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Don’t miss the January issue of The American Legion Magazine, which includes articles on the rise of veteran online gaming, an Oregon post’s apology to Japanese American World War II veterans, cancers and illnesses covered under the PACT Act and more. The clickable digi-mag is available through MyLegion.org.• As the veteran gaming community grows, American Legion posts have an opportunity to reach a younger demographic. “We’d like to have … gaming stations in posts across the country,” says Chris Earl, founder of Regiment Gaming and a California Legionnaire. “With all the peripherals and gaming equipment, (a four-PC setup) costs less than $10,000. It’s easy to monetize gaming and make this money back. A lot of post-9/11 veterans are definitely going to come into these posts.” Watch a video about Regiment Gaming’s four-PC gaming station at the 103rd American Legion National Convention in Milwaukee.• In “The High Road,” Ken Olsen describes how the Nisei Veterans

Children whose parents lost their lives while honorably serving on active military duty on or after 9/11, as well as children of post-9/11 veterans with a combined Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating of 50% or higher, are eligible to apply for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship.Additionally, to qualify for the Legacy Scholarship a parent or legal guardian must be a member in good standing of The American Legion or was a member at the time of their passing.Eligible applicants can apply online here. Deadline to apply is April 1.The Legacy Scholarship is a needs-based scholarship awarded for undergraduate study, graduate study and trade schools at an accredited institution of higher education. The grant amount that eligible scholarship recipients may receive is based on financial need after all federal and state aid is exhausted. Recipients will have a year to use the grant and may reapply to The American Legion Legacy Scholarship up

The New Buffalo Soldiers – this year celebrating the 125th anniversary of the epic 1,900-mile Iron Riders bicycle expedition from Missoula, Mont., to St. Louis – are set to ride in the 56th spot of the Jan. 2 Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif.Joining the group in the equestrian category are American Legion members Bobby McDonald and Ron Jones, who led commemorations of the famous ride last summer in Montana. The Iron Riders re-enactors, on replica bicycles and in full historic uniform, will lead the horseback entry in the parade.The nationally televised event begins at 11 a.m. Eastern Time Monday.   

My father, Charles “Buzzy” Thomas, was drafted on May 13, 1953, and received training as a corpsman and was a member of the 125th Medical Detachment, 8th Army while deployed. He spent two years, 10 months and six days in Korea. His war service played a major role in my decision to join the military. Our father-and-son bond only grew more after I followed in his footsteps and decided to serve our country. The first introduction to my father’s stint in the Army was while paging through his photo album. As a youngster who had G.I. Joes and the bags of green Army men, I was enthralled seeing real soldiers in uniform, Army halftracks and helicopters. It started with images of him posed with family members prior to shipping out, then tourist-type photos of his layover in Seattle and groups of soldiers soaking up the sun on the deck of

On Dec. 29, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that starting Jan. 1, 2023, it will begin processing PACT Act benefit claims for all veterans and their survivors. Since President Biden signed the PACT Act into law on Aug. 10, more than 213,000 have applied for PACT Act-related benefits. And more than 959,000 veterans have received VA’s new toxic exposure screenings, with nearly 39% reporting a concern of exposure. “We at VA are ready to process these claims and deliver PACT Act-related care and benefits to toxic exposed veterans and their survivors,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough in the release. “To all veterans and survivors: don’t wait, apply now – we will get you the care and benefits you deserve.” Jan. 1 is the earliest date that VA will have both the authorities and capabilities necessary to fully process all PACT Act claims. While VA did not have the capabilities to begin fully processing

LEARN HOW YOUR PLANNED GIFT CAN HELP THE AMERICAN LEGION The Secure Act 2.0 was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (H.R. 2617). It includes many changes intended to enhance and facilitate retirement benefits. Since passage of the original Secure Act in 2019, House and Senate members have been working on further changes to encourage saving for retirement. The Secure Act 2.0 will increase the required minimum distribution age, allow a larger catch-up contribution limit, facilitate rolling some Section 529 plans into Roth IRAs, and generally expand access to retirement plans for moderate and lower-income employees. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) is chair of the Senate Finance Committee. He stated, "Americans deserve dignified retirements after decades of hard work, and our bill is an important step forward." Brian Graff, CEO of the American Retirement Association, stated, "We are grateful to the many members of Congress and staff who worked

