2008 October The Hoosier Legionnaire

H Veterans Benefits: A Gift? / Page 7 H Photos From The Fall Conference / Page 8 H Commander Calls For Renewed Effort / Page 10 H

October 2008

National Commander Credits Strong Membership With Influencing Capital Hill on VA’s GI Bill Plan Rehbein’s Inaugural ton, DC, I witnessed some- gradually we noticed the posi- of information on veterans’ to broaden their involvement thing of which you all were tion changing. In the end, only concerns is the veterans’ in a variety of Legion proDepartment Visit a part, whether you realize it IT (information technology) themselves,” said Ralph Tolan, grams, Rehbein outlined his Highlights Reason or not,” Rehbein told Legion- remained to be outsourced, State Commander of the In- incentive program for posts. naires gathered for his visit at based on competitive bids. diana American Legion, who Key to the program are four reFor Membership Leo Welch Post 495 in India- “That is an example of the accompanied Rehbein on the quirements for posts to qualiinfluence the Legion has, and tour. Department Auxiliary fy for the incentive awards. To And Unveils New napolis.

“The Legion has long op- it is not because of me, but President Shirley Firkins, SAL qualify posts must: Post Incentive Plan posed outsourcing the ad- because of you,” the Com- Commander Gary Gregory Grow by at least one memDave Rehbein, touring Indiana in his first official Department visit since being elected National Commander at The American Legion’s 90th annual convention in Phoenix, unveiled a new incentive program for posts and districts and credited Legion members with positively affecting decisions by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“Last month in Washing-

ministration of the new GI Bill, but nevertheless that was the VA’s plan. We had heard it was to be single-sourced, not bid out, and frankly, we did not understand why it was necessary to handle it that way. After all, the VA handled the GI Bill perfectly well after World War II. “I addressed this concern in my testimony; we discussed it in detail during our visits with individual congressmen, and

mander said, adding “This is why we talk so much about membership.”

Rehbein’s four-day tour included stops at seven Legion posts including, in addition to Post 495, Orland Post 423, Lake Station Post 100, Valparaiso Post 94, Van Buren 368, Boonville Post 200, and Seymour Post 89, where he learned first-hand of Legionnaires’ concerns.

“The most reliable source

Iowa Legionnaire Elected 2008-2009 National Commander

ber of last’s year’s total; Actively participate in at least on youth program; Conduct a visible community service project; Conduct a troop support or veterans benefit activity.

District commanders will certify posts that qualify, the commander said, adding that District Commander remains one of the most important of-

Continued on page 2

Religious Emphasis Takes Center Stage At Opening Of Annual Fall Conference

Convention Delegates Also Elect Five National Vice Commanders; Other Officers Appointed By New Commander

Four Chaplains, Baseball, Golf And A Plan For Historic Preservation Capture Legionnaires’ Attention

Delegates to The American Legion’s 90th annual National Convention in Phoenix August 28 elected David K. Rehbein of Ames, Ia., a research metallurgist and U.S. Army veteran of the David K. Rehbein Vietnam era, to New National lead the 2.7 milCommander lion-member organization for 2008-2009.

Rehbein served as an infantryman with the 4th and 1st Armored Divisions in Germany from 1970 to 1971. After leaving the Army, he attended Wayne State College and Iowa State University, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in physics and a Master's degree in metallurgy. Following graduation, he accepted a position as research metallurgist at the Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, a position he held until his retirement in July 2008.

A member of Ames Post 37, he served as its commander and adjutant as well as 12

On The Road Again

Indiana Department Commander Ralph Tolan (right) hosted newly elected National Commander David Rehbein on the annual Commander’s Tour of the state last month, pausing before boarding the “Commanders’ Special,” a uniquely outfitted bus provided for the tour by Orland Post 423.

At left, the intrepid travelers who accompanied the commanders gathered mid-tour at Department headquarters en route from the Northern to the Southern regions of the Department.

