Michigan Legion Media Room

The American Legion Washington DC Office HOT ISSUES Wednesday, February  26th, 2014   ACTIONS –   On Monday, February 24 Legislative staff met with representatives from the construction company building the Denver VAMC to discuss construction challenges and solutions.   On February 24, Legislative Director Louis Celli was interviewed on the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). He commented on DOD Secretary Chuck Hagel’s request to reduce US armed forces to levels rivaling those of the pre-World War II military. Mr. Celli said that any military cuts are always perceived as weakness. "Terrorists are going to look at a reduction in military force as a win for them and a possible opportunity to gain the upper hand," he said.   On February 25 Legislative staff attended a press conference and rally on the House side of Capitol Hill to pass H.R. 813, the Putting Veterans Funding First Act of 2013. This measure –...

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 5 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    You can get a monthly view of events by going to: http://www.michiganvetera ANNOUNCEMENTS! "Women Supporting Women Vets" WSWV is hosting an online eBay auction to raise money to erect a Livingston County's Veterans Memorial for female veterans. This is an opportunity to clean your attic of items and help raise money for this group. See attached flyer on how you can contribute items to this event. "Operation Hand Salute" AT & T Global Supplier Diversity is hosting a program to assist veteran owned businesses mentoring, educa...

American Legion: Senate vote on veterans bill ‘inexcusable’   National commander disappointed Senate fails to put partisanship aside on critical veterans vote WASHINGTON (Feb. 27, 2014) -- American Legion National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger expressed frustration and disappointment with Thursday’s Senate debate that effectively killed S. 1982, the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014. The Senate voted 56-41 to waive an extra budget point of order made against the bill – four votes short of what was needed to move the legislation onto a full Senate vote – ending floor consideration of the measure. “Today, the Senate had a chance to put aside partisan politics and do what was right for the men and women who have sacrificed so much while wearing our nation’s uniform,” Dellinger said. “Instead, we saw the same political gamesmanship that led our federal governm...

Searching for Names of the Last Living Michigan World War II Veterans  Honoring the Greatest Generation June 6, 2014 will mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day – when 73,000 American troops joined Allied forces in the largest amphibious invasion in world history, leading to a decisive Allied victory marking the beginning of the end of World War II in Europe. The Lakeshore Lancers Marching Band of Stevensville, Michigan, has been invited to join as an official representative of Michigan in Normandy, France, in June of 2014. The kids will join the American Liberation Victory Parade that will step off on the actual anniversary day, June 6, 2014 in the French village of Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the first village to be liberated by American troops.  As part of the commemoration activities, they will also perform at the American Cemetery of Omaha Beach and on the grounds of the French Senate in Paris. The band will be one of three (maybe four) American bands going to Norma...

ARE YOU A “HAM RADIO” Operator? The American Legion Amateur Radio Club The American Legion has a new Amateur Radio Club and they are looking for other Legion Posts who have a Club too.  Here in Michigan the Ravenna American Legion Post #297 has created a Amateur Radio Club and is looking for other clubs in the state. Or are you interested in starting a club?  They can help. Their club recently showed why they formed when a recent storm moved through the area, the radio club members hit the streets (see pictures) to report damage throughout the area to authorities.   Once the club is established, working with the local disaster preparedness groups they bring a valuable asset to assessing damage or reporting emergencies in the area. For further information about The American Legion Amateur Radio Club or amateur radio at the Ravenna American Legion Sherman Moore Post #297, please contact Richard Strait, 231-788-6305 or email: RavennaAmericanLegionAmat...

Study confirms air crews’ exposure to Agent Orange The American Legion wants UC-123 air crews to become eligible for VA disability benefits   WASHINGTON (Feb. 24, 2014) -- The American Legion has announced its support for extending Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits eligibility to veterans who were exposed to aircraft that had previously sprayed Agent Orange over Vietnam. The Legion’s support is based on a study published Feb. 21 in the scientific journal Environmental Research: “Post-Vietnam Military Herbicide Exposures in UC-123 Agent Orange Spray Aircraft.” The study reports that environmental testing of such aircraft revealed traces of dioxin levels above Department of Defense (DoD) standards for maximum permissible exposure to poisonous chemicals. U.S. Air Force and VA policies do not currently recognize “dried residues” of herbicide and dioxin as harmful. Based on recent surface wipes and airborne concentration tests...

Have you every taken the time to read the IRS Code The American Legion is governed by in regard to Tax Issues?  For your reading pleasure see below. http://www.irs.gov/publications/p557/ch04.html#en_US_2013_publink1000200395 501(c)(19) - Veterans' Organizations A post or organization of past or present members of the Armed Forces of the United States must file Form 1024 to apply for recognition of exemption from federal income tax. You should follow the general procedures outlined in chapter 1. The organization must also meet the qualifications described in this section. Examples of groups that qualify for exemption are posts or auxiliaries of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and similar organizations. To qualify for recognition of exemption, your application should show: That the post or organization is organized in the United States or any of its pos...

VA issues new ID cards         WASHINGTON ( Feb. 21, 2014 ) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs is issuing new Veteran Health Identification Cards (VHICs) to about 4 million veterans and family members enrolled in VA’s health-care system. The new cards provide a more secure means of identification for veterans due to Social Security numbers and dates of birth no longer contained in the card’s magnetic strips or bar codes. Instead, the cards now display an Electronic Data Interchange Personnel Identifier number as the "member ID" on the front of the card and embedded in the magnetic strip. These numbers will be unique to each cardholder. While The American Legion understands the need to convert to a more secure ID card system, it is urging the department to ensure that no VA enrollee is denied timely access to health care during the card transfer. According to VA, mailing of the cards "will begin soon. Because we will be reissuing 4 million ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   More than 2,500 veterans take Legion survey WASHINGTON ( Feb. 21, 2014 ) -- As of Feb. 20, more than 2,500 veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have participated in The American Legion’s online survey  that seeks to determine the effectiveness of treatments for these two conditions. During the Legion’s month-long survey, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report on Feb. 13 , " Gulf War and Health: Long-Term Effects of Blast Injuries ," that examines how blast exposure increases the likelihood of developing TBI, PTSD and other long-term health ailments among veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The American Legion welcomed IOM’s report as a much-needed study that will help to determine what research is needed in the area of long-term health problems caused by blast injuries. Dr. Jeff Greenberg of Data Recognition Corporation (DRC), which helped the Legion develop it...

Listed below are the events I have for the next 7 days here in the Metro Detroit area. You can also go to the Legion 328 website to download any flyer for these future events.  http://www.legionpost328.org/events.html    You can get a monthly view of events by going to: http://www.michiganveteranresources.com/Events.aspx ANNOUNCEMENTS! "Women Supporting Women Vets" WSWV is hosting an online eBay auction to raise money to erect a Livingston County's Veterans Memorial for female veterans. This is an opportunity to clean your attic of items and help raise money for this group. See attached flyer on how you can contribute items to this event. "Oakland County Parks Adaptive Recreation" Oakland County Parks is providing golf lessons at several parks in May & June for disabled veterans. See the attached flyer for a complete listi...