Reprinted From The Baltimore Sun
Three years ago in Iraq, Saad Ahmed was hailed by Americans as a hero after he extinguished a fire in a Humvee with five U.S. Army soldiers inside. Unfortunately, the danger for Ahmed did not end then.
A year ago, the 33-yearold Iraqi nearly died working as a translator for the U.S. military. A roadside bomb mangled both his legs at the knee, scorched his left hand,
August 2008
Remarks by both the incumbent Governor of the State of Indiana and the woman who wants his job, along with a stirring State of the Legion address by outgoing Department Commander Tommy Somerville highlighted the 90th annual Department Convention conducted July 10-13 in Indianapolis.
“The American Legion is unique among organizations whose members come together voluntarily for a common purpose,” Somerville told the more than 800 delegates and guests present to see his successor elected.
“For us, there is no one reason, no single purpose, for being Legionnaires. That is why it is so difficult to assess the accomplishments of any given year. I will, neverthe-
less, give it a try, keeping in mind that, in a very real sense, there are as many ‘American Legions’ as there are Legionnaires. Each of us has our reasons for belonging, and each of us measures our success by a different yardstick,” the commander said.
Touting the successes of his year in office, Somerville said “When I last stood before you on the platform of the convention in Merrillville, almost a year to the day, I had a vision for what we might accomplish together.
“That vision included turning around attitudes toward membership growth. We have done that. Re-establishing pride in accomplishment by making 100 percent membership goals attainable. We have done that. Encouraging great-
er participation in convention awards and recognition programs. We have done that. Revitalizing our youth programs. We are on the road to accomplishing that. And supporting the Child Welfare Foundation. We have done that, to the tune of nearly 30,000 dollars.”
Somerville credited Legionnaires, as well as members of the Auxiliary and the Sons of The American Legion with making the Legion work.
“You, and people just like you – and people like me as soon as I return to ranks of blue cap Legionnaires – are the people who make the Legion work.
He also said there was much work remaining to be done, but closed his remarks by saying that he and his officers laid the groundwork for
a future of greater and greater success, “and that is a legacy worth establishing. I return to the ranks of blue cap Legionnaires happily and with a great sense of satisfaction. I know that there will always be a place for me in The American Legion: hopefully there will be four bases and the crack of a baseball bat wherever that is,” he said, referring to his lifelong affair with American Legion Baseball.
2008-2009 Department Officers
His remarks came immediately after the election of the new commander and other officers for 2008-2009. They included Ralph Tolan, Commander (Post 500); Kenneth Dowden, Sergeant-at-Arms (Post 64; and four vice commanders, Rick Hudson (Post
156); Rodney Strong (Post 72); Ron Kizer (Post 97); and Homer Loudermilk (Post 122.)
Resolutions Approved
Following deliberation by the convention committees, three resolutions were presented to the delegates for consideration and were approved on motions by the Chairman of the Resolutions Assignment Committee, Past Department Commander Bill Firkins.
Resolution Number 08CONV-02 would eliminate all time constraints with regard to the Montgomery GI Bill.
Resolution 08CONV-01, would add a National Girl Scout Committee to the National Americanism Commission.
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Ralph Tolan, a 37-year member of Speedway American Legion Post 500, was elected by acclamation to serve as 2008-2009 State Commander of the 120,000-member American Legion Department of Indiana during the closing session of the organization’s 90th annual state Convention July 12, 2008, in Indianapolis.
As commander, Tolan will represent the Department of Indiana at public and private events, be the official spokesman for the organization, direct the administrative staff, and oversee the implementation of policies and programs established by the Department Executive Committee and Convention.
Distinguished In Many Ways
Ten outstanding Hoosier Legionnaires received the Department’s highest honor during the 90th annual Department Convention – The Distinguished Service Award. With experience ranging from service as a national officer to consistent attendance at Department and National Conventions, the honorees represent the wide range of excellence found among members of the Department of Indiana. The winners are identified in the article below.
Past Department Commander Jim Delaney presented the American Legion’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Award, to ten outstanding Department leaders during the second general session of the 90th annual convention of the Department of Indiana July 12 in Indianapolis.
Delaney told the delegates
“the Department of Indiana seeks to recognize those Legionnaires who have contributed significantly to the organization through their service to The American Legion and the State of Indiana. As imme-
diate Past Department Commander, it is my privilege to chair the selection committee, and I can tell you that it is no easy task to decide who best deserves this honor.”
The award went to Chaplain Norris Keirn; Past Department Commanders Bill Firkins and Ronald Martin; National Historian James Holmes; past Department Vice Commanders Robert Bach, Edward Trice, and David Ruell; and Lowell Spencer, David King, and Gordon Rayburn.
“These outstanding Legionnaires have an impressive record of service in a variety
of Post, District, Department and National offices,” Delaney said.
“By their service they have brought great credit on the Department of Indiana,” adding, “Of the thousands and thousands of fine Hoosier Legionnaires of the Department, in our state’s history only about 175 Legionnaires have been given the Distinguished Service Award.”
Norris Keirn, a Marine Corps Vietnam combat veteran, has served the spiritual needs of Legionnaires at
Continued on page 3
In his brief acceptance speech, Tolan told the delegates “I am very proud today, not only of having reached this milestone, but also of the countless Legionnaires who made it possible. I humbly accept, with deep gratitude, the high office of Department Commander to which you have elected me today.
“You have my solemn pledge that I will honor and respect this office and return it to you in the fine condition it has been handed to me.”
He also acknowledged those whose support and encouragement was essential to his reaching the high office of Department Commander. He singled out his wife Chrissie, Department Finance Officer Tony Riley, his fellow post members, and his predecessor for special thanks.
“Tom Somerville has set a high standard for Commanders, and I would like to recognize his leadership.
Tolan is a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, where he served as a helicopter mechanic, crew chief and ma-
Ralph Tolan
2008-2009 Department Commander
chine gunner in 1968-1969. Following his honorable discharge in 1971, Tolan returned to his hometown of Indianapolis and joined the Legion, beginning his long climb to Department Commander as the Post’s Sergeant-at-Arms, followed by stints as First Vice Commander and Post Commander, among others.
He served in almost every office available at the post, and is a past 11th District Commander. He also served the District as Adjutant, and has been active in Department and National offices and activities for many years.
Prior to his election as Department Commander, Tolan chaired all four permanent department commissions and served one term as Department Southern Vice Commander. He also has been either chairman or a member of several committees, including Americanism and its many diverse programs and activities.
Commander Tolan has also been recognized for his leadership skills by the National Organization, which he has
Continued on page 3
damaged nerves in his eyes and boggled his memory. For weeks afterward, he floated in a coma-like state.
He is now a double-amputee refugee living in Prince George’s County. Here is what awaited the one-time
hero when he arrived July 10: Three months rent-free at an apartment ill-suited for a wheelchair; a promise of food stamps until midwinter and $265 a month to November; temporary Medicaid health coverage; and an offer of job-
seeking assistance. And he'll have to repay his airfare from Jordan.
Ahmed, a burly former gym teacher, says he just needs enough of a helping hand so he can pursue a new goal of coaching disabled athletes. But he feels let down by the limited help that has been extended to someone who faithfully served the American mission in Iraq. And so far no one has told him when, or if, he will get the motorized wheelchair and high-tech artificial legs he considers keys
to regaining independence.
“I feel very bad,” he said with a grimace. It’s a lament he often repeats in a glum monotone. Yet he hasn’t lost hope. “Anything is possible in the States,” he said, flashing the grin that earned him the nickname Smiley from an American soldier buddy.
Ahmed’s rough landing is hardly unique for Iraqi translators who helped the U.S. From Seattle to Phoenix to Denver, his complaints are echoed by other wounded Iraqi interpreters now trick-
ling into the country as part of a government push to admit thousands of Iraqis.
Miserly federal support and the strain on strapped nonprofit refugee agencies have soured many maimed translators, who say they're not getting help commensurate with their service to the U.S. in Iraq. Added to that has been frustration and confusion in seeking assistance from AIG, the insurer hired by L-3 Communications/Titan, the American firm that reaped
Continued on page
Americanism Commission
Chairman Mike Miller was called to the platform of the 90th annual Department Convention in Indianapolis in July to present, on behalf of then Department Commander Tommy Somerville, the Americanism Awards. Highlighting his presentations were the announcement of the Military Persons of the Year.
Three military personnel were honored as 2008 winners.
“Each year, there can be up to three awards, one in the active duty category, one in the National Guard category and one in the Reserve Component category, or multiple winners in one category.” Miller said.
“This year, the committee has selected three outstanding members of the armed forces, one from the active duty forces, one from the Reserve Component, and one from the National Guard component.”
The 2008 Military Persons of the Year awards went to Command Sergeant Major Gregory A Rhoades, Chief Warrant Officer Jon Carrico, and Sergeant Major Dian Hager.
Gregory A Rhoades won Active Duty category, having served nearly 30 years in both the United States Army and the Indiana National Guard. He currently is on active duty, serving as Command Sergeant Major for the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Iraq.
Sergeant Major Rhoades is a member and past commander of American Legion Post 152, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Henry County Veterans Memorial.
He has been trained in a variety of military specialties including medical specialist, personnel administration, finance, supply and leadership. been honored by the Indiana National Guard many times.
Sergeant Major Rhoades was nominated by his home post, 152, in Knightstown.
Chief Warrant Officer Jon Carrico is the 2008 Military Person of the Year in the National Guard category. He served more than 41 years in uniform, and is currently preparing to retire from a career than spans three wars and more than four decades of service.
He served in combat in Vietnam, Bosnia and Iraq— “I’m not bloodthirsty and I don’t want to go to war and kill people; I just hate being here when everybody else is over there, he said.”
Chief Carrico was nominated Richmond’s Post 65 in the 10th District.
Sergeant Major Dian Hager won the Military Person of the Year Award in the Reserve Category. She has served nearly 34 years as a member of the United States Army Reserve, and has been deployed to active duty a number of times, including tours at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and in Iraq.
The majority of her service has been as a military policeman, but she also has been trained in personnel and supply.
During her service in Guantanamo Bay, she was the Operations Sergeant Major for the Joint Detention Operations Group at Camp Delta, and in Iraq she served as the Operations Sergeant Major for the 384th MP Battalion at Camp Bucca.
She was nominated by American Legion Post 212 in Lapel.
Gaylord N. Sheline Post of Distinction
According to Miller, the Gaylor Sheline award is presented to the Post whose Americanism programs are judged overall best in the department. The judging is based on a review of the Post's submission of a scrapbook of their activities, and is awarded in two categories: under 500 members and over 500 members. This year, the “Gaylord N. Sheline Post of Distinction” award, large Post category, goes to Cedar Lake Post 261. There was no winner in the small post category.
Byron Waggoner Award
The Byron Waggoner Award is based on The American Legion’s service not only to the veteran community, but also to all communities throughout the state, Miller said. The Waggoner Award recognizes this commitment and is given annually to an American Legion Post for its outstanding performance in community service during the year.
This year’s recipient of the Byron Waggoner award is Burton Woolery Post 18 in Bloomington.
Colonel Frank R. Kossa National Security Award
The American Legion has established National Security awards because it recognizes that a strong and secure nation is the greatest assurance of a ‘100 Percent Americanism,’ Miller said, and the Colonel Frank R. Kossa National Security Award is presented to the winning Post for its overall national security program as documented by newspaper clippings, post bulletins, and a scrapbook on national security.
The winner of the 2008 Col. Frank Kossa Award goes to a
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Members of the 99 Club stand to after conducting the traditional memorial service and Post Everlasting Ceremony at the opening of the final session of the 90th annual Department Convention. The group has conducted the ceremony for several years, after relieving the 71 Club from duty a few years ago. They all are officers who served with Past Department Commander Harold Epley.
August 2008
The HOOSIER LEGIONNAIRE is published bi-monthly by the Indiana Headquarters of The American Legion, 777 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204 Phone (317) 630-1391.
Periodicals Postage Paid at Indianapolis, IN and at additional mailing offices.
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to HOOSIER LEGIONNAIRE, 777 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.
Thomas Somerville Department Commander
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Editor
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Official publication of and owned and conducted exclusively by The American Legion, Department of Indiana.
Member: National American Legion Press Association and Hoosier American Legion Press Association.
Advertising Sales Representative: The Herald-Times, Bloomington (800) 422-0070.
Subscription Rates: $0.85 of each members dues goes for publication of the Hoosier Legionnaire.
Volume AB, Number 4 August 2008
Circulation 120,000
Printed by the Herald-Times, Bloomington, IN
Two Posts were honored during the recently concluded 90th annual Department Convention in Indianapolis with the newly established Community Service Award. Hammond Victory Post 168 in the 1st District won in the small post category, while Harry Ray Post 65 in the 10th District walked away tops in the large post category.
Eric Baggett, Chairman of the Department’s Community Involvement Committee, made the presentation from the platform of the convention.
“This is the third year for this award, established to recognize the accomplishments and outreach of American Legion Posts in their communities,” he said.
“Young people, and those who steward their development and growth, are the keys to our future, and I am very proud to be part of an organization that so fully supports the interest of young people.”
So saying, Leland Baxter, Chairman of the Department Chjildren and Youth Commission, presented a variety of awards to members, posts, young people and educators during the 90th annual Department Convention in Indianapolis July 12.