Continued on page 2

NEC Reviews Legislative Activities And Looks To The Next Congress During the recently concluded annual National Executive Committee meetings held at National Headquarters in Indianapolis October 13-16, the National Legislative Commission presented a review of significant legislative activities completed by the 110th Congress which affect or achieve the Legion’s objectives.

In addition, the report looks forward to the legislative proposals likely to be considered by the 11th Congress once it convenes in January.

Legionnaires are encouraged to become informed on these issues and active in contacting their Congressional Representatives and Senators on those issues of concern to themselves and The American Legion.

This report provides a summary of congressional actions since the National Commander’s testimony in 2007, and is arranged by program areas to permit ready access to areas of primary concern.

110th Congress, Second Session The President’s FY 2009 discretionary funding recommendations for the Department of Veterans Affairs reflect

and other Legion Family dignitaries also participated in the tour.

During the tour, Commander Rehbein unveiled an incentive program for posts and districts and at each stop detailed the plan.

“One of the things I am personally concerned about is that too often, we become too specialized in our posts,” he said.

In order to encourage posts

Long Time National Adjutant Retires National Adjutant Robert W. Spanogle retired from The American Legion at the close of the National Executive Committee meetings October 16, after more than 27 years at the helm of the nation’s largest veterans’ organization.

Spanogle, a Vietnam Era veteran, was named National Adjutant in 1981, after serving as a membership consultant tasked with attracting Vietnam Veterans to the organization, as well as National Membership Director, National Internal Affairs Director and Executive Director of the Washington Office.

With 27 years in office, Spanogle long ago became the Legion’s longest-serving National Adjutant, having outstripped his closest predecessor by almost 3 to 1.

He was named an honorary Past National Commander by resolution overwhelmingly approved during the 90th annual National Convention in Phoenix in August, joining only nine other Legionnaires as a honorary PNC. Daniel S. Wheeler, executive Director of the Indianapolis Office since 1995, and a Legion employee since 1979, was appointed by National Commander David Rehbein as the new National Adjutant.

a $1.7 billion increase over FY 2008 funding. However, the bulk of that increase includes fiscal assumptions by administration officials—proposed and defeated last year—which The American Legion finds unacceptable. These proposals include: • Charging enrollment

fees ranging from $250 to $750, based on family income, to cover the cost of enrolling veterans in Priority Groups 7 and 8 regardless of other health insurance coverage; • Increasing pharmacy copayments for certain veterans from $7 to $15 per prescription;

• Continuing the prohibition for the enrollment of new Priority Group 8 veterans.

• Eliminating the practice of reducing the VA first-party co-payments debts with collections recoveries from thirdparty health plans Rather than consider ways to allow the VA health care system to accommodate the veterans currently using it, the White House budget for VA seeks to drive tens of thousands of veterans away from the health care system, in addition to continuing to prohibit over a million Priority Group 8-eligible veterans from enrolling in the VA medical system. The American Legion vehemently opposes this particular administration strategy.

On March 13, the House passed its version of the FY 2008 budget resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 312.

The vote for passage was 212207. The Senate version of the FY 2008 budget resolution, Senate Concurrent Resolution 70, passed that chamber on March 14 by a 51-44 tally.

Both chambers’ budget blueprints call for an increase of $3.2 billion above the Presi-

Indiana Department Commander Ralph Tolan presided over a Fall Conference general session marked by a special tribute to four unusual war heroes and remarks by an assortment of Legion, Auxiliary and SAL dignitaries.

With Department Chaplain Norris Keirn providing the narrative, the tale of the Four Chaplains, an event that galvanized the nation during the depths of World War II and entered the traditional lore of the Legion, was punctuated by music and sound effects provided by members of the Religious Emphasis Committee.

The story details the sacrifice of four chaplains—one Jewish, one Roman Catholic and two Protestant—aboard the troop ship USS Dorchester who gave up their lifejackets, and thus their lives, following the torpedoing of the ship in the mid-Atlantic in 1943.

