Veterans' Newsfeeds

A year after Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian strongman’s pretext for war, basic premise of the war, and plans for how the war would progress have been exposed as false and deeply flawed. The primary reason for this welcome turn of events is the courage of the Ukrainian people, who are teaching Putin a lesson about the power of free men and women fighting for a just cause.Putin’s views on Ukraine’s legitimacy and sovereigntyIn his major public statements (here, here and here) about the war he unleashed against Ukraine, Putin made it clear that he rejected Ukraine’s independence and had contempt for the very notion of Ukraine as a historical entity.According to Putin, “Ukraine is not a real country” and “never had stable traditions of real statehood.” He called Ukraine “an inalienable part of our own history.” He claimed, “Since time immemorial, the people living in the southwest of what has historically been

President Biden’s fiscal year 2024 budget released March 9 proposes vital resources to help the Department of Veterans Affairs care for America’s veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors. It is the largest budget proposal in U.S. history for veterans – total FY 2024 request for VA is $325.1 billion. This is a $16.6 billion increase above the FY 2023 budget enacted level.“As President Biden often says, our nation has a sacred obligation to support veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors — and this proposed budget will help us do exactly that,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “With these historic investments, we at VA can continue to deliver more care and more benefits to more veterans than ever before in our nation’s history.” The budget for the VA aligns with The American Legion’s legislative efforts for veterans. For the VA, the budget will: Expand health care and benefits for toxic-exposed veterans:

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Female pilots and aircrew marked International Women’s Day on this base in western Tokyo by greeting students for their second annual Fly Girls event.“I’m trying not to get teary eyed,” Tech. Sgt. Seara Sapp Becker, a C-130J Super Hercules loadmaster, told Stars and Stripes at the event Wednesday. “It was amazing to see the excitement they had and to know that I might have played just a small part in their lives today is just so amazing.”More than 100 students — both girls and boys — from Yokota’s middle and high school attended the event. That morning, they rode on a UH-1 Iroquois, or Huey, helicopter; a C-12J Huron, a twin turboprop passenger plane; or a Super Hercules airlifter.Later, at static displays and information tables inside a hangar for the 459th Airlift Squadron, they learned directly from the women who pilot and maintain the aircraft.“We

For nearly 30 years John Kirby IV suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidal thoughts. He couldn’t open his Army duffel bag from his time in combat during Desert Storm, as he was scared what he would find – bloody gear from him or a fellow soldier. It was until he experienced another trauma, divorce, that he faced his PTSD and sought help. Through the Dallas VA Medical Center he took a cognitive processing therapy class. “Because of that class I was able to open up my military duffel bag,” said Kirby, noting he found boots that still fit and hunting gear in the bag. “What really saved me was writing down my trauma. I had written out my story, my trauma, what happened. I wasn’t a believer in seeing a therapist. I was like, ‘I can handle this.’ But once I went through the therapy and wrote down

In 2019, American Legion Post 207 in Tucker, Ga., was devastated by a fire after it had served as an active part of the community for years. Then came COVID, which slowed the rebuild effort and caused the post’s insurance company to initially refuse payment because the effort was taking too long. There were also supply chain issues that affected the construction.  The future looked bleak for the facility. But then U.S. Marine Corps veteran Anthony Mathis volunteered to take over as post commander and oversee the rebuild effort that included meshing the traditional mission of the post with a new vision. Mathis got the ball rolling on the rebuild, and when fellow Marine veteran Scott Brady joined the post in 2022, he shared a similar a vision. Together, the two are continuing to move toward their common as they get closer to the finish line. Mathis and Brady estimate

Fresh off his congressional testimony from a week earlier, American Legion National Commander Vincent “Jim” Troiola asked a joint assembly of South Carolina lawmakers to assist in preventing veteran suicide during an address at the state capitol March 8.“Every member of this legislature...indeed, every American, can help us with this effort,” Troiola told state senators and representatives before describing the organization’s “Be the One” campaign. “Be the one to discuss a topic that for years went unmentioned in polite society. Be the one to reach out to a veteran who may be struggling. Be the one to encourage the veteran to seek help. Be the one to follow-up with the veteran to let him or her know that they are not forgotten. Be the one to convince a veteran that life is worth living and that suicide is absolutely not an option. In other words, be the one to save

More than 1,400 pages of Sons of The American Legion newsletters are now available through the American Legion Digital Archive. Digitization of this material was made possible by the Sons organization to support their upcoming centennial. The newly available newsletters focus on national SAL activities, particularly national meetings. For the first time, early activities of squadrons and detachments can be explored in the Legion Heir newsletter.Sons of The American Legion newsletters include: • The Legion Heir, 1938-1941 • SALuations, 1967-1985 • National Update, 1986-2018Visit the Digital Archive and discover something new about the Sons of The American Legion.

Dear American Legion Family members and friends,  The American Legion is elevating its commitment to Buddy Checks, as part of Be the One, the national initiative to reduce the rate of veteran suicide. Buddy Checks are essentially wellness checks performed on veterans. They can be done over the phone, via text or face-to-face. Regardless of the method of communication, the goal is the same: make sure veterans in your community are doing OK and help them if they need anything. And next week, there is a perfect opportunity to conduct Buddy Checks as part of The American Legion’s birthday, March 15-17. As you might recall when Buddy Checks were hatched a few year ago, the original idea was to perform them around the Legion Birthday and Veterans Day. Now Buddy Checks are encouraged year round. After all, veterans need assistance 365 days a year. More than 3,600 American Legion posts

LEARN HOW YOUR PLANNED GIFT CAN HELP THE AMERICAN LEGIONI have had several health issues over the past few years. Someone recently suggested that my thyroid might be causing some of my problems. What are some common symptoms of thyroid dysfunction?If your thyroid gland is not properly functioning, it can cause many health issues that are difficult to detect because symptoms often resemble other age-related health problems. It is estimated that as many as 30 million Americans have some form of thyroid disorder but more than half are not aware of their condition.What to Know The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck that has a vital job. It produces hormones, T3 and T4, that help regulate many of your body's activities, from how quickly you burn calories to how fast your heart beats. It also influences the function of the brain, liver, kidneys and

Resources are available to help American Legion members write actionable and relevant national security resolutions. The American Legion’s National Security Division recommends reports from the Congressional Research Service (CRS), a public policy research institute of the U.S. Congress. CRS operates within the Library of Congress and works primarily, and directly, for members of Congress, their committees and staff on a nonpartisan basis. “CRS is sometimes known as a think tank for Congress due to its broad mandate of providing research and analysis on all matters relevant to national policymaking.”As of 2018, most CRS reports are available to the public through the official U.S. Congress website, crsreports.congress.gov. According to its website, CRS reports are considered in-depth, accurate, objective and timely.Access the following reports:- CRS reports on general national security topics: https://sgp.fas.org/crs/natsec/index.html - Shorter CRS defense primers: https://sgp.fas.org/crs/natsec/primer.html- The official CRS public portal: https://sgp.fas.org/crs/

The National Commander’s Banquet during the 104th American Legion National Convention will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 29, at the Charlotte Convention Center. The featured performer will be the Legacy Motown Revue.The group describes itself as “paying homage to the music that molded multiple generations and gave Detroit a claim to fame other than cars ... the Legacy takes you back to the days of the Drifters, the Coasters, the Jacksons, Earth, Wind & Fire, the Temptations and so many more legendary icons.” Four dancing/singing performers are backed up by a six-piece horn band.Tickets are $60; contact your department adjutant for more information.

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

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 …

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

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,

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