Educator of the Year Award
Among the most highly anticipated presentations each year, Baxter said, are the Educator of the Year awards.
“Each year, awards can be presented in two categories: Category “A” honors the educator in grades K through 6, while category “B” honors the educator of the year in grades 7 through 12. The Educator of the Year judging is based on the candidates’ career, community service, family involvement, and letters of recognition.
The two Department winners, each of whom received a $1,000 grant to their schools, were Diane Russell, the Elementary and Intermediate School Educator of the Year, sponsored by Post 403 in the 3rd District, and Gregory Curlin, the Junior-Senior High School Educator of the Year, sponsored by Post 185 in the 9th District.
The winners are selected from among educators nominated by the Districts. This year’s District Winners in the elementary and intermediate school category were:
From the 1st District, Kathleen Ickstadt, sponsored by Post 261;
From the 3rd District, Di-
ane Russell, sponsored by Post 403;
From the 4th District, Julia Page, sponsored by Post 82;
From the 5th District, Diana Sowers, sponsored by Post160;
From the 7th District, Crystal Hazelwood, sponsored by Post 22;
From the 9th District, Kathleen Daugherty, sponsored by Post 185;
And, from the 11th District, Stephen Hardwick, sponsored by Post 3.
District winners in the Junior – Senior High School Category were:
From the 2nd District, Ken Houston, sponsored by Post 81;
From the 3rd District, Linda Arney, sponsored by Post 83;
From the 4th District, Roger Probst, sponsored by Post 257;
And, from the 9th District, Gregory Curlin, sponsored by Post 185.
Russell has been a teacher for 30 years, and currently teaches Fourth Grade at Wanatah Elementary School in Wanatah. In addition to her teaching duties, she is active in committees and groups affecting education, the community, and her fellow citizens.
Curlin teaches Agricultural Education at Switzerland County High School in Vevay. He has been a teacher for more than 17 years. His progressive educational philosophy mark him as particularly deserving of this award.
The 2008 Indiana American Legion Scout of the Year is from the 9th District – Ryan Strimple, sponsored by Post 173.
In calling on Stan Gatewood, Chairman of the De-
partment Boys Scout Committee to present the Boys Scout of the Year Award, Baxter said “The Boys Scouts of America is a traditional program of The American Legion. Indiana has an active Scout program, and we feel privileged to honor some of the outstanding young men who are involved in Scouting.”
The American Legion Scout of the Year program requires that nominees be registered and active members of a Boy Scout troop, or varsity scout team chartered to an American Legion Post or Auxiliary Unit.. Or, the nominee must be registered and active in a chartered Boy Scout Troop and be the son or grandson of a Legion or Auxiliary member.
Additionally, each nominee must have received the Eagle Scout award, which is the highest award in Scouting, and have reached his 15th birthday.
“The first youth program sponsored by The American Legion was Scouting, Gatewood said. “The Preamble to the Constitution of The American Legion begins ‘For God and Country we associate ourselves …’ and the Scout oath begins ‘On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my Country ….’
“This common bond becomes even more exceptional with the recognition of our Eagle Scout of the Year program, in which we face the daunting task of choosing the best of the best,” he added.
The District winners from among whom the Department winner was chosen were 1st District winner, Matthew Cudzillo, sponsored by Post 369; 2nd District winner, Micah Walters, sponsored by Post 51; 7th District winner,
Daniel Wilson, sponsored by Post 18; 8th District winner, Nathan Schwenk, sponsored by Post 147; And the 9th District winner, Ryan Strimple, sponsored by Post 173. Each Scout received a $200 scholarship in honor of his achievement. In addition, the Department of Indiana “Scout of the Year” will be presented with a $1,000 scholarship and a plaque.
Girl Scout Gold Award Winner
Gail Galich, Chairperson of the Girl Scout Committee, presented the Girl Scout Gold Award to Amanda Williams of Newburgh, saying “Involvement in Girls Scouting is among our Department’s newest youth program activities, and I am gratified that we are making special efforts to recognize the achievements of young women in this special way.”
Williams will be a senior at Castle High School in the fall, and will receive a $1,000 scholarship for use when she begins college.
Breedlove Trophy Award
Each year nearly a thousand young men gather for Hoosier Boys State on the campus of Indiana State University in Terre Haute to experience how Indiana government operates. For much of the 20th Century, Legionnaire Barney Breedlove in particular dedicated himself to these young men and to helping build their future.
In honor of his service, the Barney W. Breedlove trophy is presented o the Hoosier Boys State’s Outstanding Citizen. The award was presented to Sean Snider during the Boys State awards convocation.
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John Wrolen, Chairman of the Department’s Fireman, Law & Order and EMS Award Committee, took time during his presentation of the awards to describe their background for delegates to the 90th annual Department Convention in Indianapolis July 12.
“It is the intent of this program to honor outstanding firefighters, law enforcement officers, and EMS personnel at our annual convention and in some small way let them know that The American Legion recognizes and appreciates their efforts on our behalf, and that we further recognize the terrific pressure they serve under 24 hours a day,” he said.
“The law and order program was a product of National Commander John Davis, 1966-67, of North Dakota, who recognized the breakdown in respect for law and order in the 1960s and initiated a program that year,” he
said, adding that Indiana adopted the program as its own shortly thereafter.
The Firefighter of the Year award followed the Law Officer of the Year award a decade later, he said, established by Department Convention mandate in 1977. It too, recognizes outstanding public servants who dedicate their lives to the public.
Finally, Wrolen said, “Recognizing the increasing role played by Emergency Medical Personnel in Homeland Security, a few years ago we expanded the program to honor EMS personal in this program. We are excited about this addition to our awards.”
Law Enforcement Officer of The Year
The winner of the 2008 Lewis-Schmidt award is Jon Webster, from the 5th District, a Detective in the Criminal Investigation Unit for the Kokomo Police Department.
Officers nominated for the award in 2008 were Ronald Kottka, sponsored by Post 66 in the 1st District; Jon Webster, sponsored by Post 6 in the 5th District; Terry John, sponsored by Post 104 in the 6th District; and Gretchen Mayse, sponsored by Post 44 in the 8th District.
Firefighter of The Year
The 2008 Indiana Firefighter of the Year is Captain Nicholas Hedrick, from the 5th District, a member of the Kokomo Fire Department.
Nominees for Firefighter of the Year award were Bryan Kuiper, sponsored by Post 261 in the 1st District; Nicholas Hedrick, sponsored by Post 6 in the 5th District; and Jim Abrahams, sponsored by Post 106 in the 7th District.
Emergency Medical Services
The 2008 Indiana EMS Person of the Year is Assistant Chief for Operations Joseph D. Calhoun, from the 2nd Dis-
trict, a Firefighter/Paramedic for the Portage Fire Department.
The district winners of the EMS personnel competition were Joseph D. Calhoun, sponsored by Post 260 in the 2nd District; Connie Boocher, sponsored by Post 423 in the 4th District; and Greg Hollinsworth, sponsored by Post 6 in the 5th District.
Following the presentations, Wrolan told the nominees and the winners that their recognition by The American Legion goes well beyond the convention platform.
“Each of you represent what we believe are the finest attributes of a public servant. You have received not only the recognition of your community for your professionalism, but you have now received the recognition of a statewide organization that represents nearly 120,000 citizens of Indiana.”
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meetings, conferences, conventions, lent his presence to countless funerals and memorial services, and shared his special wisdom with all members through his regular column in the Hoosier Legionnaire. He has done this for 19 years, having been appointed by then Department Commander Don Conn and re-appointed by each succeeding commander.
In 2003, he was accorded the high honor and unique opportunity to serve as National Chaplain, an office in which he distinguished himself as few others have done.
Bill Firkins, a Vietnam veteran, was elected Commander of the Indiana American Legion during the 86th Annual Department Convention in 2004. A past Southern Vice Commander, 7th District Commander, Department Membership Chairman and Chairman of the Department Rehabilitation Commission, Firkins has been an active Legionnaire for nearly 40 years. He has held every office available at his Post, served in a variety of 7th District offices, and is a member of the National Public Relations Commission.
Ronald Martin, a Vietnam-era veteran and honorary life member of DeMotte American Legion Post 440 in DeMotte, was elected Commander of the Indiana American Legion at the 87th annual Department Convention in 2005.
Martin, who has been a member of DeMotte Post 440 for more than 39 years, is a six-time past commander of the Post. He also has been 2nd District Commander, Chairman of the Department’s Indiana Veterans Home Committee, Department Membership Chairman, and has chaired all four major commissions of the Department. He also is a graduate of the 2001 National Legion College, and served two terms as a member of the Indiana War Memorials Commission.
James Holmes, a Korean War era Navy veteran, Indiana Department Historian and was tabbed by National Commander Marty Conatser to serve in that capacity at the National Level for the current Legion year. He is a dual member of the SAL and Legion, and has been made an honorary member of Speedway American Legion Post 500 where he has served as Commander, Second Vice Commander and in many other offices and capacities. He is a Past 11th District Commander, Past Department Sergeant-at-Arms, and is sec-
retary of the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Childrens Home Committee.
Robert Bach is an Air Force veteran, and 48-year member of Fairmount’s Post 313, where fully half of his years of membership have been spent as Post Adjutant. He also has served the Post as Commander twice, and further served the 5th District as Commander and Vice Commander between 1992 and 1995.
He also is a former Northern Vice Commander, and has rendered distinguished service to the Department as Chairman of the Americanism and Government Committee, vice chairman of the Boys State Committee, and a member of the Hoosier Boys State Executive Board.
Edward Trice is a life member of Fairmount Post 313.
After being wooed into the Legion by fello0w DSA winner Bob Bach, Trice went on to serve as Post Commander, vice commander and finance officer. His service there led him to election as District Commander, then to service as Northern Vice Commander—an office to which he was appointed following the death of his friend, Randy McCroskey—and Department Membership Chairman, positions he held consecutively.
David Ruell Sr. is a United States Army Veteran of the Korean War, and has been a member of Lowell Beaver Post 470 in Fishers for nearly 20 years. He has served as post commander six times, vice commander three times, adjutant twice, and spent one year as finance office and eight years as a member of the House Committee. When he wasn’t busy with other duties, he also has managed the Post’s charitable gaming operations for more than eight years.
A tireless Legionnaire, Ruell also served six terms as Hamilton county Vice Commander, was District membership Chairman, District Commander, and is currently serving his third term as District Judge Advocate. He also served as Southern Vice Commander, Vice Chairman of the Flag Education and Etiquette Committee, and Vice Chairman of the Convention Contest Committee.
Lowell Spencer will mark his 65th year as a member of The American Legion this year. He is a member of Post 102 in Morristown, where he not only has served as Post Commander a number of times, but also twice stepped into the office to complete the terms of commanders called back to active military
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McKeeman Award
In honor of John McKeeman, Past Boys State Enrollment Committee chairman, Post 499 in the Fourth District established the John McKeeman Memorial Award to recognize The American Legion Post that sponsors the Hoosier Boys State Governor.
This year’s Hoosier Boys State Governor was sponsored not by a Post, but by a friend of The American Legion in Bedford, Bob Lee. The award was presented to Post 33, who will present the award to Lee of Bedford at some time in the future.
The American Legion Family Scholarship was established in 2002 by thenDepartment Commander John Michalski, who devoted his year to raising a permanent endowment from which funds for scholarships could be earned by investment.
The program is open to the children and grandchildren
of Legion, Auxiliary and SAL members, and a key provision is that the scholarship must be used at an Indiana institution of higher learning, and that applicants must be 21 or younger. This year’s recipients are David Walters, Paige Schroder, and Tara Stetter.
Paige Schroeder graduated from Jasper High School and will pursue a degree in business at Indiana University. Her entry in the competition was based on the membership of her grandmother in Jasper’s Auxiliary Unit 147. Tara Stetter, who is also a graduate of Jasper High School and will attend Indiana Business College where she plans to study Business Management and Marketing, was sponsored by her grandmother, who is also a member of Jasper Auxiliary Unit 147.
David Walters, the third Family Scholarship Winner is a student at Indiana State University, where he is pursuing a degree in insurance. His father, David P. Walters, is a member of Post 66 in Griffith.
service. Spencer has never missed a Department Convention in his 65 years as a Legionnaire.
David King enlisted in the National Guard during World War II only to be honorably discharged when it was discovered that he was too young to serve, eventually joined the Navy, in which he served for five years during the Korean War. He distinguished himself through a lifetime of service to young people, especially those who participate in the Boys Scouts of America.
He is a member of American Legion Post 254 in Rockport, where he has served in a variety of offices, including vice commander, Boy Scout representative, Hoosier Boys State representative, and member of the post color guard. He also has been active in the Oratorical contest at every level.
As a young Boy Scout, he rose to the rank of Life Scout with 23 merit badges, and served as a message runner during World War II blackout drills. He remained active in the Scout movement throughout his life.
Gordon Rayburn joined The American Legion while on leave from basic training, becoming one of the first World War II veterans to join the organization. He has been a member continuously since. He has held almost every office his post has to offer. In addition, he has been 10th District Commander and active in the Sons of The American Legion for many years, where his outstanding leadership led the SAL to honor him with an annual award bearing his name.