Long a part of post and district commemorations, the committee’s presentation of the ceremony was the first time in recent memory the event was commemorated during a department function.

“I think it is important that we work to put ‘God’ back into our programs and activities,” Keirn said, adding “We used

to have services at all our conferences and conventions, but over the years, participation got less and less until there seemed to be no choice but to cancel them.

“I am really pleased with the reaction we got from this morning’s ‘Four Chaplains’ ceremony. I’d like to plan it again for next year, and see what we can come up with for the other conferences.”

The annual Fall Conference, held this year at the Indianapolis Marriott East October 10-12, was attended by more than 500 Legion family members, and featured a variety of committee, commission and group meetings, including sessions by The Sons of The American Legion and The American Legion Riders.

In addition to welcome remarks by Auxiliary President Shirley Firkins and SAL Commander Gary Gregory, Baseball Chairman Owen Wells presented players, teams and awards that marked the American legion Baseball season this year.

Wells introduced the 2008 American Legion Baseball Scholarship winner, Alexander Hall, sponsored by Post 72 in the 6th District, a player he described as having “mastered

Continued on page 2

100

75

64.93%

50

25

0

Soaring Together

Department Commander Ralph Tolan has selected the American Eagle as his symbol and ‘Soaring Together’ as his theme for this Legion year. Fittingly, the Hoosier Legionnaire will track membership at-a- glance this year with the above chart. Watch as the eagle soars to an ever higher aerie each issue. The commander has encouraged every Legionnaire to do his or her part to lift the eagle to the mountaintop this year by recruiting at least one member each. The eagle has soared to 64.93 percent of the target as Continued on page 5 of October 20, 2008.

Page 2

Hoosier Legionnaire

October 2008

Hoosier Ensemble Releases Patriotic DVD Commander's Message

Upward Bound

The colorful climbing wall was one of many attractions and activities provided for the students at the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Children’s Home at Knightstown last month as Legionnaires, Auxiliary members and Sons of The American Legion gathered on the campus for the annual Legion Day at Knightstown Home.

Despite threatening weather, the traditional carnival-like festivities, membership turn-in, and special convocation went off without a hitch.

An Indiana-based music ensemble has released a DVD celebrating Hoosiers’ love of country and highlighting the state’s patriotism from the days of the American Revolution until today.

Carmel Brass’s new DVD, Red, White & Blue in Brass, includes 17 patriotic tunes including such favorites as “America, the Beautiful,” “My Country ’Tis of Thee,” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” along with songs popular during the Revolutionary and Civil wars.

The entire production was produced in Indiana by Indiana-based companies, and vintage materials were provided by the Indiana Historical Society and other Indiana collections.

Carmel Brass was formed in 1970 by music director Thomas Akins. Originally known as Chamber Brass Choir, its new identity celebrates the expansion of artistic activity in central Indiana. Equally at home in concert halls, museums, parks, civic celebrations and commercial venues, the strengths of Carmel Brass lie in highly acclaimed artistry

Commander's Tour Continued from page 1 fices in the organization.

“If the District Commander says you qualify, National will take his word for it,” Rehbein said.

He also asked every Legionnaire, Auxiliary member

and SAL member to wear a visible sign of their affiliation with and pride in the Legion, and pointed to his own wellworn belt buckle as an example. As a conversation starter, he said, the buckle has resulted in many veterans asking about the Legion and eventu-

ally becoming members.

Membership is extremely important, he said because “we need to keep the 2.7 million members that we have. If we don’t moments like those I experienced on Capital Hill last month will be fewer and farther between.”

Annual Fall Conference Continued from page 1 the difficult task of combining outstanding performance on the playing field with outstanding performance in the class room.”

The chairman also announced Michael Mosby, who played for Post 254 in Rockport, the winner of the A.D. Phillips Sportsmanship Award. The award is presented annually to the player in the State Tournament who excels at the game, demonstrates extraordinary sportsmanship, and is in his final year of Legion Baseball eligibility.

