The American Legion Weekly Update

August 17, 2007

 

                       
National Commander Paul A. Morin’s Final Message

I want to thank you all for your vote of confidence and your support for me as your 88th national commander. 

When I was elected last August, you heard me say that the guiding light of my service is represented in the two outer rings of the great emblem of our organization - the care of our fellow veterans and the children of our nation.  These two activities were at the core of my commander’s theme, “Back to the Basics, Together We Win.”  I strongly believed that if we focused on doing the things that got us to the dance as an organization back in 1919, we would succeed in increasing membership while enhancing support for our programs.

Thanks to you, by taking care of our veterans and the children of our nation, we have done just that. 

I challenged you to aggressively pursue our fight for the well being of our veterans.  I stressed how it was vitally important to continue our volunteer work within the VA and state veterans homes.  And while you were exceptionally responsive in being strong veterans advocates in your local communities it was the dilemma of our wounded soldiers at two military hospitals that garnered most of your attention and active support this past year. 

The investigation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center led to an outpour of concern that you voiced to your congressmen and senators.  And when I, along with Auxiliary National President JoAnn Cronin, identified the need to donate money for the wounded heroes recuperating at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, you responded immediately and effectively, raising thousands of dollars on short notice.

You were proactive in showing your support for our military troops, sending them off with honor and welcoming them home with pride.  Your care for our veterans and their families through these initiatives, along with our Troop Support Service programs, provided us many opportunities to create “face time” in the community and with our men and women in uniform.

I ask you to join me in supporting our newest initiative created to help our newest era of veterans who have suffered the ravages of war - our “Heroes to Hometowns” program.  You quickly recognized the need to assist severely injured servicemembers once they returned to their hometowns.   Together the national staff, departments and posts provided direct assistance to severely injured servicemembers when they return to their hometowns. 

I received news almost daily about Legionnaires, Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion working together to host welcome home events for our wounded soldiers at American Legion posts across the country.  And I was extremely glad to hear that some departments formed “Heroes to Hometowns” committees to expedite the program throughout the districts in their states.  In fact, the Department of Michigan formed a “Heroes to Hometowns” task force shortly after last year’s national convention in Salt Lake City and was administering service and support to wounded soldiers in Michigan by Christmas.


 

 I also challenged you to continue our proud tradition of offering programs that foster youth leadership like American Legion Baseball, Boys and Girls Nation and support for Scouting, just to name a few.  As a family, I wanted to raise thousands of dollars for the American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund and we are doing just that.   

Those words, “Back to the Basics and Together We Win,” are not just limited to the direct support that you lend to our veterans and our children.  The crux of our service is to support and advocate those American core values that our men and women in uniform have fought and died for.  These values are in investment in the future of our children’s well being.

You stood tall against the ACLU and continued your efforts to preserve America’s secular heritage in concert with the Veterans’ Memorials, Boy Scouts, Public Seals and Other Expressions of Religion Protection Act of 2007 (S. 415) in the U.S. Senate.  This is a measure that would stop the award of taxpayer dollars in legal fees to groups filing lawsuits against veterans’ memorials and public displays of religion.

Subsequently, we successfully formed a partnership with the Alliance Defense Fund (and Liberty Legal Institute to defend and protect our nation’s war memorials from increasing legal attacks from the ACLU and its allies, such as Freedom from Religion Foundation, and the American Atheists.

Our ranks as Legionnaires must be strong to fulfill these many challenges.  That is why it is so important to sustain and increase our membership.  In my year as your commander, I asked that you equal your membership plus one. Many of you accomplished this through mentoring and through the “buddy system.”  The success of your one-on-one approach to membership, coupled with our DMS Plus initiative, has reaped us rich dividends in membership this year.

In looking back at my year as national commander, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank my a team of national vice-commanders and national officers who helped us get back to the basics of quality service and devotion to our veterans.  They came from all walks of life and from all branches of service.  Serving as our national vice-commanders for 2006-2007 were Byron W. White of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Elgin L. Wahlborg of Arkansas City, Kan.; Robert L. Lahiere, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Alan Setterberg, Sandy, Utah; and Lloyd Hazen Woods, Stockholm, Maine.