The American Legion’s Blood Donor Program had its biggest year in 15 years, according to the 2021-22 national Consolidated Post Report.With just over 70% of posts reporting their numbers for the most recent membership year, The American Legion produced no less than 92,162 units of blood from 56,013 individual donors through 2,504 collections. It was the highest unit total reported since 2008 when the number of units reported was 93,859.The American Legion Department of Wisconsin led in the 2021-22 reporting, with 7,809 units collected, closely followed by the Department of Minnesota at 7,559.The American Legion’s National Blood Donor Program emerged in 1942 to help local communities – including VA hospitals – meet domestic needs at a time when plasma was in high demand on the World War II fronts. In time, The American Legion became the No. 1 contributor of blood nationwide for the Red Cross.See how The American Legion’s

A GoFundMe project is underway to help high school juniors in the Department of France take part in the American Legion Boys State and Auxiliary Girls State programs.The department has coordinated with the Department of Maryland to have candidates from Europe participate in their weeklong program. As in the United States, expenses associated with attending the program are paid by the post that selects the student/s – but said expenses are far higher when international travel is involved.Further information can be obtained from the Department of France’s Boys State coordinator, Joseph Schram, at joseph.schram@gmail.com.

The head of the nation’s largest veterans organization commended Congress for what The American Legion considers “victories for  veterans” in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal 2023, which passed the House of Representatives Dec. 23. Earlier this month, American Legion National Commander Vincent “Jim” Troiola, along with other VSO leaders, sent a letter to congressional leadership urging them to pass a full year funding package and avoid additional stop gap measures that could impact VA’s ability to provide services to veterans. “We are pleased to see that Congress has not only reached an agreement on the funding measure but also included important provisions that support America’s veterans,” Troiola said. “The American Legion has made the prevention of veteran suicide our top priority and this budget designates an annual ‘Buddy Check’ week, in which peer wellness checks will be emphasized throughout the Department of Veterans Affairs. The American Legion has long believed

On June 6, three Marine veterans embarked on a 3,365-mile walk from USS Constitution in Boston Harbor to Newport, Ore. Their mission: create awareness about the nation’s more than 81,000 POWs and MIAs, and to raise funds for History Flight, a nonprofit dedicated to researching, recovering and repatriating U.S. servicemembers.For Justin “J.D.” LeHew, a highly decorated Marine and chief operating officer of History Flight, the journey reinforced “the principle of never leaving a fallen comrade behind, and that I am my brother and sister’s keeper.” Called “Team Long Road,” LeHew, Coleman “Rocky” Kinzer and Ray Shinohara walked Highway 20, the Medal of Honor Highway. Along the way, they were celebrated by American Legion posts and members – especially in Oregon, their final leg. Dan Burks, the department‘s second vice commander, greeted the team at the state line Nov. 18. National Auxiliary President Vickie Koutz and National Security Commission Director Mario

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stood in an army green outfit on the House floor Wednesday as he implored congressional lawmakers not to turn their backs on the war raging in Ukraine. He harkened back to American victories in World War II, drawing parallels between Adolf Hitler and Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Battle of the Bulge and the battle for the Ukrainian frontline city of Bakhmut. He quoted President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who led the wartime alliance that triumphed over Nazi Germany. And Zelenskyy paid tribute to America’s long road to independence in a bid to win over the hearts of lawmakers as Congress considered another aid package for Ukraine. “Your money is not charity,” he said. “It’s an investment in global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.” Zelenskyy’s speech before a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday capped his first visit outside Ukraine

Around a year ago, the nonprofit Stack Up headed to Fort Campbell, Ky., to help update the base’s Warrior Zone, a facility that includes a gaming area for servicemembers on the base. It was right in its wheelhouse for Stack Up, which among its other programs promotes positive mental health through gaming. Stack Up founder/CEO Stephen Machuga said when U.S. Army Forces Command learned of his organization’s effort, it requested similar visits to other bases. One of those visits came in early December and included a nice boost from an American Legion Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW) grant. When it visited Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), Stack Up brought with it some Department of Washington Legionnaires, as well as $29,500 worth of equipment purchased through the OCW grant. Machuga, who was a guest on The American Legion’s Tango Alpha Lima podcast, said he’s developed a relationship with fellow gamer Doug Chace, who