The top award in Ameri-

can Legion Baseball is the Arlie Skelton Award, presented annually to a volunteer “whose commitment and contribution to the program are extraordinary,” Wells said, presenting the award to Larry Snyder from Rockport’s Post 254.

Wells also introduced a group of players representing the 2008 Indiana American Legion Baseball State Champions from Muncie who, according to Wells, “because of an unusual turn of events and rules imposed by the IHSAA, were unable to participate in the regional tournament and were replaced by the runner up team.”

Bob Graves, manager of

the Muncie Post’s Legion Team, introduced the players attending the conference.

The conference also included commission meetings, the proceedings of which are included on Page 3 of this issue, and two sessions of the Department Executive Committee.

The DEC, in addition to routine and housekeeping resolutions such as post closings and officer endorsement, approved a resolution authorizing the Department to undertake an 18-month project to catalog and archive all historical documents and materials housed in the Department Headquarters building.

Rehbein Elected Continued from page 1 years as finance officer. He has been district commander and state vice-commander and represented Iowa on The American Legion's National Executive Committee. He served on many department

committees, including Membership, Oratorical, Strategic Planning and Junior Shooting Sports. During his term as department membership chairman, Iowa achieved target membership three times in 1991, 1992, and 1993.

He was appointed by Iowa

October 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.

USPS 010-445 ISSN 0018-4772 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to HOOSIER LEGIONNAIRE, 777 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.

Thomas Somerville...................... Department Commander Stephen Short......................................................... Publisher Hugh Dagley.................................................................. Editor 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 5 October 2008 Circulation 120,000 Printed by the Herald-Times, Bloomington, IN

Governor Vilsack to a position on the Iowa Commission on Veterans Affairs.

Rehbein served on the National Americanism Commission 1989-99, with service as an instructor on the National Information Conference staff, conducting the judge's briefing for the National Oratorical Contests and as Match Director of the Junior Shooting Sports national finals. He has served as chairman of the National Foreign Relations Commission, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission and the Legislative commission.

Cmdr. Rehbein took the oath of office along with five other national officers. Serving as national vice commanders are Michael J. Landkamer of Columbus, Neb., Harley W. Ray of Albany, Ore., Tracy D. Simmons of Vidor, Texas, James W. Davis of Cambridge, Ohio, and James A. LaCoursiere of Gilman, Conn.

National Historian Charles J. Zelinksy of Champaign, Ill.; National Sergeant at Arms Randy L. Freel of Nevada, Iowa; and National Chaplain Lawrence L. Vollink of Ypsilanti, Mich., were appointed to their positions by Cmdr.

Rehbein following the close of the national convention.

and widely varied repertoire.

As Indiana’s only fully professional large brass ensemble, Carmel Brass draws its members from the ranks of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra as well as the faculties of Indiana, Butler, Purdue and Ball State universities.

For over four centuries, brass instruments have been a key component in musical expression. Folk to jazz, rock to classical, composed to improvised, Carmel Brass presents the finest in brass performance to audiences of all ages.

Akins, who hosts the video, is music director and conductor of Carmel Brass and serves in similar posts with Indy Pops Orchestra and Sonic Boom Percussion Ensemble.

He has guest conducted the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as well as orchestras in South Bend, Evansville, and Roanoke, VA. He was principal timpanist of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for 26 years, a post that is now endowed and titled in his honor. He appeared

as soloist with the ISO on several occasions and gave the world premiere performance of William Kraft’s Timpani Concerto No. 1 in 1984. Following his playing career, he served as the ISO’s Director of Public Relations and Archives for an additional 16 years.

Upon his retirement from the ISO, Akins was named by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels a “Distinguished Hoosier.”

Upcoming appearances of Carmel Brass include a free “Honor Our Heroes” concert on Veterans’ Day, Tuesday, November 11, 2008. The music will begin at 7:00 p.m. at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 1402 West Main Street in Carmel, just east of US 31 and 131st. Street.

