American Legion RSS

After a long battle with the broken U.S. immigration bureaucracy, Mauricio Hernandez Mata became a naturalized U.S. citizen Feb. 8 – decades after he earned the right with his honorable military service. The Army combat veteran, who served in Afghanistan, took the oath at the U.S. Customs and Immigration Office in San Diego accompanied by his wife, daughter, friends and fellow veterans. “It’s been a long journey,” says Mata, who has been living in Tijuana since he was deported for drug possession and illegal re-entry convictions more than 10 years ago. “It’s definitely a win for all of the deported veterans, not just myself.” It’s also been excruciating. “I’ve seen a lot of guys come home before me,” Mata says. “I’ve seen a lot of guys get their citizenship before me. There was a point I was ready to tell my lawyers to give up the good fight because it

Donna-Marie Drucker is the wife of a combat veteran, the daughter of a gunsmith – herself a gun enthusiast – and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Part of her background includes hundreds of hours performing crisis intervention.She’s also the survivor of a youth suicide attempt. “I share that information for two reasons,” Drucker told The American Legion’s TBI/PTSD/Suicide Prevention Committee on Feb. 26 during the organization’s annual Washington Conference. “One – and I think this is really important for all of us to think about – is that I’ve never had a second attempt. I’ve never even considered ending my life again since that day. And I’m not like a unicorn here. Most people that experience thoughts of suicide or have a suicide attempt never go on to have another one. Almost 70 percent that survive their first attempt never have a second attempt. So getting help and

With 46 total state titles, Memphis, Tenn., has long been an American Legion Baseball power.That was particularly true from 1959 to 1977 when head coach Tony Gagliano guided his teams to 18 state titles, six American Legion World Series appearances and a 1968 ALWS championship team that was led by two future major leaguers.The 1968 title came in a year in which Memphis finished with a 52-5 overall record and a season-ending 22-game winning streak.Gagliano, who coached more than 20 future major leaguers during his time as Memphis head coach, had two stars on his 1968 team in pitcher-outfielders Don Castle and Ross Grimsley.Castle, a three-sport star at nearby Coldwater, Miss., High School, turned down a $35,000 signing bonus from the Washington Senators after he was the No. 8 overall pick in the 1968 major league draft to play American Legion Baseball.After winning 16 high school games (with eight no-hitters)

In a renewed push to reassert Congress' role in deciding when to send troops into combat, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted on March 8 to repeal two authorizations for past wars in Iraq.The committee specifically voted to approve repealing the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force, or AUMFs. The full Senate may consider the measure before members leave for an April recess.The American Legion has long supported Congress as the authority to declare war.“Our nation’s founders made clear that declaration of war is the solemn and sole responsibility of the U.S. Congress,” American Legion National Commander Vincent “Jim” Troiola said. “The American Legion has called for the repeal of outdated Authorization(s) for the Use of Military Forces (AUMF). The American Legion believes that the U.S. deployment of troops to Iraq has extended long past the original intent and purpose of the stated mission.”Advocating for a

Gratitude for life-saving measures. Pleas for mental health improvement. Demands for greater accountability. Those were among the topics covered by American Legion members and other veterans as they shared their experiences at the massive Sacramento VA Medical System during a Legion System Worth Saving (SWS) town hall on March 6. American Legion Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission Chairman Autrey James moderated the wide-ranging, 90-minute long discussion. “The System Worth Saving program evolved out of issues that were discovered and we work as partners with the VA,” said James, a member of Harding-Noia American Legion Post 161 in Antioch. “This is a cooperative effort. I know that sometimes people think it’s a type of inspection. We have no authority to inspect.” David Stockwell, director of the Sacramento VA, was among the staff members attending. The Sacramento VA system cares for about 100,000 veterans annually at 10 sites spanning 44,000 square miles. “We

In honor of Daniel J. O'Connor, National Americanism Commission chairman from 1962-1983 and chairman emeritus from 1984-2004, the Daniel J. O’Connor Americanism Trophy is presented annually to the department that attains the greatest number of percentage points derived from the activities reported on the Consolidated Post Report form and that submits a narrative of not more than 500 words supporting its Americanism programs.The narrative is due to National Headquarters July 14, 2023.Submissions for this award can be submitted by email to americanism@legion.org or mailed to the below address.The American LegionAmericanism Division - O’Connor700 N Pennsylvania St.Indianapolis, IN 46204