Ron Taylor, long-time chairman of the Flag Education Committee, presented the 2008 winners and introduced both of them to read their winning essays from the platform of the convention.
“This year is the twelfth year of this very successful program, in which flag education tests are administered to fourth graders around the state,” he said.
Rachel Marinko, from St. Paul Elementary School, who was sponsored by Post 82 in the 4th District was the girl winner, and the boy winner was Henry Love from Jasper’s 10th Street Elementary School, who was sponsored by Post 147 in the 8th District.
Oratorical Contest Winner
The 2008 Indiana High School Oratorical contest winner, Andrew Dykstal, also was introduced during the convention. He is a home schooled student, and was sponsored in the contest by American Legion Post 38 in the 2nd District.
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served in a number of capacities, including as a long-time member of the Americanism Commission and by serving on several National Convention committees during conventions conducted in Indianapolis in 1991 and 1995.
Tolan, who retired from Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly in 2005 after nearly 33 years of employment, is married to Chrissie, who he met while on active duty at Fort Benning, Georgia. They are the parents of two grown children and three grandchildren, all of whom are members of the American Legion Family.
The new commander, in addition to his stated commitment to long-term growth for the Department of Indiana, has selected the remodeling of a full dorm at the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Children’s Home at Knightstown, and Hoosier Boys State as his special projects for this year.
Tolan told the delegates that he knows there are challenges to be faced, but he is prepared to confront them given the support of all Hoosier Legionnaires.
“As I set out to face this year’s challenges, I know I will not face them alone. Aside from the thousands of Legionnaires who will work with me, I know that the Ladies of the Auxiliary and the Sons of The American Legion will also be at my side. It is this connection that inspired my theme for this year, ‘Soaring Together.’ “No one could succeed in this office without the ‘wind beneath his wings,’ which is the support and assistance that comes from the entire Legion Family. This year, with
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When I was preparing to graduate from the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy in 1999, she piled my wheelchair bound grandmother, her aunt and her invalid uncle into her van and drove from Palm Coast, Florida all the way to Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas to attend my graduation. She suffered through the
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The two resolutions have been forwarded to the National Organization for consideration by the National Executive Committee. Final passage will depend on recommendations for the standing commissions to which each will be assigned for study.
Resolution 08CONV-03, which would adopt an image of the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Monument as a permanent feature of all Department of Indiana Legion caps, also was approved.
More information on the addition to the Legion caps will be provided by the Department Adjutant once the particulars of proceeding are determined.
No other resolutions were considered or approved by the delegates.
Governor’s Remarks
capable leaders at the helms of the Sons of The American Legion and the Auxiliary, we will work hand-in-hand toward common goals. Together we will maintain and reinvigorate the sense of patriotism among our fellow citizens, and together we will grow and prosper.”
The new commander challenged every Legion, Auxiliary and SAL members to support each other in support of our fellow veterans, and vowed to help focus attention on the goals of The American Legion.
“I intend to help create an environment in which all of you – recruiters every one – will be successful in bringing in new members, renewing old ones, and re-instituting lapsed one. It is among my priorities to get people to understand what we are, and what we do; to know how we spend our money and who we spend it on; and why we believe the things we believe.
“From that understanding,” he said, “I am convinced, will flow such stream of new members that is long overdue and pent up like an overheated boiler.
To meet his project goals, Commander Tolan said he will encourage contributions to the Children’s home which, when matched with those raised by Department Auxiliary President Shirley Firkins, will enable students at the home to complete the remodeling project. He also will allocate unused funds and funds contributed specifically for the purpose, to HBS ‘scholarships’ for certain delegates who find themselves unfunded. The new commander has encouraged all Legion members, posts and groups to support his efforts.
recent death of one of her sons, something no parent should ever have to do. Though she usually lived a thousand miles away from me, she always made sure she attended several of my son’s high school and college football games as well as traveling to watch my daughter’s cheerleading competition and games.
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repeat winner, Burton Woolery Post 18 in Bloomington.
The Four Chaplains Award Department Chaplain Norris Keirn presented the Four Chaplain’s award during
Among the first to address the convention was Governor Mitch Daniels, whose presentation focused on his history of involvement with The American Legion in his native Pennsylvania and the achievements of his administration on behalf of veterans and military personnel. Among those achievements he cited:
Renaming Indiana Highway 1the Purple Heart Memorial Highway.
Consolidating the state’s two State Approving Agencies under the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs, creating one central source of information and assistance for veterans attending college at public or private institutions.
Removing the limit on the amount a township, city, town, or county may appropriate to certain veterans’ organizations to aid in defraying Memorial Day expenses
Transferring responsibility for the Indiana Veterans’ Home from the state health commissioner to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Establishing the rule that requires the governor to issue a proclamation not more than 24 hours after receiving notice that an Indiana resident who is a member of the armed forces of the United States or the Indiana National Guard has died in action or as a result of wounds received in action, ordering that the United States flag be flown at halfstaff on state property on the day of the member’s funeral or memorial service.
Authorizing qualified organizations, such as The American Legion, to conduct winner take all drawings under a PPT license.
Providing a remission of tuition fees at state supported colleges and universities for recipients of the Purple Heart medal.
Jill Long Thomson RemarksJill Long Thompson, a former member of The US House of Representatives and Dan-
Continued on page 10
She was a patriot. She never failed to vote and was always supportive of our nation’s military. Our family lost a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and our nation lost a tremendous citizen.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the National Convention this Fall in Phoenix.
the convention, saying “The American Legion, since its founding in 1919, has operated on the principle of service to God and Country. The Four Chaplain’s Award honors the personal sacrifice of four Men of God during World War II, and recognizes a Post’s con-
tribution to the principles the four represented.”
The 2008 Four Chaplain’s Memorial Award for outstanding service to God and Country while supporting the principles of The American Legion went to Burton Woolery Post 18 in Bloomington.
What a whirlwind of events have taken place over the last couple of months. It all seems like a blur to me. Now it’s time to get down to business and do the job I was elected to do.
First of all I would like to thank those who helped me along the way. Past First District Commander Don Sales and his wife Barb have really helped a lot over the last number of months. They are like going to the local library. All the current information is at your fingertips. They saved me a number of tidbits of information that has all come in handy.
Don and I campaigned together the last two years. We developed a great friendship and made campaigning a fun experience. But I also am lucky to have a number of Past District Commanders that have volunteered to help me along this coming year. They have many years of experience and I’m sure most have experienced it all.
I am also lucky to have had Tom Somerville as Department Commander this past year. His experience and knowledge will go a long way.
I would also like to thank a couple of Past Post 369 Commanders for their timely advice. Thanks especially to Marty Dzieglowicz who got me started in the District and guided me along over the past few years.
I didn’t join the Legion right after the service. I was one of those Vietnam vets who came home to hear all of the protests and criticisms of the war. We were not welcomed back like our WWII predecessors. We were considered outcasts. It took a lot of time and convincing for me to join the Legion. Then when I did, I figured it would be a place I would go to once in a while.
Well, it wasn’t long before I found friendship and events that caught my attention. Soon I was finding myself getting more and more involved. Then one day the Post Commander found out that I was an accountant and the big neon sign over my head lit up for him with the words “FINANCE OFFICER”. He went to great lengths to reel me in.
Past Post 369 Commander
Tom Koval got me started down the road to where I am
today. Thanks Tom. I am lucky to have a number of excellent District officers and committee chairmen some new but many with years of experience. I know they will do their jobs conscientiously without too much interference from me.
The First District has been busy the last couple of months.
On June 4 the ceremonial team conducted Post Everlasting Services at Post 100. On June 22 John Wrolen led a service to honor the members of the police force, firefighters, and EMTs who have died in performance of their duties. This moving Fallen Heroes Service at Post 261 was well attended by the community.
On July 4, most of the Posts marched in their city’s parades, and now it’s the picnic season for member of the posts to get together and socialize and meet some new friends.
On August 16 the First District will have a ceremony to install the First District officers. It will be held at Post 369 in East Chicago. A number of Department Officers and guests were invited to the event. Commander Tolan will be the guest of honor at the event. It will be an opportunity to show off my post to everyone.
I am looking forward to this upcoming year. I look forward to working with Barb Sales the Auxiliary Unit President and the SAL Commander Dwayne Allis in the First District. I have always believed that we are not in competition with each other. We are a family and we need to work together in order for all to survive.
I plan to visit all of the posts in the First District a number of times to get to know the members and officers better. I plan to attend their meetings and also visit their canteen or Post functions. I want to know their ideas and concerns for the Legion. It also will give me an opportunity to spread the word about what the Legion is all about. It will also give me an opportunity to announce to everyone in the state via The Hoosier Legionnaire what a great group of guys and gals we have in the First District and the accomplishments we have achieved.
Robert Rettig Commander
Greetings, fellow Legionnaires, from the Second District “Green Machine.”
The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and the Sons of the American Legion—The Family of Three—are off to a great start in 2008-2009. All three membership teams are working hard to meet each membership goal. The American Legion’s first Target Date at the Department Convention July 11-l2 was a great success even if we were in second place at the end of the convention. Our District Membership DriveAround on Saturday, August 3, put us on track for the August 10 Target Date at Department Headquarters.
The current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are sending a larger percentage of injured solders home than previous wars. It is imperative that we have the resources available at VA hospitals and clinics needed to care for these returning heroes. Your membership in The American Legion gives us the clout in our government that will translate into dollars for the care of these injured veterans. I challenge everyone in the Second District to ask veterans to join until they have a new member. Remem-
A new year has begun and, as we bid ado to Commander Richardson, I would like to say that I am proud to follow him as Third District Commander. I am looking forward to a great year and I wish the same for all of the District Commanders I’ll be serving with in the coming year.
Some of the latest events hosted by posts in the Third District include the following: New Carlisle Post 297 hosted a POW/MIA remembrance ride on June 15 and it was a great success. The ride began at the South Bend Military Honor Park from which they proceeded on a fifty mile ride.
Tim Rowe supplied the 30 by 60 foot POW/MIA flag that was proudly hoisted above 150 bikes that participated at New Carlisle post at the end of the ride. A hog roast was enjoyed by the participants and others who gathered at the end of the ride.
Then, Friday morning July 25, the Huey 369 out of Peru, which saw service in Vietnam, landed around 11 a.m. to kick off the second annual LZ-Welcome Home event. It was a big hit and many folks signed up as new members of the Huey 369 club and got to have a ride on the chopper. They stayed throughout the event and left for home Sunday around 11:00 a.m. A Blackhawk helicopter joined the Huey on Saturday for a display for the two days. There were also Vietnam Era Historians from Holland, Michigan, local military units, vendors and various pieces of military equipment on display.
The post family participated in the New Carlisle Home Town Day Parade, which was followed by a flag retirement ceremony at 1:00 p.m. which included some of the reservist, Vietnam re-enactors, and the crew from the Huey. Fri-
day night Russ Chandler performed and entertained the crowd. He is a retired Air Force TSgt. The SAL hosted a corn and sausage roast on each day of the event.
Post 303 South Bend awarded three $500 scholarships from the Gus Karacson Scholarship Fund. Gus Karacson was an active Legionnaire who left an endowment to the Post. A memorial stone was recently installed in front of the Post in his memory which reads “A Fiend to all Veterans”.
On Monday July 21, Middlebury Post 210 awarded nine scholarships totaling $13,000. The Legion family gave five awards totaling $4500. The Scott Nielsen Memorial Scholarship started by the Nielsen family is given in memory of Scott who at the time of his death was the commander of Squadron 210 at the Post. Roger and Sandi Nielsen, Scott’s parents, awarded a total of $8,500 to four recipients. Scott was a professional automobile mechanic and his family wanted to make sure that any qualified applicant who wanted to go to a trade or vocational school would be eligible for the scholarships.
Where the Post Scholarships are awarded to students of the post family, the Nielsen scholarship is available to any student who graduated from Northridge High School. The post also made a financial donation to the Elkhart County Shrine Club.
Members of the Post 210 Color Guard posted colors for the “Celebrate America” program at Black Squirrel Golf Course on July 6 before the fireworks show and also to kick off the start of the Elkhart County Fair on Friday July 18. That’s about it for now. Hope to see everyone at The National Convention in Phoenix soon!
Greetings from the Mighty Fifth District. Our new 5th District Commander, Howard “Pete” Brannon, of Jonesboro Post 95, and new membership chairman Don Cole, of Wabash Post 15, are off and running. They will be around to visit and talk Legion and membership with you.
It is sad to report that our District had Elwood Post 53 Commander John Collier die. The wake by was attended by Commander Brannon and his membership chairman Don Cole.
At the State Convention, Kokomo Post 6 sponsored three District winners in the Police, Fire, and EMS competition, and the law enforcement and firefighter candidates both won the State award. The law enforcement winner will go to National to compete. Nice going, Kokomo Post 6, and lot’s of luck on the National level.
Our District has a new Post. Dug Fugitt, Roger Baker, Bob Bach, and Ed Trice made a trip to the Pendleton Prison and took a new Post charter along with them to get them started. They had 75 vets sign up. A hand salute to our District people who took the time to start a new Post for the American Legion.