The Red, White, and Blue in Brass DVD retails for $24.95 plus 7 percent state sales tax and $5.00 shipping and handling. Information on purchasing the video is available at www.carmelbrass.com, and copies also are available by sending a check or money order along with shipping information to Carmel Brass c/o Producers Plus, P.O. Box 17194, Indianapolis, IN 46217.

Continued from page 10 officer. There should be one at every post meeting in the district regardless of whether the post is successful or struggling. It can be an encouragement and a source of information to the members and post leaders alike, and you will almost certainly see a change in their work.

I can not close without acknowledging all those of you who have so generously supported my “Project Knightstown Rehabilitation, in which the kids – with the material we are buying, wil upgrade their living quarters. Thank you.

Our next challenge is to start thinking about Hoosier Boys State. It’s not too early to begin thinking about delegates and how to pay for them. It may be harder this year because of the economy.

Finally, a salute and sincere ‘thank you” to the fine Legionnaires at Orland Post 423 for providing not only the Post’s bus for the Commander’s Tour, but also the drive, Bill Shough. A tip of the cap to you all for your obvious devotion to mutual helpfulness.

October 2008

Hoosier Legionnaire

Page 3

americanism

CHILDREN & YOUTH

INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Richard Jewell

Ken Hylton

Mike Miller

Chairman

The Americanism Commission met at 4:15 pm Saturday, October 11, 2008 in Salon B of the Marriott Hotel during the Fall Conference 2008.Chairman Richard Jewell opened the meeting with proper form.

Roll call disclosed the following members present: Chairman Richard Jewell, Vice Chairman Burt Tiemersma, Vice Chairman Jerry Jordon, Baseball Chairman Owen Wells, National Security Foreign Affairs Chairman Gary Steinhardt, POW/MIA Chairman Martin Dzieglowicz, and SAL Chairman Larry Horvath.

There were five guests present.

Those absent included: National Liaison Rep. John Hayes, Bowling Chairman Phillip Deckard, and Golf Chairman Michael Comerford.

Baseball Executive Committee Chairman Owen Wells discussed the addition of new teams: Princeton and Carmel. Other teams that may possibly be added are Madison, Columbus, Brownsburg, Bloomington, Beech Grove, Bedford, and Clinton.

New contacts are to contact Executive members, then District members.

Mark Derolf’s team, from Hammond, won the Plymouth Regional game. Players sat in the stands without their team’s uniform to get around the five player rule. He requested a wavier with the IHSAA for football players to play. The IHSAA replied that in the future, they would consider a wavier for one team to advance in play. Statutes are still pending at IHSAA. Chairman Wells will go to Legislative Section to rally support for the program.

Major complaints against teams that drop out of sectional and/or regional tournaments after beginning play were discussed. Teams mentioned in the complaints include Crown Point, Batesville, Bedford, and Booneville. Letters of reprimand will be sent to the team coach and the Legion post involved.

The Rules Committee will meet the first Saturday in December for the proposed rule refreshing. Meeting date is pending on the Commander’s annual Christmas party.

There were no motions made, and there were no motions made dealing with department funds.

There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

Baseball Committee There were new baseball teams present at the committee meeting: Scott Mahan from Post 108, Mike Shea from Post 155, and Tim Nonte from Post 25.

Old business includes the subject of rain delay procedures. This topic still needs to be researched.

Chairman Owen Wells emphasized that committee members need to make sure their name is on the mailing list for the news letter.

Chairman Wells stated that all paperwork needs to be completed in order for teams to advance in a tournament.

District Chairman Tom Somerville recommended that the National Rule Book not be sent with the State Rule Book.

Chairman Wells informed that committee of the possibility of doing away with the Principal signatures on Form1. Enrollment will be taken off the web. The proper way to notarize the Form 1 was also discussed.

Teams need to carry Form 2s at all times, at both home and away games. No player will take the field prior to filling out a Form2.

The new Driver’s License

can now be used in place of a Birth Certificate for players.