During his visit to the American Legion Department of Virginia on Friday, March 3, American Legion National Commander Vincent J. “Jim” Troiola toured the USS New York at Naval Station Norfolk. While eating lunch with a few officers and sailors inside the chief’s mess, the national commander reflected on a special moment he witnessed with the “beloved ship” over 10 years ago. While serving as American Legion Department of New York commander in 2010, Troiola was on board the USS Iwo Jima as it crossed paths with the USS New York in New York Harbor on Veterans Day. Together, both ships stopped near Ground Zero. “Taps played, all the Marines and sailors were up on the decks saluting, and firefighters sprayed the USS New York with water. Most emotional thing you’d ever see,” Troiola said. “This ship is a beloved ship of New York City; there’s no doubt about that.

In a new episode, The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast kicks off Women’s History Month by welcoming guest Phyllis Wilson, the president of the Women’s Military Memorial. A 37-year Army veteran and life member of USS Jacob Jones American Legion Post 2 in Washington, D.C., Wilson hits on a wide range of topics in the interview. She discusses the memorial, which is located at the entrance of Arlington National Cemetery; its recent 25th anniversary; the 300,000 stories of women veterans in their database and more.“That is only 10% of the stories that should be in there,” she said. “Many of those stories that we are missing are from the current era, the last 15, 20, 25 years. So we’re asking everybody to step forward and claim your place in history. We can only tell the stories we know.”It’s not just women who can submit names and bios. Men can share the

The American Legion Internal Affairs & Membership Division welcomed Jeff Masters to its February virtual Training Tuesday session. Masters has been practicing yoga for over 40 years and is on the board of directors for Veterans Yoga Project (VYP), a nonprofit that offers free in-person and virtual yoga classes nationwide for veterans, military families and communities to support recovery and resilience. During the training, Masters spoke about the history of yoga, science behind it, and the benefits of it for mental health, anxiety, pain, depression and stress. Listen to the February Training Tuesday here. Masters first addressed misconceptions about yoga – that it’s just about stretching, balancing on one leg or your head, chanting, only for young and flexible individuals. “Ultimately, yoga is for everybody,” Masters said. “What we know is that anyone, anyone can benefit from taking the time to breathe easy, focus clearly, move mindfully, rest deeply …

American Legion Buddy Checks are to be conducted during the week of the Legion’s birthday per Resolution 18. Download the Buddy Check Toolkit to help you connect with Legionnaires and veterans in your community. The American Legion Department of Oregon has also created an engaging tool to help you prepare for and promote Buddy Checks, a well as Be the One. The Department of Oregon created colorful wristbands to educate the public on the Legion’s Buddy Check program and Be the One suicide prevention awareness initiative and to give them something they can wear daily as a reminder .  Two wristbands are in 4x6 Ziplock bags with a cardstock insert educating on Buddy Checks or Be the One. “We went with two bracelets per pack to create the opportunity of engagement,” said Department 1st Vice Commander Cory Brockmann. “You can pull one out and wear it and give the other to someone else.

During the INDYCAR SERIES opening weekend in St. Petersburg, Fla., Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) introduced a new collectible that will be made available to those attending series races this year, as well as through digital distribution. Alex Palou, who drove the No. 10 American Legion Honda to an eighth-place finish in the Grand Prix of St. Peterburg presented by RO Funding, joined with CGR on Twitter in announcing the release of Chip Ganassi Racing’s 2023 trading cards. The cards feature drivers and race cars from CGR’s open-wheel, sports car and off-road racing series. One set includes eight cards from 37 available designs. Every pack presents a chance to get a rare, autographed cards from CGR legends.The cards will be available at select events and through online giveaways. Sign up for the Chip Ganassi Racing newsletter here to get future updates, which also will be available by following CGR on Facebook,

Department of Oregon Legionnaires are staging a revitalization and veteran outreach effort March 11 and then March 13-15 at two different locations in Northwest Oregon. The schedule is:·       Saturday, March 11, noon-4 p.m. Aloha American Legion Post 104, 20325 SW Alexander St., Aloha (lunch served noon-1 p.m.)·       Monday, March 13-Wednesday, March 15: 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Elks Lodge, 1907 3rd St., Tillamook. Veterans in the area are invited to learn about American Legion programs, the Legion’s lobbying efforts and potential veterans benefits. A veterans service officer will be available to assist with Department of Veterans Affairs-related issues and other veterans benefits-related questions, including PACT Act assistance.

