next 7 days here in the Metro Detroit area.  I have also attached my latest event listing which has no new items on it.  You can also go to the Legion 328 website to download any flyer for these future events.  http://www.legionpost328.org/events.html   Clicking on "attached flyer" for each event either below or on the future listing will get you the flyer for that event. You can get a monthly view of events by going to: http://www.michiganveteranresources.com/Events.aspx ANNOUNCEMENTS! MERRY CHRISTMAS! "Oakland County Dog Parks for Free on Christmas Day" Oakland County P & R is opening 3 dog parks on Christmas Day for free: Lyon Oaks in Wixom; Orion Park in Lake Orion; and, Red Oaks in Madison Hgts, from 8AM till sunset. "Oakland County Parks will recycle old Christmas Trees" Oakland County Parks and...

Legion to Senate: Do not reduce COLA for veterans   WASHINGTON (December 18, 2013) – The American Legion voiced its outrage over budget cuts on military retirees' benefits at a Dec. 18 press conference in Washington. The U.S. Senate had just passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, which – if signed by the president – will reduce cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) benefits for America's retired veterans by more than $6 billion. The bill was worked out between Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and passed the Senate by a 64-36 vote. Murray and Ryan claim the measure will drop the country's deficit by $23 billion and reduce the impact of sequestration. "Passing this broken legislation today was wrong," Louis Celli, the Legion's Legislative director said at the press conference. "It was wrong because (the Senate) had time to fix it, and ... chose not to." While several bills have already been introduced into Congress to ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Michigan American Legion Seeks High School Student Contestants for the Annual Oratorical Contest, Grand Prize $18,000 LANSING (December 16, 2013) - “A constitutional speech contest” The American Legion Oratorical Contest exists to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students. Since 1938, the program has presented participants with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation’s laws, the ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship. The program has featured numerous politicians and prominent contestants over the years, including former president candidate Alan Keyes and CNN anchor  Lou Dobbs . Deadline to register for the first level of competition is January 2 nd , 2014; contestants must be sponsored by an American Legion Post.  Contests w...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE American Legion vows to continue fight for Mt. Soledad Cross   INDIANAPOLIS (Dec 13, 2013)— Calling the latest decision by a federal judge to remove a cross from a veterans memorial "very regrettable," the head of the nation's largest veterans service organization vowed to continue supporting the legal fight to maintain the symbol that has stood at San Diego's Mount Soledad for more than half a century.   "The fight for the Mount Soledad Cross perfectly epitomizes what is emblazoned on the back of every American Legion membership card, the words, 'For God and Country,'" said American Legion National Commander Daniel Dellinger. "Fortunately, the court has stayed the order allowing 90 days to file an appeal. The legal fight has been going on for almost a quarter century and The American Legion, which has previously filed an amicus curiae (friend of court) brief, does not plan to retreat now."   In addit...

Listed below are the events I have for the next 7 days here in the Metro Detroit area.  I have also attached my latest event listing which has 2 new items on it.  You can also go to the Legion 328 website to download any flyer for these future events.  http://www.legionpost328.org/events.html   Clicking on "attached flyer" for each event either below or on the future listing will get you the flyer for that event. You can get a monthly view of events by going to: http://www.michiganveteranresources.com/Events.aspx ANNOUNCEMENTS! "RV Needed to Rent" A long time supporter of Veterans, a vet himself, and Spartan Fan, and who has a son currently serving in Afghanistan, and who runs the TBI foundation in Brighton for veterans, would like to rent a RV or Class A so he and his family can make the Rose Bowl. If you have one that fits the bill please contact Rick Briggs ...

Drop of proposed TRICARE fee increase lauded; COLA decrease opposed by Legion   WASHINGTON (Dec. 12, 2013) – The following statement was issued today by Daniel M. Dellinger, National Commander of The American Legion:   "While The American Legion applauds the proposed National Defense Authorization Act's prohibition against new TRICARE user fees and its limitations on raising existing fees, we strongly oppose any decrease in the annual cost of living allowance for veterans, retirees -- who are also veterans -- or their dependents and families. The men and women who have served our country honorably and well deserve to be treated in like fashion once they have hung up their uniforms. Few sacrifice as much as servicemembers, most especially those who have devoted their careers at great personal cost to the safety and welfare of our nation." -30- Media contacts: Marty Callaghan: 202-263-5758 / 202-215-8644 , mcallaghan@legion.org or Craig Roberts: 202-263-2...

Cuts to Armed Forces Network, Stars & Stripes should be 'off the table' says American Legion National Commander   INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 4, 2013)—The head of the nation's largest veterans service organization warned that "morale is becoming a casualty of sequestration" thanks to the latest budget talk emanating from Washington. "Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, our troops overseas were greeted with the news from Stars & Stripe s that the historic newspaper might be on the chopping block by Pentagon budget-cutters," said American Legion National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger. "Moreover, the Armed Forces Network, which provides American-style programming including sporting events, is also facing cuts. This comes at a time when military commissaries across the country may close, weapons systems are eliminated, brigades are cut and training missions cancelled. The American Legion has been warning against sequestration for years now...

Things are really starting to slowing down!  Listed below are the events I have for the next 7 days here in the Metro Detroit area.  I have also attached my latest event listing which has 2 new items on it!  You can also go to the Legion 328 website to download any flyer for these future events.  http://www.legionpost328.org/events.html   Clicking on "attached flyer" for each event either below or on the future listing will get you the flyer for that event. You can get a monthly view of events by going to: http://www.michiganveteranresources.com/Events.aspx ANNOUNCEMENTS! "4th Annual Cold Weather Clothing Drive" The Wayne State University Student Veterans Organization is looking for winter clothing for our less fortunate veterans, and their familes. You can drop off at the SVA office at Wayne or they will pick them up.  EVENTS "Thursday, ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 'Enough is Enough,' American Legion National Commander rips latest proposal to close stateside commissaries   INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 27, 2013)—The head of the nation's largest veterans service organization slammed a Department of Defense proposal to shut down all military-run grocery stores in the United States as just "another plan to punish veterans" for Washington's inability to balance the budget. "As we count our blessings on Thanksgiving, shouldn't we remember that it is our veterans and our military that have kept us safe and free?" asked American Legion National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger. "And shouldn't that gratitude extend everyday and not just on holidays? Many military retirees are on fixed incomes and rely on these commissaries. They devoted a life of service to this nation. Their health insurance premiums are going up and the Pentagon openly considers cuts to pay and benefits for those stil...

Things are slowing down now!  Listed below are the events I have for the next 7 days here in the Metro Detroit area.  I have also attached my latest event listing which has 4 new items on it!  You can also go to the Legion 328 website to download any flyer for these future events.  http://www.legionpost328.org/events.html   Clicking on "attached flyer" for each event either below or on the future listing will get you the flyer for that event. You can get a monthly view of events by going to: http://www.michiganveteranresources.com/Events.aspx ANNOUNCEMENTS! HAPPY THANKSGIVING! "4th Annual Cold Weather Clothing Drive" The Wayne State University Student Veterans Organization is looking for winter clothing for our less fortunate veterans, and their familes. You can drop off at the SVA office at Wayne or they will pick them up. For complete details on how to help s...