Muncie won the baseball tournament. Rockport, the second-place team, took Muncie’s place in the National Regional Tournament. The Rockport team lost two games in a row.

Gary Stiles announced a possible tournament in June, featuring four teams from the North and four teams from the South.

There were no motions made.

There were no motions made dealing with department funds.

There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

Bowling Committee There was a motion made to hold the 2010 Bowling Tournament in Marion, IN and the host post will be Post 368. The tentative date for the Tournament is February 20 through March 21, 2010.

There were no motions made dealing with department funds.

There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

Golf Committee Minutes from the previous meeting were read.

Mike White from Post 64 spoke on the 2009 Tournament. The Spring flood damaged the courses originally scheduled for the tournament (Coffin and Riverside) and two other courses (Saddle Brook and Winding River). The early form on-line for the tournament does not currently list the entry fee ($90.00) for the tournament. More information on the tournament will be available at the Spring Conference and on-line at www.indlegion.org.

Donations for Golf Sponsorships will be taken with a portion of the proceeds going to the Indiana Veterans Home.

Bob Miller thanked the committee and the participants for the 2008 Golf Tournament in Auburn.

There was a motion made to meet at the Mid-Winter Conference.

There were no motions made dealing with department funds.

There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

National Security/ Foreign Affairs Committee A power point presentation was given by Chairman Gary Steinhardt. The presentation was a briefing on the ROTC program, including its opportunities for scholarships and the different programs it contains.

A survey was taken by the committee to consider future programs.

A motion was made to meet at the Mid-Winter Conference.

There were no motions made dealing with department funds.

There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

POW/MIA Committee The minutes from the previous meeting were read and approved.

Chairman Martin Dzieglowicz passed out information packets to all District Reps. and Guests. Important information discussed within the packet included the pact that Russians and U.S. signed at the National Convention on August 27, 2008 to investigate information on POW/MIA’s with the American Legion.

The Committee also discussed the possibility of sending out certificates of appre-

Chairman

The Children & Youth Commission met at 4:15 p.m.

Saturday, October 11, 2008 in Salon C at the Marriott Hotel during the Fall Conference.

Chairman Ken Hylton opened the meeting in proper form. Roll call disclosed the following members present: Vice Chairman John French, Vice Chairman Al Pulido, National Liaison Representative James Delaney and Committee Chairmen: Americanism and Government Robert Bach, American Legion Family Scholarship Charlie Wier, Boy Scouts Stan Gatewood, Boys State Enrollment Jack Cook, Children & Youth Ken Hylton, Flag Education/Etiquette Larry Thiele represented Ronald Taylor, Girl Scouts Gail Galich, Junior Shooting Sports Ida Jewell, Knightstown Home Jeff Carroll, and Oratorical Chairman Fred Langley.

American Legion Family Scholarship Committee Chairman Cgarkes Wier reported the contributions received in the past year. He encouraged all districts to participate. The Chairman recognized the 11th District Chairman Eugene Tsareff for money donated. Chairman Tsareff had sent letters to all posts, units and squadrons in his district asking them to contribute. He will share his solicitation letter with other district chairmen. Chairman Wier distributed the application form to the committee.

The grade point average, 3.5 or above, was discussed. No motions were made and no funds were requested.

Americanism & Government Committee The committee voted to meet at the Midwinter conference. Participation is less than half of last year’s numbers. The following suggestions were made to improve participation numbers: district chairmen need to make contact with post chairmen to explain the program to them, post chairmen need to go to schools to make face to face contact, post chairmen should speak to principals/ counselors/social studies chairmen, chairmen should contact public, private, and home schooled students in their area.

Boy Scout Committee The revenue and expense report was approved. Chairman Gatewood gave an orientation to new district chairmen about the Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship. He impressed upon chairmen the need to get Eagle Scout recipients involved in working on their application.

Applicants must have a Boy Scout Religious Award.