The Feb. 21 edition of the Tango Alpha Lima podcast features Stacy Pearsall, a retired Air Force combat photographer who has gone from documenting servicemembers in action to documenting veterans in the next stage of their lives. In January, South Carolina Educational Television (SCETV) began airing Pearsall’s TV series “After Action.” In each episode, veterans talk about their service and what came after. Pearsall says her goal is to “demystify the military experience.” The profiled veterans talk “how we talk to each other when other people aren’t around,” in an effort to demonstrate to civilians how they can effectively communicate with the veteran community without “miscommunications,” and maybe even prevent tragedy. Pearsall grew up in a family steeped in both the arts and the military. Her mother was an amateur artist who encouraged her and her sister; she later followed her sister into the Air Force. She describes her specialty

The American Legion is turning 103 on Tuesday, March 15 – the day in 1919 when the first American Legion caucus, held by members of the American Expeditionary Force, convened in Paris. Each year, Legion posts across the country hold events – public, private or both – to commemorate this anniversary. Posts are encouraged to upload recaps and photos of their birthday celebrations (and other community activities) to legiontown.org. A 104th birthday speech has been drafted by the Legion’s Media and Communications staff as a way for Legionnaires to emphasize what the Legion represents, both to themselves and to the community at large. They are not meant to be recited verbatim; members are encouraged to amend them to taste and audience. The speech can be downloaded here. As The American Legion prepares to celebrate its birthday, a perfect way to celebrate is to make Buddy Checks. The American Legion’s Buddy Check program initially started for posts

1.   President Joe Biden said Friday that there is only one word to describe former Army Col. Paris Davis — “gallantry. It’s not much used these days,” Biden said at the White House, just moments before he bestowed the former Special Forces commander with the Medal of Honor. “But I can think of no better word to describe Paris.”2.   Taiwan Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng warned on Monday the island has to be on alert this year for a "sudden entry" by the Chinese military into areas close to its territory amid rising military tensions across the Taiwan Strait. China has stepped up its military activities around Taiwan in recent years, including almost daily air force incursions into the island's air defense identification zone.3.   Army recruiters struggling to meet enlistment goals say one of their biggest hurdles is getting into high schools, where they can meet students one on one. But they received

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding was an impressive start to the season for Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR), and a great showcase for The American Legion’s “Be the One” veteran suicide-prevention initiative. Off the track, The American Legion’s activation display in the Turn 5 Speed Zone had steady foot traffic all weekend, with veterans able to learn about American Legion advocacy, get assistance with their benefits and receive a thank you for their service. And on the track, four CGR drivers finished in the top 11, three of those featuring American Legion branding – and one, Marcus Ericsson, taking the lead on Lap 97 to win the series opener. Ericsson’s teammate, Alex Palou, drove The America Legion No. 10 finish to an eighth-place finish after starting the race seventh. Palou ran in the top 10 almost the entire race and also

Now in his fourth season with Chip Ganassi Racing, Marcus Ericsson is coming off a 2022 INDYCAR SERIES to remember. Ericsson finished sixth in the series points standing, which included a win at the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” at the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Ericsson’s victory was the fifth for Chip Ganassi Racing.Ericsson followed up the 2022 by winning this year’s INDYCAR SERIES season opener, winning the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. Before the 2023 INDYCAR SERIES got underway, Ericsson talked with American Legion Social Media Manager Steven B. Brooks about winning the Indy 500, what his goals are for this season, and what it means to share The American Legion’s “Be the One” initiative to slow the number of veteran suicides.The American Legion: You’ve obviously been a very successful part of Chip Ganassi Racing since The American Legion came aboard two seasons ago.

During his travels to small posts across the nation, American Legion National Commander Vincent J. “Jim” Troiola witnesses the value of Be the One.Family members of veterans who have taken their own life share their grief with Troiola. “They don’t have answers for it, they don’t know why,” he said. Case in point: About three or four months ago, a veteran revealed a secret to Troiola. “I’ve been out of the Vietnam War for almost 50 years now,” the commander recalled the man saying. “He said, ‘My brother took his own life. You’re the only one who knows that. My family thinks he died from injuries he received. He shot himself.’ It really broke me up. You realize how bad it is out there.”During last week’s American Legion Washington Conference, an expert on post-traumatic stress disorder and veteran suicide addressed Legionnaires on the topic. Dr. David Rudd, who was deployed

American Legion National Commander Vincent J. “Jim” Troiola stopped by the National Security Commission, which he used to serve as chairman. During a brief address during the Legion’s Washington Conference on Feb. 27, Troiola relayed some of his experiences while meeting with Marines and sailors Okinawa, various troops in Hawaii, Coastguardsmen on the Oregon coast and others.“What I want to talk with you about today is what I consider a matter of national security,” he said. “And that is the satisfaction of active-duty military families. The satisfaction rate of military families at military bases all over the United States is at the lowest it’s been in decades, at 52 perecent.”At Pearl Harbor, Troiola said, he learned that the drinking water is contaminated due a tank dating back to World War II that is filled with fuel. Thousands of military families have been relocated, the commander said.“This is a hot-button issue,” he said.

Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova and U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Stephen Lightfoot thanked The American Legion for its support on a number of fronts – from those defending against Russian aggression to those serving in the U.S. Armed Forces today – during the Washington Conference.The conference, which wrapped up a busy February for The American Legion, also included a heavy emphasis on the Be the One initiative to reduce veteran suicide, including a vow from the VA secretary to bolster peer-to-peer help for at-risk veterans in the coming year.Meanwhile, youth programs are gearing up, with more than 660 teams already registered for American Legion Baseball this year.Click here to see the February 2023 American Legion Membership Impact Report, along with those of previous months.

The 2023 NTT INDYCAR Series season kicks off this weekend, and The American Legion’s “Be the One” suicide-prevention will be on full display on the track.Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou, the 2021 series champ, will be driving the No. 10 American Legion Honda that features “Be the One” branding in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Palou finished fifth in last year’s series post standings in finished second behind Scott McLaughlin last year in the St. Petersburg Race.The Firestone Grand Prix is 100 laps, with the 1.8-mile course featuring 14 turns and incorporating streets of downtown St. Petersburg and a section of runway of Albert Whitted Airport. After the long frontstretch, there's a tight right-hander into Turn 1 and then a quick left-hand turn. Plenty of drivers have gotten into trouble in these two turns over the years. There are two other long straights with heavy braking zones that afford

Throughout the 2023 INDYCAR season, we’ll be highlighting veterans who work within the racing series, whether for Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR), INDYCAR or other racing teams.To kick off the series, we’re highlighting Michael Harmon, CGR’s Lead Graphic Designer and Graphic Department Group Leader. Harmon, who served in the U.S Air Force from 1992-1996, designed the livery for the No. 10 car that will be driven by 2021 INDYCAR SERIES champ Alex Palou in multiple races. Harmon is in his seventh season with CGR and resides in Charlottesville, Ind., which is less than 40 miles from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.Harmon spoke with American Legion Social Media Manager Steven B. Brooks about his role with CGR and what it means to be a part of the Legion’s “Be the One” veteran suicide-prevention initiative. The American Legion: How did you end up working for Chip Ganassi Racing?Michael Harmon: By luck. I was working at

The 2023 INDYCAR SERIES gets underway this weekend with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida. The American Legion and Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) are again partnering this season, with CGR’s drivers featuring American Legion branding through the year. This weekend, 2021 INDYCAR SERIES champ Alex Palou will be driving the No. 10 American Legion “Be the One” livery, sharing with millions of racing fans the Legion’s suicide-prevention initiative.Earlier this year, Palou sat down with American Legion Social Media Manager Steven B. Brooks to talk about the upcoming season, including his goals and what it’s like to share the Legion’s “Be the One” on his livery throughout the season.The American Legion: You’ve driven The American Legion car a handful of times during the two previous seasons. Now that’s going to be expanded this season, with the focus on “Be the One.” What does it mean to you to

Historic Programs and the D-Day Committee have nominated the Amityville (N.Y.) American Legion Pipe Band to serve as lead pipe band and official U.S. representative at the June 2023 D-Day commemoration. The band will perform at wreath-laying and commemoration ceremonies at Brittany and Omaha Beach cemeteries, parade services in Sainte-Mère-Église, and are tentatively scheduled for an event in Paris.Jim Gilchrist is a member of Post 1066 in Massapequa, where the pipe band has been based since 2015. But it retains the name of its hometown, nearby Amityville, where it was established in 1952 at Post 1015: “We know where we started,” he says. Some of the founding members had been taught to play by British Army veterans. Gilchrist joined in 1981 – his father knew some members. He started on the caster flute and worked his way up to drum major. To this day the band remains open to all