Roger Baker reports that the Knightstown donation for the coke fund is already at $4,012 and with a $63 cash donation brings it up to around $4,075. Posts can bring their checks to Legion Knightstown Day if they would like. Donations are still being accepted and welcomed.
For those of you that will attend the Legion Day this year, some help in the booth would be welcomed. If everyone showing up just worked for a little while it would help out a great deal and not make those who normally work it have to stay in the booth and work all day. It would really help all the way around. And for those Legionnaires who have never attended the Legion Knightstown Day, it would be very enlightening for you to do so.
Alternate NECman Butler and know they will do an excellent job for The American Legion.
Past Northern Vice Commander Bob Bach reports that for Boy’s State this year the District had 58 boys attending. There were three no-shows which was $300 each that we lost by them not showing up as scheduled.
Along with talking Boy’s State I might mention that during a mission trip in July to the Appalachian Mountains of Western Virginia, I noticed this fellow mission worker wearing an American Legion Boy’s State shirt. I approached him and he advised that he had attended Boy’s State in New Jersey and was very appreciative that he had had the opportunity to attend. He could not say enough good things about The American Legion and Boy’s State.
He is a senior in College now and is doing quite well. It was an honor to meet this young man and to hear his gratitude being expressed for all to hear concerning The American Legion really made me proud.
As I learned recently from Bob Bach of the three noshows at our recent Boy’s State here in Indiana, I cannot help but let my mind drift back to the mountains in the Appalachians and a young man being so grateful and thinking how sorry I am that the three boys did not get a chance to attend an event in their life that could most certainly have had a lasting effect on them just like it did this young man that I met way up on a mountain, who was doing good work for good people.
ber, some asked YOU!
Our Hoosier Boys State contingent of nearly 70 boys out of 588 was the largest in the Department of Indiana.
Twenty-three Legion posts participated with Lafayette Post 11 sending the largest group (four boys). Boys State is “A Week to Shape a Lifetime.” My three sons, John, Steve, and Dave will attest to this as they still talk about the experience 15-20 years later. Our daughter Carey attended Girls’ State and had an equally great experience.
If your post does not participate, I challenge you to get involved and encourage them to help a boy experience this wonderful “Lesson in Citizenship.”
Legion Day at the Indiana Solders and Sailors Children’s Home at Knightstown is Sunday, September 14. This is a fun-filled day for the young people who live and learn there and also for all the Legion Family that attends. This is also a Membership Target Date with a goal of 55 percent. Bring a carload from your post. Turn in your membership cards and enjoy a day of fun at the home.
Many delegates from
As my year starts, I want to congratulate the 4th District on their first place finish for the August Department Membership turn-in, it's just a great award for my district. Hopefully we now have the momentum to go forth and continue on our journey for 100 percent in membership.
We, the District Officers, have one great group of Adjutants and Membership Chairman to get the job done. The 4th District organizational meeting was well attended and we accomplished a great deal.
By the time this is printed we will have enjoyed another National American Legion Convention. The city of Phoenix was beautiful, and your 4th District was well represented at all of our functions.
We now look forward to Knightstown Home Day and spending time with the
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around the District will be attending The American Legion National Convention August 23-27 in Phoenix. The entire Hoosier delegation will stay at the same hotel and shuttle back and forth from the convention center where all the sessions will be conducted.
First Lady Sharon and I are looking forward to the trip and meeting Legionnaires from around the country.
children. And a big thanks to the Auxiliary for the great food that they bring. With the support of the Sons of The American Legion, the 4th has been very busy working to help Bob Newman in his preparation to secure the nomination for Department Commander for the year 2009-2010. A position he well deserves and will give a lot of credibility to the Department of Indiana. We have a lot to do as we prepare for the year ahead. We have the right people in place for the 4th District to succeed.
I look forward to Knightstown Home Day and a great membership turn-in from the 4th. We have Post visitations for the months ahead that I look forward to and enjoy. I am looking forward to seeing you all at the Fall Conference.
Rick Hudson, from Montpelier Post 156, is our new Northern Vice Commander. Jack Butler of Laketon 402, is the Alternate National Executive Committeeman. We in the 5th District are very proud of Commander Hudson and
What a great heart this young man has and who is to say that Boys State did not help form his heart in such a manner? Bob Bach has pounded the Boy’s State drum at our District meetings and at State for many years and I know it breaks his heart when our District does not come through with a good number of boys to attend Boy’s State. I suggest that this year we all try our best…no, let’s give it a 150 percent … to get more boys in Boy State not only to please Bob Bach but more importantly, to give deserving boys a chance to attend this very important program put on by the American Legion!
The year of 2008 is of great political importance to our country. Many think it is a crossroads, politically, for our country and will set a new direction for years to come. Study the issues and prepare yourself so that the vote you cast will help set that course.
In closing remember to keep our Armed Forces in your prayers so that they may return home safely.
Until I see you as I travel the district, best wishes to all!
DISTRICT 6
Donald Hudson Commander
Greetings. I want to start by saying thank-you to Past Commander Phil Hutson and his team for leaving the 6th District in good shape for me to assume its leadership. With the exception of a couple of Posts, the whole District is doing well. I will attempt to pass it on in as good of shape, or if possible, better.
Our membership goal has been increased this year 201 new members over the 2008 close of books total. Each Post in the District will have a small increase in their individual goals to absorb this increase. There are a lot of new veterans in our area, and I’m sure there some who are not aware of the benefits of being a Legion member. If you know anyone who may be eligible, get out there and ask them if they would like to join the American Legion. Remember, it doesn’t hurt to ask!
Our first District meeting of the year will be at Carmel Post 155 on August 17. If you can, please try to attend as this will be a change-of command ceremony.
Greencastle Post 58 has volunteered to host The Sep-
tember 21 meeting. I don’t remember being to a meeting there since I’ve been active at this level. Welcome, and thank you for your participation.
September is also the second card turn-in at the Knightstown Children’s Home. Try to be there if you can. It is a fun time, and the students really appreciate seeing us.
A lot of us are retired and on fixed incomes and with the increased costs of food, gasoline, medical, and practically everything else, it can be difficult trying to budget the extra expense it takes to be an active Legion member. If you cannot attend all of our functions then at least try to attend the ones in your area.
The 6th District is large. I have tried to spread our meetings across the entire District to give everybody a chance to attend at least one, or maybe two, meetings during the year. With a little luck, and a lot of support, we can make this a successful year for the 6th District. For those of you who can be there, see you in Phoenix!
DISTRICT 7
Jerry Ward Commander
I'm honored to be your Commander, Thank you all for your support. A special thank you to my home Post 22 of Linton.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Fighting 7th, let’s get fired up for another great year. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but as a team we will prevail. We are family and we will stand tall.
Congratulations to Commander Hoffman for a very good year. My team will be the same as his. We are only changing covers. I'm looking forward to another great year. We will work hard as a team to get the job done. Here is our district meeting schedule for this year.
• August – No meeting.
District drive around.
• September 6 – Post 256, Oakland City
• October 4 – Post 25, Princeton
• November - Post 230, Martinsville
• December – No meeting. District drive around.
• January 3 – Post 196, Bloomfield
• February 7 – Post 18, Bloomington, Four Chaplains at 1:00 pm
• March 7 – Post 120 Loogootee
• April – No meeting. District drive around
• May 2 – Post 139, Sullivan, Post Everlasting 1:00 pm
• June 6 – Post 22, Linton, Election meeting
Greetings from the “Great 8th.”
Let me start by saying how appreciative I am of being elected the Commander of the 8th District for the 20082009 year. I know that I have a lot to learn and believe me I will put my nose to the grindstone and give it my very best shot. I am a firm believer that you need to have fun doing the things that you love to do, and I love being involved in every facet of the American Legion. Those of you that know me know that I like having fun and we in the “Great 8th” are going to have a wonderful year.
Our year has started out quite busy with the chicken cookout at IVH. We are planning a District-wide Texas Hold 'Em tournament to be held in Rockport in late October. Several of the posts are planning their qualifiers at this time and we hope this turns out to be a huge fundraiser for us.
Membership is going well at this time but it could always be on the better side. I know my Officers are working their post to stay on top of the membership battle we all are facing. In 2006-2007 I was membership chairman for the 8th District, that was the year Ron Hanger was our Commander and the 8th District
was in first place at the Close of Books that year. That was a big thrill for us then and look out Indiana, the Great 8th is staking claim on moving to the top once again.
As Randy mentioned, we just held our annual Chicken cookout at the Indiana Veterans Home. This event takes a little sacrifice of time and money from those involved but the rewards of fun and knowing that you have helped brighten the day for others makes it all worthwhile. You don’t have to be invited to help, just mention your interest to John Bubala, Jeff Carroll, Leland Baxter, or anyone else who has been involved and you will be flooded with information. You, too, could be a “dauber” or a “turner” or anyone of several other esteemed jobs.
There are a couple jobs that are locked in, though. Flop Thomas has aspired to the position of “stirrer;” that’s a natural. Chuck Wright is the resident “Gizzard Wizard.” We could always use more help with this project as well as others; they are not secret societies, just good people doing good things. Ask Commander Randy how you can help the Eighth District with any of the projects and he will get you hooked up. It’s hard to imagine but
DISTRICT 10
Niles Gammon Commander
Greetings from The 10th District. We had a great state convention in Indianapolis this year. Our organizational meeting was held July 20, 2008, to schedule our district meetings for next year.
Our first district meeting of the year was held at Middletown Post 216 on Saturday, August 2, 2008. Past Department Membership Chairman Bob Sutton was present to conduct the installation of our new officers. We are cur-
rently working to organize and schedule some drive-arounds for this new year.
Everyone is looking forward to traveling to Phoenix for the National Convention.
As District Commander, I am personally looking very forward to visiting the other posts in the 10th District this year. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make many new ones. I hope to have a very good year for the district and the state.
Alescia Johnson Commander
Greetings from the Exciting Eleventh!
We have jumped full speed into the Legion year with enthusiasm and determination to excel. Many of our Posts did very well with their membership goals last year and we intend to continue that trend by holding membership drives and special events which will encourage our fellow Marion County veterans to see the wisdom of joining The American Legion.
As the Dog Days of summer approach, the staff and I are busy formulating strategies and getting ourselves out to meet many people who know very little to nothing about The American Legion. I believe that we do too many good things for our community that we keep to ourselves.
Traditionally, the charitable activities that we plan have been simply advertised to our organization and other veterans groups. It is one of my goals this year to raise the overall visibility of The American Legion within our District. By educating the non-veteran public to the purpose and actions of The American Legion, I believe a natural by-product will be to begin to gain the attention of the veterans with whom they interact on a daily basis.
I believe that 11th District has an overabundance of wisdom and experience to be drawn on. I seek the wise counsel of the Legionnaires who have “been there and done that.” It is common knowledge that the veterans of today are, in many ways, culturally different than those who founded our organization. Technology has fundamentally altered the way we communicate and recreate. Today’s Americans are as patriotic as they always have been. It is our challenge to contact those eligible young veterans and explain ourselves in such a way that they will understand the wisdom of becoming Legionnaires.
I have no doubt that we have a “product” that sells it-
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cold weather is just around the corner; we have a lot of homeless veterans living on the streets. For the past couple of years we have been collecting good serviceable coats, hats and gloves for our homeless vets. Please check your closets for warm items you don’t wear anymore and bring them to a district meeting. If you can’t find any coats you can part with in your closet, check your neighbors. If you bring or send them to an Eighth District meeting, we will get the coats and such to the right place. Your gift could save a life.
Congratulations to Dave King, who was awarded the Department of Indiana’s Distinguished Service Award at
self to potential members. I believe that there is enough diversity within the Legion Family programs and projects that a prospective member can find something that they are interested in if we only give them the opportunity to learn about that particular program.
Another of my goals this year is to get the posts of the Eleventh District to work more cooperatively. In order to fully participate in American Legion Family activities, some Posts will be asked to cooperatively pool their resources for the benefit of the District. I have been in contact with various Legionnaires who have some really earth shaking, exciting ideas about how they envision the future of The American Legion. These Legionnaires and their enthusiasm will help form the basis for the future success or failure of our District. Enthusiasm is contagious and can spark a rejuvenation of the spirit in those stalwarts who have been the bedrock of the District for many years.
While I personally believe that it is better to wear out than rust out, becoming overly dependent upon the traditional “tried and true” leadership activities of the District causes us to stagnate and limits our potential growth because people simply get tired. Involvement of new and different Legionnaires in the activities of the District is crucial.
I believe and stress to the people that I speak with that our most important mission is to impact the lives of veterans who are not yet born. If it hadn’t been for the strength of The American Legion in 1944, the GI Bill never would have overcome the resistance of every other American veterans’ organization to become the law and success that time has proven it to be.
In closing, I encourage any and all members of the Eleventh District to contact myself or any member of the staff with ideas about how to improve our organization.
on the convention platform during the 90th annual Department Convention.
The winners of twenty-two cash prizes totaling nine thousand dollars thousand were drawn by Past Department Commander Tommy Somerville during his convention party in July, following the close of the 90th annual Department Convention. The drawing was one of two conducted each year by the Department as part of its sweepstakes program. The fund-raising effort, conducted entirely by mail, is designed to ease pressure for dues increases and to help fund the critical programs of the organization.