Applications are due to district chairmen by February 1, 2009 and district winners are due to Chairman Gatewood prior to judging on March 14, 2009. Russ Chorpenning has 100 scout pins for sale to increase the scholarship fund. A motion was made to meet at the Midwinter Conference. Chairman Gatewood also reminded the committee about the Square Knot Award to recognize adults who have contributed to the Boy Scouts program.

Boys State Enrollment Committee Prior to the minutes being read, Chairman Cook announced that the Samsung scholarship for $20,000 was awarded to a Hoosier Girls State Delegate named Rachel Rominger from New Palestine.

Previous minutes were read and approved. The committee members voted to meet at Midwinter Conference. Hoosier Boys State Director Steve Bowman presented a report on last years Boys State and the upcoming year’s deadlines.

After attending the NaContinued on page 6 tional Directors meeting, Di-

Chairman

rector Bowman has notified Kreg Battles, Rep Dist. 64 and Hoosier Boys State Instructor, about proposing legislation similar to other states that would provide state funding for our program.

Packets have been mailed to chairmen and high schools.

Chairman Cook challenged each District Chairman to involve one more post than last year and to increase the involvement of the post chairmen. The 1st District Chairman said they will have a resolution to present to the members at Midwinter Conference regarding having the Chairman of the Boys State Enrollment Committee named to the Board of Directors of Boys State.

The 5th District Chairman stated that he was concerned about the no-shows and possible money lost due to the no shows. He wondered if it would be possible to invite two to three alternates to Boys State to be on stand by to cover no shows. There was a presentation made and rejected by the Board of Directors regarding the possibility of atlarge delegates. Bob Bach will address this again with the Board of Directors.

The 6th District Chairman discussed the possibility of an online application to be downloaded, completed and forwarded to district chairmen. Discussion was held concerning the possible ramifications of using public money for a private organization.

The 9th District Chairman noted the father of a Merchant Marine Academy and Hoosier Boys State graduate continued to donate money to Hoosier Boys State to allow other students the chance to attend. Chairmen should establish orientation dates to present at the Midwinter Conference. Chairman Cook read a thank you letter from one of the 2008 Boys State interpreters.

Children & Youth Committee Chairman Ken Hylton introduced Michael Furnish, President and CEO of the Indiana Special Olympics, who talked about getting The American Legion more involved with this program.

Chairman Hylton also introduced Lisa Brown, Auxiliary Department Children & Youth Chairman, who reminded posts to share information with their auxiliary units.

DVDs are available from the National American Legion to give to the children of deployed troops to assist them in understanding why their parent is gone. Each district was encouraged to submit two entries for the Educator of the Year award. A motion was made and approved to meet at the Midwinter Conference.

Flag Education/ Etiquette Committee Secretary Thiele discussed the test evaluations. Directories were distributed. The Department Headquarters has received orders, which the Secretary distributed to the District Chairmen for post assignment. Chairmen were reminded of the deadlines for submitting post winner and district winner tests for state winner selection.

Girl Scouts Committee Chairman Galich asked the committee to approach posts about sponsoring troops, to notify their local community about our Gold Award Scholarship, to search for Gold Award applicants, to ask for donations, and to discover which counties each district encompasses with the new Girl Scout alignment.

A motion was made and approved to change the wording of the application to include senior and ambassador applicants. The following donations were made: 1st District

The Internal Affairs Commission met on Saturday, October 11, 2008 during the Fall Conference at the Marriott Hotel East at 4:15 p.m. in Salon D. Commission Chairman Mike Miller opened the meeting in proper form. Roll call disclosed the following members present: Chairman Mike Miller, Vice Chairman Mary York, Natl. Liaison Rep. John Pipher, American Legion Riders Dawg Jones, Community Involvement Eric Baggett, Convention Contests James May, Firefighter Wilfred Kocher, Legislative Danny Rice, Membership Ralph Perez, New Post Development Mike Davis, Public Relations Rep. Dave Sharber.

Roll call disclosed the following absent: Vice Chairman J. David Morrow, Public Relations Chairman Jeff Carroll and Religious Emphasis Chairman Norris Keirn.