The 10 national scholars of the 2022 Samsung American Legion Scholarship arrived in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the Legion’s Washington Conference to be recognized by American Legion Family members for their achievement. During their stay Feb. 26-March 1, the scholars toured the National Mall and Arlington National Cemetery with Legion Family members, attended a special recognition dinner with National American Legion Commander Vincent J. “Jim” Troiola, National Sons of The American Legion Commander Christopher Carlton and Auxiliary President Vicki Koutz, and met with members of Congress on Capitol Hill with their respective American Legion department leaders.  The 10 scholars were eligible for the Samsung American Legion Scholarship for their participation in either American Legion Boys State or Auxiliary girls state in 2022, being the direct descendant (or legally adopted child) of a U.S. military veteran, and for their academic achievement and community service. The scholars each had a chaperone

Terri Tanielian is the daughter of a Vietnam War Navy veteran who then served in law enforcement for 20 years. She credits him with instilling in her a sense of service. He’s also the reason Tanielian, the Special Assistant to the President for Veterans Affairs, thanked The American Legion for it’s “Be the One” veteran suicide-prevention initiative during her address Feb. 28 at the Washington Conference. “I am so grateful that suicide prevention is a high priority to The American Legion,” Tanielian said. “Not just because of my role in the work I do professionally, but also because its personal. You see, in 1999 my father became one of the veteran suicides statistics. Losing a loved one to suicide leaves not just an empty chair at the table, but many unanswered questions of what more you could have done to fix the systems that missed the signs and let him

Calling for Congress to apply the same urgency toward stopping veteran suicide as it did toward passage of the PACT Act last year, National Commander Vincent J. “Jim” Troiola laid out The American Legion’s legislative priorities before a joint session of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs committees Wednesday morning.After praising Congress for passing the landmark legislation which opened benefits to millions of veterans exposed to environmental toxins, Troiola reminded lawmakers about the words associated with the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act.“’Pact,’ ‘promise’ and ‘honor’ are terms we must also urgently apply to the epidemic of veteran suicide,” Troiola said. “The American Legion’s ‘Be the One’ initiative, which raises awareness nationally about the problem and seeks to destigmatize asking for help, is our organization’s highest priority today. To us, suicide prevention is a pact we share with our friends and comrades of military service, a promise

After celebrating its 25th anniversary last fall, the Military Women’s Memorial (MWM) is continuing its nationwide push to collect and document the stories of women who served.At the 103rd National Convention in Milwaukee, MWM President Phyllis Wilson thanked American Legion posts and Auxiliary units for decades of financial support for the memorial, which is embarking on a multimillion-dollar renovation focused on exhibit galleries.A 37-year Army veteran and life member of USS Jacob Jones Post 2 in Washington, D.C., Wilson spoke to The American Legion Magazine about the MWM’s registry of service, raising the memorial’s visibility and the full integration of women in today’s military.What makes the Military Women’s Memorial a must-see? Certainly there are beautiful monuments and memorials around Washington, D.C. The unusual thing about the Military Women’s Memorial is it is more than just a wall or open-air venue. We are all of that, but we also have a massive

American Legion member Casey Nash illustrates the organization’s commitment to its Be the One mission, as VA Secretary Denis McDonough pointed out.Nash is the 1st district commander in the Department of Georgia. She earned combat action badges and received a Purple Heart after deploying several times post 9/11. She is also a survivor of a suicide attempt. Her experience led her to “Be the One” to give back to others, including creating an awareness event last fall aimed at reducing the rate of veteran suicide.“Casey credits the community she discovered through The American Legion with helping her recover, with helping her find a sense of purpose again, with helping her live,” McDonough said in his speech to American Legion Family members during its 63rd Washington Conference on Feb. 28. “Today, she’s building that community for dozens of other veterans in her area, sharing stories and supporting one another in the

American Legion National Commander Vincent J. “Jim” Troiola applauded legislative victories for veterans in the 117th Congress in his opening remarks to members of the Legion Family Feb. 28 at the Washington Conference during the Commander’s Call. “One of our biggest agenda items last year was the PACT Act. Because of your hard work it passed,” said Troiola of the legislation, which will allow more than 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans eligible for VA benefits. Another piece of significant legislation passed was the Buddy Check Week Act that requires VA to implement a national buddy check week, mirroring the Legion’s Buddy Check program. “It’s a great step toward creating meaningful suicide prevention measures.”That led Troiola to voice the Legion’s Be the One initiative to reduce veteran suicide by destigmatizing the need for veterans to ask for help and encourage everyone to “Be the One” to ask if a veteran is OK.