Our national officers this year included National Historian Michael J. Miskell of Scranton, Pa.; National Sergeant at Arms Joseph Steen of Wilmington, Mass.; and National Chaplain Stanley (Stan) Gruneich, of Flandreau, S.D.

“Back to the Basics and Together We Win,” was more than just my motto.  It has been my way of life as a member of The American Legion and I think that you manifested this positive synergy many times over this year. 

By focusing on our veterans and the children of our nation, we can move mountains in providing that service to our veterans, their families and their communities. 

Thanks again, one and all, for your great work on membership. 

And, I'll ask once again--anything you can do to help support out GI's at the Landstuhl hospital--I would be appreciative.  I will be accepting donation checks on Wednesday, August 29, at approximately 2:00 p.m. on the convention stage.

Thanks once again for a great year, and together we won.

God bless,

Paul A. Morin

The 2007 American Legacy Run:  Onward to Reno!

Starting on Sunday, August 19, hundreds of veterans on a motorcycles will caravan across seven states, united by one common goal:  to raise scholarship money for children of U.S. military personnel killed on duty since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

American Legion National Commander Paul A. Morin will lead the second annual “American Legacy Run” from The American Legion’s headquarters city of Indianapolis, Indiana to the 89th Annual American Legion National Convention in Reno, Nevada.

The Riders will depart Indianapolis and run through Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming and Idaho to raise $250,000 for the American Legacy Scholarship Fund.

of our active-duty military personnel are now members of single-parent families.  In most cases, this also means their chances to attend college have greatly diminished. Children of military personnel who die on active duty are entitled to receive some money toward a college education, but it is not enough.

Providing for the children our military personnel left behind is our civic duty, and an education is a powerful way to show our thanks.  Members of The American Legion Family are working together to make sure their children have the opportunity these parents were unable to provide.

According to American Legacy Run event planners, hundreds of motorcycle riders are expected to participate in the five-day journey from Indianapolis to the

2007 Annual American Legion National Convention in Reno.  Hundreds more, from all over America, are expected to hook up at some point along the way.  Legionnaires at posts along the route to Reno will conduct fundraising activities and events in support of the American Legacy Scholarship Fund.

Not all Riders can start the event in Indianapolis or join the Legacy Run enroute to Reno. Therefore the American Legacy Run event planners encourages American Legion Riders and friends from all points of the compass to travel directly to Reno to attend the National Convention and American Legion Rider Rally.

It is not necessary to ride with The Legacy Run from Indianapolis to participate in this national event-but we hope you can join us.  In fact, this is something that all Americans can support. 

Every citizen of America can contribute as a tangible way of saying ‘thank you.’  If you ride a motorcycle, join us.  If you don’t, become a non-rider supporter.

Registration is $35 per rider and $15 per passenger, which pays for access to the run and associated activities.  A commemorative packet will be given to all registrants.  A "Supporter" option on the Registration Form is for the convenience of those who wish to contribute the registration fee of $35 to support The American Legion Legacy Run. They will receive the Run Patch and the full registration package with our compliments

Riders will stop in every state along the route for promotional events and to collect donations from Riders, American Legion Family members and business communities along the way.  Stops and events planned include:

August 18, 2007 Final Registration and Road Captain training at American Legion Post 500, Indianapolis, Indiana.

August 19, Early morning assembly and departure from Post 500.

August 19, Overnight stop in Iowa City, Iowa

August 20, Overnight stop in Grand Island, Nebraska

August 21 - Overnight stop in Cheyenne, Wyoming

August 22 - Overnight stop in Evanston, Wyoming

August 23 - Overnight stop in Elko, Nevada

August 24 - Early afternoon arrival in Reno, Nevada

August 25 - American Legion Riders National Rally

August 26 - American Legion National Convention Parade


 

Records Broken at American Legion Shooting Sports Contest

Noel Maxwell, a 13-year-old female shooter from Bowling Green, Kentucky preformed under intense pressure in the final shoot-off to capture the sporter crown at the 17th annual American Legion Junior Air Rifle National Championship, August 9-11.  One record was broken as thirty junior air rifle competitors met at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Maxwell, the youngest National Champion in the 17-year history of the program, claimed the sporter championship firing a 2309.7/2509.  She shoots for the Corvette City Shooting Team, which is sponsored by Post 23.