Winners who are present at the time of the drawing are awarded a $250 bonus regardless of the original prize amount, but winners do not need to be present to win. The winners are drawn in reserve order and low prize winners are returned to the drum for a chance at the higher value prizes.
The 2008 summer sweepstakes winners, and their prizes, are:
Grand Prize $3,000
• William J. Bennett 5312 Carlton Way Indianapolis, IN 46224
2nd Prize $1,500
• James Osborne 20 Graystone Ct. Zionsville, IN 46077
3rd Prize $1,000
• Dennis L. Noel 10972 E. Greendale Seymour, IN 47274
4th Prize $500
• Donald Lehrman 21805 Barkley Rd
5th – 12th Prize $250
• Neil Krisher 3522 Quincy Dr Anderson, IN 46011
• Robert Fox 2133 Whitetail Run Warsaw, IN 46582
• Paul Thomas 5578 State Rd. 121 Richmond, IN 47374
• Jack Troyer 7745 Red Arrow Hwy Watervliet, MI 49098
• Kenneth Pollard 8584 N. US Hwy 421 Madison, IN 47250
• Albert Peay 422 Harmony Way Evansville, IN 47720
13th – 22nd Prize $100
• James L. Turner 84 S. Main St. Rosedale, IN 47874
• Harold J. Ulsperger Peru, IN 46970
• James Booher PO Box 555 W Lebanon, IN 47991
• Ray Eckert 7933 N 300 W Huntington, IN 46750
• Rupert Mullis 12 Pleasant Valley Dr Cannelton, IN 47520
• Charles Garner 4619 E. Shady Lane Syracuse, IN 46567
• Chester Musson 8628 N. Briarhopper Rd. Monrovia, IN 46157
• John Rucker 6628 Moss Cir, Indianapolis, IN 46237
• Joseph A. Shook 57 Maple St Losantville, IN 47354
• Curt Hribernik 1405 Butternut Lane Indianapolis, IN 46234
the Department of Indiana 90th convention in July. If you see Dave, be sure to shake his hand and thank him for his many years of service to the children and youth programs.
As we start this new Legion year let us all remember that MEMBERSHIP is everyone’s job. Many times a simple question is all it takes to sign up a new member. Always carry an application for each of the Legion family organizations in your wallet and don’t be afraid to ask people if they are a veteran or if they are related to a veteran.
If someone is telling you about their child or grandchild in Iraq, ask them if that person is a member of the American Legion. We can not just sit on our good inten-
• Robert C. Graham 18 Green Acres Rd Washington, IN 47501
• Wayne Benefiel 439 Lark Dr., Apt. 4 Carmel, IN 46032
tions and expect the world to beat a path to our door. The American veteran needs The American Legion. Without our continued lobby efforts to preserve veteran’s rights and look after their well being, many valuable programs would have fallen by the wayside years ago. We need the strength that membership numbers gives us if we are to continue to be a group that the president and the govern-
ment listen to.
I need your input for the Eighth District articles going into the Hoosier Legionnaire. If your Post or someone in your Post does something newsworthy please send it to, David Sharber by email to wobegon@sit-co.net or by mail to PO Box 60, Mt. Vernon, IN 47620. We need newsworthy Legion, veteran, community-related information. No gossip please, just news.
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a reported $2.9 billion by supplying linguists to American forces.
The former benefits manager at L-3/Titan of Reston, Va., has spoken publicly about what she sees as the nation's inadequate response. She has worked to help a dozen wounded translators—neither the State Department, AIG nor L-3 tracks how many are here in total—to obtain medical treatment, scour for jobs and adjust to a foreign culture.
“We do owe them,” said Colleen Driscoll by phone from Colorado. “They could have chosen to work for the insurgents and shot at our soldiers. But no, they chose to work for us.” And they did so at great risk, she adds, given insurgents’ record of murdering those who worked as interpreters or did other jobs for the U.S.
In a recurring pattern, American soldiers who saw firsthand the dedication of their interpreters have stepped up in various ways, whether by attempting to speed up the immigration process or by buying basic necessities with their own money.
In Ahmed’s case, Sgt. 1st Class Steven Stirn says he was moved to tears by his friend's plight during a recent visit to Maryland. Without a doubt, Stirn says Ahmed should be outfitted with the state-ofthe-art prosthetics available to injured soldiers down the road from Ahmed’s apartment at Washington's Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
“How many years has he worked over there [in Iraq], putting his life on the line every damn day for our government?” Stirn said angrily. “Now look. He’s a damn refugee.”
A State Department official did not address why Iraqis badly hurt working for the U.S. government do not get similar medical care as American soldiers. In a statement to The Sun, James B. Foley focused instead on efforts by the departments of State and Homeland Security to expand and accelerate the admission of Iraqis.
“We believe we have a special obligation in regard to displaced Iraqis,” said Foley, senior coordinator for Iraqi refugee issues, “and in particular to those Iraqis who have assisted our efforts to establish democracy in their country at great risk to themselves.”
Five years ago, Saad Ahmed could not have imagined winding up here in this condition. He welcomed the American invasion, eager to see the hated Saddam Hussein deposed and confident that Iraq had a promising future.
Before long, he and a cousin signed up with Titan Corp. (since bought by L-3) to work as interpreters for the American military. He had decent English, and his family needed money. Thousands took the same path: The most recent contractor census, in late 2007, listed 5,490 Iraqis translating for coalition forces.
Ahmed was a standout. A sheaf of citations and recommendation letters from American supervisors portray him as hard-working, loyal, capable and upbeat.
In late 2004, he linked up with a military intelligence unit of the Louisiana National Guard. Before long, he was the sole interpreter for a platoon of 18 men. When they wanted to hear messages broadcast by mosques or to chat with locals, Ahmed made it possible.
Around that time, he found a note tacked to his family’s home in Baghdad: “The last thing you will see is your grave.” Insurgents punctuated their warning by firing gunshots at his house.
Ahmed badly needed the
Reprinted From The Baltimore Sun
August 6 was moving day for Saad Ahmed, a wounded Iraqi interpreter who lost both legs to a roadside bomb last year while working for the U.S. military.
Ahmed is moving to a high-end apartment in North Bethesda that is wheelchairaccessible, with a spacious bathroom and an elevator to the lobby.
has he coveted a motorized wheelchair, but he dreams of getting high-tech artificial legs that will allow him to run again someday.
$1,050 in monthly pay, so he moved onto an American military base near the Baghdad airport. Hoping to protect the father and younger siblings he left behind, he spread the story that he was leaving Iraq for Yemen in search of work.
The soldiers warmly welcomed their new bunkmate.
“He was like part of our platoon almost the second he arrived,” said Brenden Barnes, a sergeant who is out of the service and living near Philadelphia.
On March 3, 2005, Ahmed was with the platoon when a car bomb exploded next to the Humvee in front of his vehicle. As soldiers formed a cordon to guard against fresh attacks, a medic raced to the Humvee. Ahmed was the first to notice that the Humvee's engine was in flames, with five Americans still inside.
“Without hesitation or regard for his personal safety,” wrote Capt. Bobby Lee in an award nomination, Ahmed “grabbed an extinguisher and proceeded to put the fire out ... and possibly saved the lives of the soldiers.” Lee checked “heroism” as the reason for the recommendation.
Ahmed is humble when asked about the incident: “People needed help, so I helped.”
The Louisiana crew rotated home in September 2005, and Ahmed went to work with another unit. By spring 2007, he was with a group that included Air Force members. He was riding in a convoy that April 25 when a roadside bomb exploded near his Humvee.
Weeks later he awoke to find himself on his back in a hospital in Amman, Jordan. Looking down, he saw both of his legs were gone. The rush to the combat support hospital, the airlift days later to Jordan, the slow recovery—all that happened with him unconscious or comatose.
Ahmed improved, even though he still takes a drawerfull of pills for problems ranging from phantom pain to depression to memory loss.
Last autumn, he applied to emigrate to the U.S., sure he would die if he were forced to go back to Baghdad. His old soldier buddies had kept in touch, and in January, at their urging, Maj. Gen. John Basilica Jr. of the Louisiana National Guard wrote a recom-
mendation on his behalf.
After multiple delays, Ahmed and Alyaa left Jordan last month as part of a U.S. policy shift to admit more Iraqis amid criticism from American allies. Until early last year, the U.S. government had resettled very few Iraqis. During the first 3 1/2 years of the Iraq War, just 764 refugees found safe harbor in this country.
Amelia Templeton of Human Rights First calls that “shameful” but credits the U.S. government with recent improvements. The numbers are rising. Last year 1,608 Iraqi refugees arrived. Through this June, 6,463 more had come, and the State Department hopes to double that to 12,000 by Sept. 30.
Meanwhile, a special immigrant visa program is expanding, too. Last year, the U.S. issued 812 such visas to Iraqis; so far this year, 668. Legislation signed by President Bush in January lifted the cap to 5,000 Iraqis per year, not counting spouses and children. (Similar visas are available to Afghanis who assisted the U.S. in Afghanistan.
The visa program is geared specifically to Iraqis who have been threatened because of their work for the U.S. government. Among those eligible are translators with at least a year on the job. It’s not clear why Ahmed and other wounded interpreters have entered as refugees rather than visa holders.
Ten days after his arrival, Ahmed received a visit in Prince George’s County from Barnes, the former Louisiana National Guard sergeant.
“Hey, Barnes! Hey, buddy, how are you?” Ahmed shouted with glee as the former soldier leaned down to embrace his friend. They caught up despite Ahmed’s now-halting English and frequent memory lapses.
“Wish you would have made it a little sooner,” Barnes said quietly after a few minutes. “Maybe this wouldn't have happened. But we got you here, that’s the most important thing.” Barnes has set up a MySpace page for Ahmed: www.myspace.com/ helpsaad2008.
Days later, two other soldiers—Stirn and another sergeant—flew up from Tampa, Fla., for a visit. They took the
Ahmeds to see the National Mall, taught Alyaa how to use the crosswalk (she’d been weaving her brother's wheelchair through traffic) and bought them dishes, a lamp and special handles and chair to help Ahmed maneuver into the bathtub.
Stirn took it upon himself to contact AIG, the insurer, after Alyaa complained she could not get through. At first the claims examiner in Texas could not find Ahmed’s file because his name was misspelled. Then she said she would transfer the file from Dubai to the U.S.
That could be good news for Ahmed. Driscoll, the former benefits manager, said many wounded Iraqi translators signed meager settlements at AIG’s prompting before they left the Middle East. Some signed here. One Iraqi man now living in Colorado got $13,000, and Driscoll said that sum probably will fall short of the cost of his future medical care to treat nerve damage resulting from a mortar attack.
AIG notes that it is bound by the federal Defense Base Act workers’ compensation law. Under Department of Labor guidelines, even an Iraqi refugee who was gravely wounded while working for the U.S. military often must take a lump-sum payout—if a doctor concludes he or she is “permanently and totally disabled.” Sometimes the sums reach well into six figures, but Driscoll criticized the payouts, based on a complex formula, as often being woefully inadequate.
AIG’s coverage would be separate from whatever benefits Ahmed might qualify for during his eight months on Medicaid. Ahmed has no idea what either program might offer him. Right now he simply wants to have his first doctor visit since arriving in Maryland and does not know why it hasn’t happened by now.
One day at his apartment, Ahmed was musing aloud about a future less gloomy than his present. “I want to run again,” he declared. In his imagination he had already discarded the heavy, clunky, virtually unusable legs he got in Jordan. And he had tried on a new pair, the best America has to offer.
The Homeless Veterans Assistance Foundation of Indiana, Inc. is looking for stories from veterans to be included in an upcoming book project entitled, Coming Home, which is to be a compilation of stories about coming home from military service as well as coming in off of the streets, the latter referring to formerly homeless veterans. The HVAF “is interested in getting submission of stories from all of you. No one will be personally identified in the book and this book will be based on timeframe,” said Courtenay M. Nold, PR man-
ager for the foundation.
Nold said that means the stories will be grouped according to the era in which the veterans served or the period of homelessness—“For instance, stories from WWII individuals will be in one section,” she said. The book will have a personal interest angle focusing on family, friends, recovery, personal emotions and strategies for dealing with circumstances, and the authors would like stories to be along these lines, she added. She explained that “the reason for non-identification by name is to blur the lines
“I saw it. It was nice, beautiful, like a hotel,” he said after being shown the apartment by Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, the nonprofit agency that is coordinating his resettlement.
After arriving in the United States nearly a month ago, Ahmed, 33, and his younger sister, Alyaa, were placed in an apartment that the Lutheran agency acknowledged was unsuitable. Its bathroom was too small, and it lacked a ramp to the sidewalk. His situation was detailed Monday in The Sun.
The change of address is one of several positive developments for him this week. A donor has contributed a motorized wheelchair to improve his mobility.
And the nonprofit agency says he will see a doctor within a week and already has referrals to medical specialists.
Separately, a nurse case manager with insurance company AIG visited Ahmed yesterday. AIG was hired by L-3 Communications/Titan, the American firm that made a reported $2.9 billion supplying linguists to U.S. forces in Iraq.
Ahmed, a native of Iraq, went to work for L-3/Titan in 2003, soon after the U.S. invasion of Iraq. In 2005, he was praised for heroism after dousing a fire in a burning Humvee that had five American soldiers in it. Last year, a roadside bomb hit his convoy, mangling both legs at the knee and leaving him in a comalike state for weeks.