Dear American Legion Family members and friends,This is a special week of the year when we gather with family members and friends to celebrate. Many will celebrate Christmas. Others will celebrate Hanukkah. Still others will celebrate Kwanzaa. And in another week, we will ring in a new year filled with joy, optimism and perhaps even inspiration to make good on our resolutions.The special gatherings, delicious food and warm company will fill our hearts. Just as important as it is to remember these special moments, let us not forget the individuals who go above and beyond.Let us remember our brothers and sisters who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving our nation.Let us remember veterans who came before us to establish and preserve our democracy.Let us remember our men and women who are serving today and protecting our freedoms.Let us remember our law-enforcement officers, health-care workers and other first responders — many

Retired Navy Cdr. Youssef Aboul-Enein joins this week’s American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast with a riveting story about how the Sept. 11 attacks reshaped his personal and professional life.“9/11 was the pivot point in my career,” said Aboul-Enein, who began his career as a medical intelligence officer and was just outside the Pentagon when American 77 struck. “It impacted me both professionally and personally.” (Check out the special 9/11 series on the 20th anniversary of the attacks.)Following the terrorist attacks, there was “a dire need for Arabic linguists,” which presented a new career opportunity. He served as director for North Africa and Egypt; as well as assistant director for Arabian Gulf Affairs for four years at the Office of the Secretary of Defense under Donald Rumsfeld; and later joined the Defense Intelligence Agency and retired from the agency in January. “I have had the privilege of training thousands of

On Dec. 17, volunteers across the nation honored veterans, placing around 2.7 million wreaths on the gravesites of veterans during Wreaths Across America (WAA) events. And at the forefront of many of those events were American Legion Family members. Whether sponsoring the events themselves or providing support for others, posts, Auxiliary units, Sons of The American Legion squadrons and Legion Riders headed to thousands of locations across the country to honor their fellow veterans. That includes an effort in South Carolina that has seen the amount of wreaths placed from 200 to 4,000 in just six years, as well as an inaugural WAA event in Michigan that saw more than 1,000 wreaths placed at two cemeteries. The following are just a few more examples of Legion Family members taking part in WAA events nationwide. Those who participated in Wreaths Across America are urged to share their photos and stories at

As Jimmie Johnson turns the page on his racing career, the Sons of The American Legion member has created a book that recaps his spectacular racing career, including his two seasons in the NTT INDYCAR Series with Chip Ganassi Racing.Johnson, who was the face of The American Legion’s “Be The One” Campaign in 2021 and 2022, has returned to the NASCAR Cup Series as an ownership partner in Petty GMS Racing.Racing fans and members of the Legion who want to remember his career that includes seven NASCAR Cup Series Championships have the opportunity with an impressive coffee-table book that tells his story in racing.“One More Lap: Jimmie Johnson and the #48” is a hardcover book is published by Rizzoli and sells for $48 – an appropriate number that has been on Johnson’s cars in both NASCAR Cup and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.The book went on sale on Sept. 27, the

New Jersey Post 148 Commander Doug Herrin and Sons of The American Legion Squadron 148 Commander Hector Ortiz drove a 28-foot box truck full of donated items from Hightstown, N.J., to Fort Myers, Fla., in early December to help veterans and community members recovering from Hurricane Ida. Herrin and Ortiz landed at Post 274 in Fort Myers Beach Dec. 8, where they unloaded the truck filled with baby wipes, toiletries, clothes, boots, non-perishable goods, cleaning supplies, surgical gloves, motorized wheelchairs, two Christmas trees and more. “It was rewarding,” Herrin said. “(Post 274 members) were very appreciative. It was a good feeling because the devastation down there is unreal. So if we can ease their mind a little bit, it was well worth the trip.”The donated items poured in from Legion posts around the state of New Jersey and others, including a food drive at Amazon in Cranbury, N.J., where Herrin