Dempster Christenson, 17, of Sioux Falls, S.D., won the overall Precision championship with a score of 2462.2/2509.  Christenson is a member of the Humboldt Sharpshooters, sponsored William H. Crippen Post 62.

Also observing the competition was 1992 rifle Olympic Gold medalist Launi Meili.  Meili, got her start as youth through a shooting program sponsored by the Cheney, Washington American Legion Post.  She recently assumed the duties as the rifle coach for the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Kurt Hakola set the new sporter final shoot-off record of 96.4 out of possible 109, eclipsing the old record of 93.7 set in 2004.  Hakola also finished fifth overall in the sporter category with a score of 2263.4.  The Port Crane, New York native shoots for the Binghamton Rifle Club, sponsored by Post 1845.

Rounding out the top five in the two categories were:
Precision competition - Kyle Smith shot a 2459.9 to take second place honors.  Smith is from DuBois, Pa., and shoots for the, DuBois Rifle and Pistol Club, sponsored by DuBois Post 17.

Abigail Stanic of Wadsworth, Ohio, fired a 2452.8 to capture third place.  She is a member of the Ashland Eagles, sponsored by Fairview Park Post 738.

Joseph Walkowicz finished in fourth place with a 2457.0.  He is from Nashville, Tenn., and shoots for Montgomery Bell Academy, sponsored by Brentwood Post 156.

Rounding out the top five was Matthew Pueppke of Amenia, N.D., who shot a 2448.0.  Pueppke, a 2005 national championship finalist shoots for the Buffalo Sharpshooters, sponsored by Dokken & Schroeder Post 223.

Sporter competition - Second place went to Marco Aguayo of McAllen, Texas, with a score of 2308.3.  He is a member of the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo H.S. JROTC marksmanship team, sponsored by Vermund G. Hanson Post 101.

 Kaitlyn Martin of Peralta, N.M., fired a 2288.5 for third place.  She shoots for the Valencia County 4-H Shooting Sports team sponsored by Post 85.

Taking fourth was Joe Montanez shooting a 2272.7.  Montanez is also a member of the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo H.S. JROTC marksmanship team

        The tournament staff selected Kaitlyn Martin as the recipient of the annual Francis M. Redington Sportsmanship award.  The Francis M. Redington Sportsmanship award was established in May 2005 in the memory of Redington, a long time tournament staff member, who passed away in 2003.  Martin was selected as the athlete competing in the national championship who best exemplified good sportsmanship and fair play. 

        The American Legion’s Junior Shooting Sports program offers junior shooters the opportunity to participate in Olympic-style competition while also providing instruction on the safe handling of firearms.


 

American Legion Convention Brings 10,000,
Job Fair To Reno
More than 10,000 members of The American Legion family will converge on Reno, Nev. starting Aug. 24 for the 89th annual convention of the nation’s largest veterans service organization.

Delegates from every state, the District of Columbia and four overseas “departments,” along with members of The American Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of The American Legion will arrive with their families to conduct the business of their respective organizations and spend an estimated $17 million in the process.

In addition to bringing top national newsmakers to address the convention, military veterans, servicemembers on active duty, National Guard/Reserves and their spouses are invited to a free job fair on Aug. 28 at the Reno Sparks Convention Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The public will be treated to the nation’s most colorful, patriotic parade on Aug. 26 at 4 p.m.

“This is our first national convention in Reno and we’re absolutely delighted,” said Jeff Olson, chairman of the national convention commission. “We anticipate using nearly 20,000 room nights in Reno Hotels and look forward to an exciting and mutually beneficial event.”

Gov. Jim Gibbons, Sen. John Ensign, Rep. Dean Heller and Mayors Robert Cashell and Geno Martini will welcome Legionnaires on Tuesday, Aug. 28.