Over the past two weeks, he had expressed a desire for a better place to live and said he wanted to see a doctor as soon as possible. Not only
Across the country, Iraqi translators maimed in service to the U.S. government have complained of substandard housing, poor access to medical care and trouble finding work. Advocates blame the situation on a combination of meager federal benefits and nonprofit agencies’ trouble closing the gap, given their limited resources.
Melissa Graves, executive director of the Washingtonarea Lutheran Social Services agency, said her staff concluded two weeks ago that the Ahmeds needed better accommodations.
The new apartment will cost “a few hundred dollars” more per month than the previous one, Graves said. It is feasible only because it’s a “moderately priced” unit that all new developments in Montgomery County must set aside.
Even so, the building owner required the agency to co-sign the lease - “not what we do for every refugee,” she said.
The new apartment is near the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro station, and buses pull up right to the door. The building has a gym, private movie theater and “resort-inspired” pool with whirlpool.
The agency has promised the Ahmeds it will cover three months' rent. After that, the agency will solicit donations if the siblings have not found work or cannot cover the rent.
Several people contacted The Sun after Monday's article, wishing to assist Ahmed. Graves said any such financial support would be "tremendously helpful."
Both Ahmeds are receiving temporary food stamps and monthly cash assistance of $265. They will also have access to job counseling.
Ultimately, Saad Ahmed, a onetime gym teacher, hopes to coach disabled athletes. His 29-year-old sister says she would like to continue her accounting studies.
Both intend to become American citizens.
Continued from page 9
of books, went to the Seventh District for exceeding their 2007 close of books total by 308 cards.
Hoosier Pioneer Award
ron 253 of North Webster.
Top Ten Posts
The largest posts in the Department of Indiana are included in the 2008 Department of Indiana Top Ten Posts Award. For 2008, they were:
between the homeless veterans’ and other veterans and their families’ stories, as well as to protect the privacy of any individuals who contribute stories.
Nold said 100 percent of the proceeds of any resulting book will go directly to help out these veterans and their families. Those interested in sharing stories should please send their inputs directly to Nold in care of Courtney Nold, PR/ Marketing, Webmaster, HVAF of Indiana, Inc., 964 North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204, or by email to CNold@hvaf.org.
The Hoosier Pioneer Award is a relatively new award established by the National Organization to recognize the efforts of District Commanders in forming new posts. This year, the award went to 10th District Commander Kenny Toll for establishing Post 556 in McCordsville.
SAL Squadron of the Year
Each year The American Legion recognizes the membership accomplishments of one outstanding SAL squadron. This year, the award went to Squadron 10 in Marion, while the award recognizing the largest Squadron in the Detachment went, for the 9th consecutive year, to Squad-
1st Place—Lafayette Post 11: 1,504 members.
2nd Place—Burton Woolery Post 18: 1,327 members.
3rd Place—Lincoln Post 82: 1,262 members
4th Place—Fort Wayne Post 47: 1,234 members.
5th Place—Seymour Post 89: 1,127 members. 6th Place—Robert E Kennington, Post 34: 1,107 members.
7th Place—Speedway Post 500: 1,070 members. 8th Place—Herbert Kuhn Post 253: 1,029 members.
9th Place—Bonnie Sloan Post 28: 1,016 members. 10th Place—Cass County Post 60: 983 members.
SFC Steve Stirn, right, and Sgt Justin Edmiaston, at ease in an Armored Personnel Carrier in Iraq, were instrumental in getting their wounded translator, Saad Ahmed, admitted to the United States. They and others worked through various Indiana and Louisiana Congressmen to accomplish their goal. Meantime, Saad Ahmed continued working as an interpreter for Army units until the day he was caught in an IED blast that took his legs and burned him badly. Both Stirn and Edmiaston are members of Post 122 in Liberty; Stirn is the son of Dick and Ida May Jewell. Saad Ahmed, whose American comrades successfully agitated for his admittance to the United States after he was seriously wounded in Iraq.We have achieved numerous VA&R accomplishments during the last 12 months. The support of all Department Officers, American Legion volunteers, a large membership, and a dedicated and caring staff made these accomplishments possible.
Under the category of Veterans Assistance, our department service office:
Answered 7,481 telephone inquiries;
Conducted over 449 client interviews; Conducted 117 VA appeal hearings; Completed 184 formal written appeal statements;
Reviewed approximately 4,597 VA rating decisions; Accepted 3,133 new clients; Filed approximately 5,772 new benefit claims; and Recovered $149,534,312 in benefits for American Legion Clients, including $18,674,046 in retroactive benefits.
Twenty-two thousand three hundred sixty-one (22,361) Indiana veterans and/or their survivors have authorized The American Legion to representative them before VA. The average American Legion Department of Indiana Service Office client therefore receives $6,687 a year in VA benefits.
The Department Service Office also processed applications for financial assistance to needy veterans and their families directly from The American Legion Department
and National Organizations totaling $29,310 during the last 12 months.
Our department service office now employs four fully qualifiedVA accredited department service officers, Bonnie McKinney, Steven Duffer, David Wilson, and John Hickey, and two full-time secretaries, Lori McIlquham and Heather Willis. The department also uses the services of a dedicated part time non-accredited service officer, Harold Brubaker, out-stationed at the VA Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Our department service officers conducted 22 veterans benefits outreach seminars during the 2007-08 year. Outreach seminars resulted in the filing of many more claims with many veterans receiving benefits they may of otherwise never received. Our outreach efforts combined with our well-established reputation for quality claims representation, brought us not only more claims but 3,133 new clients during the last 12month reporting period. This number is 332 (or 19%) more new clients accepted this year than for the same reporting period the year before.
The ever increasing demand for veterans’ services caused the department to hire a service officer trainee in September 2006. Steven Duffer completed the department’s formal 18-month VA approved accredited service
Editor’s Note: Among the most comprehensive reports made to the annual Department Convention is that of the Department Rehabilitation Chairman. Detailing the work and achievements of the Department Service Office and its field representatives, the report underscores the Legion’s commitment to the welfare of all veterans. Here, in its entirety is the report delivered by Chairman Dick Jewell.
officer training program in February 2008.
Donations to the department rehab fund financed the efforts of our hospital and nursing home committee volunteers in distributing $57,000 in comfort items and activities for medically confined veterans. Our 24 recognized rehab volunteers also recruited other post volunteers to assist them while offering veterans’ services at both VA and nonVA healthcare facilities. Our rehabilitation volunteers do such things as: Purchase and distribute refreshments and comfort items; Conduct parties and other social get-togethers for patients; Buy and distribute Christmas presents; Buy and distribute newspapers and other reading materials Assist VA Medical Centers with purchasing items to help their veteran patients.
Our volunteers make the Department’s Rehabilitation Program work. They deserve credit for its overwhelming success.
All department Rehab volunteers must account for
The Department of Veterans Affairs started its home loan guaranty program in 1944 as part of the original GI Bill. VA reports having guaranteed over 18 million home loans totaling more than $911 billion over the subsequent 64 years.
VA does not normally provide direct loans. Instead, VA guarantees private lending institutions repayment if the veteran cannot repay. VA can guarantee up to $36,000 for home loans as high as $144,000, and 25 percent of home loans over $144,000 up to a VA guaranteed maximum of $104,250. This helps in two ways:
First, a greater number of veterans receive home loans when lenders know they are protected up to the guaranteed amount if the borrower fails to repay.
Second, VA’s home loan program allows lenders to issue veterans home loans without requiring down payments.
Eligible veterans include veterans having wartime service with total active duty of at least 90 days, or veterans with only peacetime service having at least 181 days continuous active duty. Enlistees who served six months on active duty for training only are not eligible. Eligibility, however, is
John Hickey Department Service Officeralso established for individuals with Reserve or National Guard service of at least six years. Also eligible are un-remarried surviving spouses (or surviving spouses that remarried on or after December 16, 2008, after becoming at least 57 years of age) of veterans who died in services or as a result of service connected disability. In all cases, the applicant must have a good credit rating, have an income sufficient to support mortgage payments and agree to live in the property.
Eligible veterans living in Indiana may apply for a “Certificate of Eligibility” by sending a completed and signed VA Form 26-1880 along with proof of military service to: VA Loan Eligibility Center, P.O. Box 20729, Winston-Salem, NC 27120. Veterans may download an application at: www.homeloans.va.gov.
Veterans may also ask their lenders to help apply for the VA Certificate of Eligibility electronically using VA’s Automated Certificate of Eligibility
funds spent by providing receipts and signed requisitions subject to the Rehabilitation Office’s approval. Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to chair the Department’s Rehabilitation Commission Fund Allocation meeting, and I can assure you that the Department accounts for every cent of the Rehab Funds requisitioned by our volunteers.
We also use Department Rehabilitation funds for the Richard R. Quattrin Homeless Veterans Shelter Assistance fund. This fund awards $50 each time a documented notfor-profit shelter provides a homeless veteran lodging and shelter for at least two nights.
The Richard R. Quattrin Homeless Veterans Shelter fund distributed grants totaling $2,650 during the 2007-08 year.
The Rehab fund budget is based on Rehab contributions made to the Department and revenue from the Department’s Spring Card program. This year we are
pleased to announce that rehab contributions are up. Not only are they up, but they are up $20,000 allowing a 37 percent increase from last year’s Rehab budget. This has allowed the Rehab Commission to increase funding in most all rehab accounts.
We also want to remind districts that the department gives an annual award to the district contributing most to the rehab fund based upon the district’s membership base. All districts are encouraged to contribute. Even though a district might not have a major VA Medical Center within it, contributions to the rehab program help veterans in that district when they receive health care services at a VA medical facility or nursing home in another district.
Post and District Service Officer programs continue to improve. During last year’s organizational meeting, Department Service Officers conducted a four-hour post service officers training seminar, and another one is scheduled on Sunday immediately following this Convention.
The Department Service Office has also updated its Post Service Officer’s Home Study Training Course again this year, and now offers a service
officer’s training program on disc. This year, several more Post, District, and/or County Service Officers have received Certificates for successfully completing the Department’s Post Service Officers home study course. Our veterans’ benefits outreach seminars also continued this year. Department service officers have conducted them in many locations throughout the state including at: LaPorte Post 83, Rome City Post 381, The Village Oaks at Fort Wayne Retirement Community, Indianapolis Post 497, Terre Haute Post 328, Fishers Post 470, and others. Department service officers also conducted outreach services in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs transition workshops for the National Guardsmen, and our national organization’s veterans employment fairs.
The Department has also continued the printing and distribution of the monthly Service and Legislative Update via post mailing, e-mail, and County Veterans Service Officer mailing. This publication summarizes recent changes in veterans’ benefits, and calls Indiana legion posts and members to action for important veterans legislative issues.
(ACE) system. The ACE system can often issue the Certificate of Eligibility in a matter of seconds when VA has sufficient data in its records.
Veterans with VA loans are encouraged to contact VA immediately if they anticipate getting behind on mortgage payments. VA has several different ways to help veterans avoid foreclosure. Veterans living in Indiana needing to speak with a VA home loan financial counselor should contact: Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Regional Loan Center, 1240 East Ninth Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44199; Phone: 1-800-729-5772; http://www. vba.va.gov/ro/cleveland/index1.htm.
It’s never too late to file for a VA home loan Certificate of Eligibility. If you have never used it, you still have full entitlement. If you have paid off your prior VA loan and disposed of the property, you can have your used eligibility restored for additional use. Also, on a one-time only basis, you may have your eligibility restored if your prior VA loan has been paid in full but you still own the property.
Please contact your local County Veterans Service Office or the American Legion Department Service Office if you have question concerning VA loan guaranty services.
Commander On Deck
SAL Detachment Commander Duane Alexander presented outgoing Department Commander Tommy Somerville with an especially appropriate farewell gift – a red, white and blue baseball bat manufactured right here in Indiana. The bat represents the past commander’s love of his state, his country and, of course, American Legion Baseball. The presentation took place during Alexander’s brief remarks during the 90th annual Department Convention.
Department Rehabilitation Chairman Dick Jewell, speaking from the platform of the 90th annual Department Convention July 12, presented a number of awards to Legion members, posts, and other veterans advocates who excelled in the delivery of service to veterans during 2007-2008.
As Jewell called the winners forward, Commander Tommy Somerville stood by to make the actual presentations of the following awards: The Ralph V. “Curly” Cushman Award, for outstanding efforts in all phases of veterans’ rehabilitation was presented again to Burton Woolery Post 18 in Bloomington.
The Dale Kuhn Award, which recognizes the District
in the Department of Indiana having made the greatest donation to the Department Rehabilitation Fund based on per capita membership as of close of books, went to the First District for its contribution of nearly 50 percent of the total Rehab fund budget this year, for the third year in a row.
The Thumper Henderson Award, named in honor of Past Department Commanders Thomas Henderson, recognizes excellence in both knowledge and service as a Post Service Officer during the preceding year. The Thomas “Thumper” Henderson Award for top Post Service Officer went to Jim Atkinson from the 2nd District’s American Legion Post 94 in
Valparaiso.
The Employer of the Year award honors private employers who have a workforce of at least 25 percent veterans and have been in business for at least five years. Winners are selected in three categories, large employer, medium employer and small employer. The 2008 Employer of the Year Awards go to Superior Engineering, LLC in Hammond; No-Sag Products in Kendallville; and Lynn Electric in Portage.
The Employment of Older Workers award went to Raydar and Associates, Inc. in Odon, and the Employment Service Local Office award went to the Workone Northeast office, located in Auburn.
In creating regulations for allowing attorneys and agents to charge fees for representing veterans, VA has placed accredited veterans service officers under the same standards and restrictions as those charging fees for services.
One such restriction is found in 38 Code of Federal Regulations 14.633© (4) stating: “Accreditation authority to provide representation on a particular claim shall be canceled when the General Counsel finds, by clear and convincing evidence,” when an
attorney, agent or service representative knowingly presents to VA a frivolous claim, issue, or argument.
The new VA regulations notes a claim, issue, or argument is “frivolous” if the individual providing representation is “unable to make a
good faith argument on:
(1) The merits of the position taken; or
(2) To support the position taken by a good faith argument for an extension, modification, or reversal of existing law. Claims, however, are not
to be considered frivolous simply because the facts have not yet been fully substantiated or the representative believes VA will not grant the claim. American Legion Department Service Officers can, therefore, no longer maintain the policy of accepting all claims. Although very few claims will be consider frivolous, our Department Service will need to reject or withdraw representation for claimants pursuing what meets the definition of a frivolous claim or risk the loss of VA accredita-
tion and the ability to represent veterans with VA claims. Service officers should therefore call the office and talk with an American Legion Service Officer before sending our office what could be consider a “frivolous claim.”
Free Flu Shots for Veterans
The Indianapolis VA Medical Center released the following information concerning the availability of flu shots for veterans this flu season:
“It is important to make sure [eligible veterans] come into The Roudebush VA Med-
ical Center starting October 20, 2008 to get a free flu shot. We will have locator signs up throughout the hospital directing veterans to the flu clinic. The hours of the flu clinic this year will be 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m in the 10th Street lobby across from the Credit Union. All eligible veterans are encouraged to come in and get vaccinated. “Those who are not able to come into the Medical Center when the flu clinic is open will be able to get their flu shots during clinic appointments.”
The annual department convention is a whirlwind of activities, beginning with registration and ending with a pair of training and information sessions designed to prepare the officers for their duties and their wives or husbands for the special role they will play during the year. In between there are business sessions, elections, and parties. The photos on this page reflect just the tip of the iceberg that is the Department Convention. The photos, as numbered, show:
1. Newly elected Department Commander Ralph Tolan, his wife Chrissie and members of their family immediately after his election to the high office.
2. An Elvis Presely impersonator tickles the fancy of one convention party-goer.
3. Another partygoer shows his patriotism at the Stars and Stripesthemed party by his costume.
4. Supporters of Ralph Tolan show their support by parading around the convention floor prior to his election as Department Commander.
5. A couple take a break from the rigors of the Commander’s Party.
6. With stars in her eyes, Joyce Miller shows just how she feels about the country, too
7. Mr. & Mrs. Ed Harris, Jr. are a familiar couple as convention, conferences, and the parties that follow. Ed is 11th District chaplain.
8. Commander Tolan grabs a brief respite with Hsiu Lin and Ralph Perez during his reception Sunday at the Convention. Perez serves at Membership Chairman for the Department this year.
9. Newly elected and appointed officers underwent a four-hour organization and orientation meeting following the Department Convention.
10. Not to be outdone, the spouses of the officers had a similar session describing the many challenges and opportunities they will face during the year.
11. A common sight at the conference and convention parties this year has been Auxiliary President Judy Butler and Commander Tommy Somerville cutting a rug.
12. Chrissie Tolan was one of the presenters during the spouse’s orientation.
The “Chairman’s Notes” column was originally established to allow the membership chairman to share some of the larger ideas and policies that affect the department’s membership program. As the newly appointed chairman, I plan to get back to that practice. Hoosier Legionnaires need to understand the mem-
Ralph perez Membership Chairman
bership program and why we do the things we do. I think this column can help.
Because the membership program of The American Legion is critical to the survival of the organization, and because those who are actively involved in it deserve recognition and appreciation for their successes, the Department Convention presents a wide array of awards for individual, post and district membership achievements.
The 2007-2008 Membership Chairman, Bob Sutton, expressed the awards program philosophy as he prepared to present the awards, and in his report to the convention, he told the delegates, “Although the Department of Indiana came up short of its goal, there were many bright spots.
“The membership goal was 111,000 members, which we were able to set and still leave 97 percent of all Posts with a goal of only one over their previous year’s achievement. The membership team fought hard for this plan as we believed this to be a fair challenge for the Department year.
“Under this strategy, we doubled the number of Posts who reached 100 percent. We had Districts fighting for first place and attempting to get their District Commander’s name on the Commander’s trophy. And, with the distribution of the members of the 777 program to the various Districts, and subsequently into local Posts if they so desire, we reduced the number of members for which additional fees are due to the National organization to zero,” he said.
Sutton also chided the large posts for allowing themselves to be overshadowed by the smaller ones.
“Some performances could be improved, of course. For example, for the first time in years, the membership achievements by our larger Posts have been overshadowed by our small and medium posts. That’s one step forward and one step backwards. I know there will always be off years, and I also know that the big Posts will bounce back.”
“Each year Legionnaires spend countless hours talking and visiting with their fellow veterans, telling them about the benefits of belonging to The American Legion. Among these dedicated workers is one Legionnaire who has Department Recruiter of the Year
This award is presented to the recruiter who signs up more new members than any other Legionnaire in the state. The award went to James B. May of Burton Woolery Post 18 in Bloomington, who recruited 95 new members this year.
There are a few Legionnaires who reach beyond what is expected. In membership, these Legionnaires take the extra step by asking everyone they meet to join our great organization. These Legionnaires earn the distinction of being members of the Gold Brigade.
Gold Brigade
To qualify for membership in this elite group, a Legionnaire must recruit at least
The 2008-2009 membership program is an aggressive one, building on the successes of the past few years. Anyone with a calculator and a sharp pencil can see that over the past decade or so, the total number of members has declined each year. What a calculator won’t tell you is that in the past three or four years, we have made some significant strides in the direction of turning the program around.
total as of the June 8, 2008 Close of Books at the Indiana Veterans Home. Those 201 new members per district were allocated by the District Commanders among the posts in each district. Some got more than others, but each District Commander was asked to consider the individual circumstances of each post before allocating a share of the goal.
50 new members into The American Legion before May 19th of the membership year. This year three Hoosier Legionnaires were added to or renewed on the roster of the Gold Brigade.
They are, receiving their first Gold Brigade awards, Barbara Callahan, Post 233; Harry Kyler, Post 253; and Rodney Strong, Post 72. Receiving his twelfth Gold Brigade Award is Jim May, Post 18.
Silver Brigade
In addition to the Gold Brigade, the National Organization established the Silver Brigade as a way to honor other successful recruiters working their way to the top. Two Hoosier Legionnaires recruited at least 25 members by the May deadline. They are Dan Lee, Post 308, and Timothy Knisely, Post 47.
Richard S. Kaplan Award
The Richard S. Kaplan Award is presented to the Post which secured the greatest number of new members, as certified to department headquarters. This year's recipient with 95 new members, is Bloomington’s Burton Woolery Post 18, in the Seventh District.
Ralph F. and Robert E. Gates Memorial Award
The Ralph F. and Robert E. Gates Memorial Award is presented to the Post with the greatest percentage of increase in membership over its previous four year average. Martinsville Post 230 in the 7th District took this year’s honors.
Donald W. Hynes Memorial Award
The Donald W. Hynes Memorial Award recognizes the Post in the Department which attains an all-time high in membership for the most consecutive years. Recognizing 59 consecutive years of growth and all-time highs, the 2008 Donald Hynes Award goes to St. Joseph Post 464 of St. Leon, in the 9th District.
Consecutive All Time High
Certificates of Achievement are presented to Posts reaching an all-time high for at least the fifth consecutive year.
Four Posts qualified for awards recognizing the attainment of an all-time high for the fifth consecutive year. They were St. Joseph Post 464, 59 years; Mooresville Post 103, 10 years; Avon Post 145, 7 years; and Orland Post 423, 6 years
In addition to these consecutive all time highs, seven other Posts that have attained their all time high for the first, second, third or fourth time.
They were William Zeb Longest Post 42, 4 years; Koselke Mayfield Post 403, 4 years; West Lafayette Post 492, 2 years; Kenneth L. Diver Post 337, 2 years; Atkins Saw Post 355, 2 years; Mark L Wilt Post 210, 1 year; and Franklin R Fee Post 467, 1 year.
The Roscoe Turner Memorial Award
The 2008 Roscoe Turner Memorial Award, presented to the District which has the greatest numerical increase over the previous year at close
For example, in the 20072008 year, the membership chairman, over the objection of almost everyone he consulted, established goals that he argued would improve attitudes and morale among membership workers. He was right. Last year, a sense of accomplishment pervaded the system, and membership teams were hard at it right up to the last minute.
The lesson here is that we all must keep in mind that our membership teams are volunteer workers, and that success for all of us can be measured in many different ways. The enthusiasm that was generated will carry over into this year, I am sure.
Goals: 201 Per District
Based on last year’s successes, the Department Commander and I looked at the numbers, the attitudes of our post and district membership teams, and the raw numbers of available new members around the state. That review indicated it is time for us to begin to move our membership numbers back up.
To that end, we came up with a goal for this year of 201 additional members per district over each district’s 2008
There was, of course, some confusion. Some District Commanders assigned goals to their Headquarters Posts. Some assigned the entire 201 members to marginal posts in order to boost their other posts’ chances for meeting goal. Neither of those strategies is appropriate, and neither will result in growth for the Department of Indiana. The membership staff and I have worked hard to convince the Commanders to undo such strategies, so it is possible that some post goals have been assigned and changed a couple of times this year. That should be behind us now.
National Suspends DMS Program
Speaking of behind us now, it is true that the National Organization has suspended the Direct Membership Solicitation Program. The DMS program was a system by which new members were recruited into The American Legion, assigned to Departmentlevel headquarters posts, and eventually transferred to local posts. The cost of the program has increased dramatically over the years, and the number of members recruited has declined.
Equally, if not more, signif-
icant is that most of the newly acquired members were permitted to languish in the headquarters post, where the renewal rate was dismal and the opportunities for service or participation was non-existent. To battle the low renewal rates and help recover some of the costs of the program, the national Organization instituted “motivational charges” – fees and costs that could be avoided by the Department if renewal and retention targets were met.
Department Updates Headquarters Post Procedures
Although Indiana’s districtlevel headquarters program was successful in increasing verifying eligibility, increasing renewal rates, and transferring headquarters post members out of the Department Headquarters Post, nationwide the problems continued. That led to the suspension of the program. What that means to Indiana is that we will no longer have new members assigned to the Department from the DMS program. Where we once received as many as 5,500 new members per year, for the foreseeable future we will receive none. When those new members – at least those among them who renew their membership in the first year – are deducted from the membership total, it is not hard to see that our potential for growth, without a renewed retention and recruitment effort at local posts, is seriously affected.
We are making a change in how the headquarters post program is conducted. We
will no longer renew DMSacquired members in the District Headquarters Post, then transfer them to the local posts. We will provide each of the District Headquarters Post task group with the renewal notices and the individual payments, and they will prepare either transmittals for the HQ post, or transfer forms for placing those members into a local post. Those members transferred from the HQ post into a local post along with a renewal payment will be counted on the receiving posts 2008-2009 membership total. We think this will encourage more of our posts to accept new members from the HQ posts and help them meet their goals for this year.
Check The Membership Guide
I encourage you all to take a look at the Department’s membership awards guide and see the many opportunities available to you for recognition and prizes. Each Post received a copy at Close of Books, and your Post Adjutant or membership chairman will be happy to let you take a look at.
I also encourage you to give me your thoughts on the membership program and suggestions for how we can do things better. I can assure you we always are looking for new ideas and new ways to get the job done. We certainly don’t have all the ideas. Please send your comments to me, in care of the Department Membership Office, 777 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204. I look forward to hearing from you.
Jim May was a frequent visitor to the platform of the 90th annual Department Convention, as his name was called repeatedly to accept a variety of membership awards, including Department membership Recruiter of the Year. May signed up 95 new members during the 2007-2008 year, and his efforts also resulted in an award to his home post, Burton Woolery Post 18 in Bloomington, for the largest increase in membership over the previous year.
Ask JessieDear Jessie:
I seem to have misplaced or lost my paper PUFL card.
Can I get a replacement card from my Post or who would I need to contact to receive a new one?
New Wallet, Too
Dear New Wallet:
I can help you with the PUFL card, but I can’t do anything about your lost wallet.
All you need to do to get a duplicate paper PUFL card is contact the Membership Office at Department Headquarters – like you just did – and we will order you a replacement. For those who may need one in the future, we can have it delivered to you directly or to us and we will mail it to you. The latter is a good idea if you have had issues with delivery from National in the past. Your post can not order a new card for you, by the way.