While the official sessions are held Aug. 28 to 30, a series of commission meetings will start the previous Saturday through Monday to consider resolutions to be brought before convention. Once voted on by delegates, resolutions become the official policy and legislative positions of The American Legion - the roadmap for lobbying the U.S. Congress for the next year. Some Legionnaires and staff will arrive as early as Aug. 20.

Military wartime veterans of all eras are invited to stop by and join the nation’s largest veterans organization at the national headquarters office at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center beginning Tuesday, Aug. 21.

The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and patriotic youth programs. The Legion’s 2.7 million wartime veterans work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.

Boys State/Boys Nation Alumni Receives Presidential Appointment

Ben Sasse, a 1989 participant in American Legion Boys State and Boys Nation from Nebraska, has been nominated by President George Bush to serve as Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services.  Earlier, Sasse served as chief of staff in the Office of Legal Policy in the Department of Justice and Chief of Staff for Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1st District).  Sasse is among several former Boys Nation participants employed in high government positions.


 

Virginia Navy Veteran’s Small Business to Receive
First SBA Patriot Express Loan in the Nation
A ceremonial check presentation is planned for 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at the American Legion, Post 10, 9950 Cockrell Road, Manassas, Va. 20110.  The recipient of the loan, Charter Advisory Partners, LLC, is a startup intellectual property law firm based in The Plains, Virginia.  The firm is owned by Matthew J. Lattig, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate.

        Charter Advisory Partners, LLC received a $350,000 SBA Patriot Express Loan through SunTrust Bank to fund leasehold improvements, inventory and working capital.  Charter’s Patriot Express Loan was the first approved in the country, processed shortly after the program became available on June 28, 2007.  More than 500 lenders have been approved nationwide to make Patriot Express loans and approximately 80 loans have been approved since Charter Advisory Partners' approval.

        The Patriot Express Initiative includes new and enhanced programs and services for veterans and members of the military community wanting to establish or expand small businesses.  Eligible military community members include: veterans, service-disabled veterans, active-duty service members participating in the military’s Transition Assistance Program, Reservists and National Guard members, current spouses of any of the above, and the widowed spouse of a service member or veteran who died during service or of a service-connected disability.

Congressman Frank R. Wolf, Virginia State Sen. Charles J. Colgan, SBA Administrator Steven C. Preston; SBA Regional Administrator Stephanie A. Watkins; and Fred Brennan, Executive Vice President, SunTrust Bank will participated in the check presentation ceremony along with Matthew Lattig of Charter Advisory Partners, LLC.

PERA 

The Veterans' Memorials, Boy Scouts, Public Seals, and Other Public Expressions of Religion Protection Act of 2007 -- better known as "PERA" -- when introduced in January, was referred to the Judiciary Committees of both the House and the Senate.  S. 415, introduced by Sen. Brownback has 19 cosponsors. 

H.R. 725, introduced by Rep. Burton has 59 cosponsors. 

This legislation would amend US Statutes to prevent the use of the legal system in a manner that extorts money from state, local and the federal governments, as is being done by the ACLU in Establishment Clause suits.  Letters, phone calls and emails from Legion family members would go a long way to increase the cosponsor numbers and help move the bills through their respective Judiciary committees and out to the floor for a vote.  

The American Legion Toolbar
The American Legion in cooperation with ERT Global and Yahoo now offers our members a unique way to support the organization via their computer.  Whether it is their branch of service or special Legion program, they are provided with toolbar graphics (skins) to show their support.  Quick-touch buttons and drop down menus provide instant access to The American Legion website, the Patriot Mall, Weekly Updates and Legion Travel.  The toolbar also includes a powerful pop-up blocker that makes their browsing experience quick and easy.  Best of all, every time our members use the toolbar's Yahoo search engine, they generate financial support for American Legion programs!  Visit www.legion.org and click on the revolving toolbar.


 

Editor’s Note
The national PR staff will depart on Monday, August 20, for Reno, Nevada to cover the 2007 American Legion National Convention.  The next edition of The American Legion Weekly Update will be on September 7, 2007. 

Please check The American Legion website, www.legion.org <http://www.legion.org> for day-to-day updates on the national convention and other current news items.

Have a great week!

The American Legion -- Still Serving America