Dear Jessie:
Unfortunately I have let my membership lapse the last few years in The American Legion. I am now able to rejoin but unsure if I am able to keep my same membership number and pay for the back years
Editors Note: The Ask Jessie feature is designed to answer your questions about the Department Membership program, and provide information for both membership workers and interested members alike. Please send your questions concerning membership to Jessica Berggren, Senior Membership Specialist, c/o Department Headquarters. And don’t be surprised if a question from one of your phone calls ends up in the paper!
I missed to keep my continuous years?
Starting Over
Dear Starting Over:
It all depends on how important either your previous number or your continuous years’ record are to you. The only way to retain your number is to pay for all years not paid, and that applies only if the National Organization has not purged the number from the system. That will update your continuous years as if no renewal had been missed. If your name and number have been purged from the system, you can only come back as a new member, with a new number.
Also, you should know that all back year payments are due at the current membership per capita rate.
Dear Jessie:
I recently purchased a PUFL membership but have not received anything in the mail yet. Can you tell me if a card will be mailed directly to me or do I need to contact my Post for it?
Anxiously Waiting
Dear Anxious: Normally, the card will be mailed directly to you. You should wait about six weeks before you become concerned. After that, contact us at the Membership Office. We can check on it for you.
Dear Jessie: I have just joined The American Legion and my Post gave me a handwritten card without a permanent membership number on it. Will this card be valid to use when visiting other Posts? Looking Ahead
Dear Looking: That depends entirely on the post you are visiting. If the post will honor it, you are good to go. Every post has the right to determine who is admitted to the post and who is not. This is particularly important for the club room operations, since only bona fide members who meet the eligibility requirements and guests registered by a member can be take advantage of the tax exempt services provided at a Legion club.
Dear Jessie:
Throughout the year I receive greeting cards and address labels from The American Legion. Unfortunately I tend to run out of them before I have more sent to me. Is there a way to order more cards and/or labels when I run out or do I have to wait until they are mailed out again?
Major Correspondent
Dear Major: You have to wait. Such fund-raising premiums are available from the Department only through the offers mailed as part of authorized fund-raising efforts authorized by the Department.
As a new Department Commander, I have already learned a few tricks for getting along in office – not the least of which is getting my message for the Hoosier Legionnaire in and on time. This is, obviously, my first message, but I think it is very important one.
There are many people I need to thank, of course, and this column is a good place to publicly acknowledge all those who helped get me here. I will get to that. But it is also important to take this opportunity to let you know a little more about who I am and what I hope to accomplish this year, with your help.
I am, of course, a veteran – a proud former member of the 101st Airborne Division, in which I served as both a
There I was, high on a mountain ridge once so deadly that I doubted I would have lived fifteen minutes there forty years ago. I was sipping on a fresh glass of “Vietnamese Coffee.” The pungent taste of the bittersweet coffee caused me to ponder and reflect. A gentle breeze brought refreshment as the mountain air swept away beads of sweat, soothing both my mind and my body. It was hard to comprehend that I was on the infamous “Ho Chi Minh Trail” or “Yellow Brick Road,” as we used to call it.
Gone is the triple canopy jungle. What wasn’t bombed or defoliated has been harvested and poached over the years. Still the mountains were beautifully covered, very green, lush and full. One would never know that a war had been fought here. Here and there on the road were old conversions of military trucks once used by civilians, but now rusting away from obsolescence.
I sat under a shade tree in front of a traditional restaurant that would have fit in the scenery forty years go. Across the concrete highway was another canteen for the sojourner. It had a thatched roof, bamboo woven walls that would have transported me back in time had the road not been there. The highway is being built as a Vietnamese “Super Highway” from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Much commerce will make its journey down that road when it is completed.
I was there with my son and our driver Chinh. Chinh’s father had worked for the Americans during the war. His thirty-five-year old son only knew about the war through his dad’s stories. Two days before, we had motor-biked around Hue.
Resting in a bamboo grove, our guide pointed to the valley where three thousand civilian and military were massacred by the invading NVA during the “Tet Offensive” of 1968. Their hands were wired behind their backs before they were shot and buried in a mass grave. Some were still alive at burial. With great sadness this guide shared how his father died in an “infamous re-education camp” before he was born.
The former ARVN staff sergeant who took us to the Cu Chi Tunnels warned us not to ask any political questions. Learning that I was a veteran, he came back on the bus aisle to talk a bit and show his citation given by General Abrams for his works as an interpreter. He had survived his decade of “re-education camp.” He patted me on the shoulder as I patted his, exchanging eye
Ralph Tolan Department Commanderhelicopter mechanic and, from time to time, a door gunner. I served in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968; one of the first things I did when I “got back to the world” was join The American Legion. I have been a member of Speedway Post 500 continuously since then, and I owe the men and women of that post a great deal of gratitude for their trust and encouragement as I worked my way through the offices – and the kitchen – on my way to this high office.
Of course, my wife, Chris-
communication that cannot be spoken or written. We ate traditional food and mingled with the locals at each stop. We conversed intensely wherever we went sharing experiences and learning perspectives. So much was confirmed from what I remembered. I tried to breathe in as much of Viet Nam as I could in our rapid tour of the country. Viet Nam is a young world with seventy-five percent of the population being under twenty-five. It is extremely rare to find gray hair. Few are those who remember the war.
The last decade’s economic freedom has eroded communism’s brutal regime. Land reform in the 1990s brought major changes, allowing people to own their land again. A tax free status for farmers has brought further prosperity and economic incentive. Cell phones and internet have become staples, bringing the country into world competition. Motorbikes are everywhere, intermingled with quite a variety of fourwheeled vehicles all with standard transmissions. Flat screen TV’s are seen in many open air homes. Red and China beeches will soon closely resemble the silver menagerie of Hong Kong. With “Normalization” of trade relations the United States was the major agent effecting these rapid changes.
Time has moved on and both the landscape and the people have changed. The further away from war you go, fewer and fewer people remember or have experienced it. In 300 B.C. the ancient Grecian Mender wrote, “Time is the healer of all necessary evils.” It has been paraphrased, “Time heals all things.” We have survived with our memories and incidences of the great wars solely by the hand of God’s grace. It is that same grace that will sustain us and heal us. While memories can not be changed our processing of these memories can.
While I sipped the coffee I thought about how good God has been. God brought me home and has made my life rich and full. Through the high times and through the low times, God has been with me. He has never forsaken me. I am rich with family and I have been blessed with friends. I have had a prosperous life of service to others. The American Legion family has been a great contributor. A simple sip of coffee and a bit of reflection can reveal so much. I hope you can experience God’s goodness also!
O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.
sie, who I met at Fort Benning, Georgia, and who has been a constant source of strength to me, has been at my side all the way. I would and could not have done it without her.
I look forward to as many of you as possible getting to know her during this year, and there will be a many opportunities for that, as she will be my constant companion during the year.
During my acceptance speech, I told the delegates who elected me at the recent Department Convention, “As I set out to face this year’s challenges, I know I will not face them alone. Aside from the thousands of Legionnaires who will work with me, I know that the Ladies of the Auxiliary
and the Sons of The American Legion will also be at my side. It is this connection that inspired my theme for this year: ‘Soaring Together.’ ” That wasn’t just boilerplate. I meant it. We have real challenges ahead of us, and we must not only face them together, but we must overcome them together.
The single most important challenge before us is to reverse the loss of membership that has taken us from an all-time high in 1994 to a near 60-year record low of just over 100,000 members. My predecessors and their membership chairmen have set the bar fairly high for us this year, by turning the corner toward growth and eliminating the
attitudes and habits that have held us back. Last year’s membership year was energetic and competitive, and that is a trend that we want to continue this year. But we also want to achieve real progress in the opposite direction of the past decade or so, by registering a net increase in our membership. I can’t do that. The Vice Commander’s can’t do that. The membership chairman can’t do that. But you can. We have asked the Districts to achieve a modest increase in their total membership over last year, and they have allocated that increase to all of their posts. That means, when everything else is said and done, if you will simply ask – and sign up – one veteran into your post,
just one, our growth and longterm well-being will be assured.
One member from you is all that it takes to make sure that we have the staff, the resources and the training necessary to continue our unprecedented success as advocates for disabled veterans (see the Rehabilitation Chairman’s Report on Page 7 for information on the real value of our Veterans Service program), and defenders of the Indiana Veterans Home.
One member from you will assure that our voice is heard in the Indiana General Assembly and the United States Congress – not with a shrug and a yawn, but with rapt attention reserved for vital, growing, and influential organizations.
I want to begin by congratulating my great friend Commander Tom Somerville and his officers for a great Legion year. ‘The Kid,’ as he’s known in the 1st District, provided great leadership and it was a pleasure to work for him and his Department Officers.
Department Commander Ralph Tolan, in one of his first duties following his election as 2008-2009 Commander, fires a blazing fastball toward home plate as he throws out the first pitch in the finals of The American Legion Baseball tournament. Although Muncie emerged as State Champion, runner-up Rockport represented the Department in the Regionals because IHSAA rules stripped Muncie of many of its key team members.
It will now be my pleasure to work for another great friend, Department Commander Ralph Tolan. Commander Tolan and I have proven to be a great combination, both inside and outside the Department’s quarterly Dart Tournaments. His cast of officers will also provide this state with some solid leadership.
I also want to express, on behalf of my family, a sincere thanks to everyone in our Legion family who was so supportive during the recent passing of my mother. The cards, emails and letters have
been a wonderful reminder of the many friends who care.
I especially want to thank my Department Staff and Assistant Adjutant Hugh Dagley for putting on a great convention while I traveled to South Georgia for my mother’s memorial. The staff didn’t miss a beat and carried the day magnificently.
Finally, I want to pay one last tribute to my mother, Jeannette Short. She was married to my dad, a World War II combat Marine, reared five sons (most of that time as a single parent) and retired a respected leader from General Motors. While retired and in her 60’s and later in her 70’s, she had to endure two of her sons being deployed during a war. She spent much of her retirement caring for her own mother who was non-ambulatory.
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I would like to take this time to thank each and every Legion, Auxiliary and SAL member who has shown me his or her support as I’ve come up the chairs in the Department of Indiana to reach the high office of Department President.
This year will be a different year as we work for our veterans under the theme of “Stars and Stripes Forever with Service to our Veterans.” At the Auxiliary, we need to work hard to say ‘thank you’ to the veterans who gave us our freedom to live in a country so free.
I’m so excited about having two wonderful gentlemen to work with this year. De-
Shirley Firkins Auxiliary President
partment Commander Ralph Tolan and SAL Detachment Commander Gary Gregory are both great to work with. We have kicked off the year with a Legion Family project at Knightstown Home. We are going to be renovating the Cortner Cottages to bring the middle age boys more into the center of things and providing them with large areas for studying, a play area, and
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iels Democratic challenger in the fall election, addressed the convention on Saturday, telling Legionnaires of her background not only in politics, but in Hoosier Agriculture.
Much of her address was devoted to establishing her credentials as a potential governor of Indiana.
She was elected to Congress in 1989, where she served three terms in the House. During her tenure, she said, she opposed all tax increases, voted against trade deals like NAFTA, and worked to protect investments in education, Medicare and Social Security.
As a member of the Agriculture Committee, the Veterans Affairs Committee, and Chair of the Rural Caucus, she earned a reputation as a reformer, introducing legislation banning members of Congress from accepting gifts, sponsoring measures to eliminate automatic pay increases for members of Congress, and working to expand disclosure requirements for lobbyists.
Former President Bill Clinton appointed Thompson to serve as Under Secretary for Rural Development at the United States Department of Agriculture after she left Congress, and in her five years at
an overall better place to live.
With all the Legion Family’s help, I know we can do this together for the Knightstown Home children.
I’m so excited about my Juniors’ project this year. We are going to be raising money to purchase “Beads of Hope” for Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. I had a great nephew who had leukemia and passed away about two years ago this Christmas.
I’ve named this project in his memory—“Jake’s Project.” He was just three years old when the family was told of the illness, and he was only six years old when God took him home to rest. So, I’m asking the Juniors to raise money to
help purchase these beads for children with leukemia. This is a great way to get Juniors involved.
My last project is for the Indiana Veterans Home residents. Many of us live each and every day with diabetes, and about 80 percent of the patients at the home have it as well. I’m hoping to purchase a machine that will help heal sores faster and help with the circulation for the patients. This is going to be a fun year as we work hard for our veterans. We need more excitement and enthusiasm in our organizations. This is the year to start—and remember to say “Thank You” to a veteran.
USDA, she oversaw a 10 billion dollar budget, 7,000 employees and managed a number of important programs that provide services to the underserved areas of rural America.
Special Appearances
In addition to remarks by the candidates, representatives of major veteran’s service organizations also address the delegates, as did the President of The American Legion Auxiliary, Judy Butler, and Sons of The American Legion Commander Duane Alexander. Educators of the Year, honored ‘first responders,” and Military Persons of the Year were recognized and addressed the delegates, as well.
Among the highlights of the convention, began in 2002 following the 9/11 attacks, were the readings of their essays by the young flag education program winners. Their declarations of love and fealty to the Flag of the United States won warm applause from the audience.
An emotional moment, also a traditional part of the convention, came during the opening minutes of the final session in which the “99 Club,” officers who served with Past Department Commander Harold Epley, conducted the Post Everlasting Ceremony and the Memorial Service.