Chairman Miller asked for a report from each Committee.

American Legion Riders The meeting was called to order at 11:00 a.m. by District Chairman Keith “Dawg” Jones. The roll call disclosed two chapters not represented.

There are now 65 chapters. The Merrillville chapter has been closed. Indiana has more Chapters than any other state. There are chapters in all 50 states and three foreign countries.

The Legacy Ride raised $560,000 this year. That comes to over $3 million over the past 3 years.

Keith brought up the Director’s letter and asked for any questions. We have been requested to “police” ourselves regarding patches and behavior. With almost 2,000 members in the state, we all need to be on the same page.

Keith distributed the Legion Guide Books to the District Directors who were There were 20-25 Indiana attendees at the National Romp in Marshalltown. Iowa did a great job on the Romp.

Originally, the Romp’s 10th anniversary was thought to be in 2012. But, it is really 2011, and will be in Ferdinand – home of the 1st National Romp. The theme will be “Back Home Again in Indiana.”

This site is the St. Anthony Conservation Club. It has an air conditioned building, camping, shelter house, showers, and space for field events.

The Conservation Club will handle the food and beer sales. We will need help from other ALR chapters for security, gate, setup, teardown, etc.

The date has not been set yet.

National Romp year/locations are as follows: 2009, Wil-

lard, Ohio; 2010, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 2011, Ferdinand, Indiana; and 2012, Kansas There being no further business to come before the meeting, it was adjourned in proper form.

Community Involvement The minutes from the Spring Conference were approved as read.

Chairman Baggett announced to the Committee that there were two great scrapbook entries last year, under 500 Post 168 and over 500 Post 65 were Department winners.

Chairman Baggett stated that the more activities each post and district arrange, the more members you will pick up. The Committee agreed to meet at the Mid-Winter Conference.

There were no motions or requests for Department Funds made. There being no further business to be brought before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 2:15 p.m.

Convention Contest Chairman Fuchs asked Chairman May why the Color Guard competition was changed from Saturday to Thursday during the Department Convention. He asked why there was no announcement of the competition or the winners in The Hoosier Legionnaire.

Chairman May announced to the Committee that Post 308 won the Post & Retrieve competition. He stated that a copy of the rules for all four categories will be sent to all District Chairmen.

The Committee will meet at the Mid-Winter Conference.

There were no motions and no requests for Department funds made.

Being no further business to be brought before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned.

Firefighter/Law & Order/EMS The minutes from the Spring Conference and were approved as read.

Chairman Kocher passed out the 2009 books with copies of last years winners. He informed the Committee that the final turn in for submittals will be at Close of Books.

Department directories were passed out to all in attendance. There was a brief discussion on National’s program; it was reported to the Committee that there is no change at this time.

The Committee will meet at the Mid-Winter Conference. There were no motions or requests for Department funds.

Continued on page 6

REHABILITATION Ed Trice Chairman

The Rehabilitation Commission met at 4:15 p.m. Saturday, October 11, 2008, in Salon E of the Marriott Hotel during the Fall Conference.

Chairman Ed Trice opened the meeting in proper form.

Roll call disclosed the following members present: Chairman Ed Trice; Vice Chairmen James Hagler and Rick Hudson; National Liaison Representative James Koutz; Employment, James Piepenbrok; General Hospital, Ray Nunweiler; Homeless Veterans, Robbie Robinson; Indiana Veterans Home, Gary Danekas; Nursing Home, Cecil Brummett represented by John Balczo; Veterans Assistance, David Heath.

Those absent included Commander’s Representative Phillip Hutson; General HosContinued on page 6 pital, Ray Nunweiler.

Employment Committee The committee reviewed the Award Packets that were passed out for the up coming year. Nominations need to be mailed to John Hickey no later then Dec 31, 2008 for this years. We will vote on the winners at the Mid-Winter Conference. No motions were made and no funds requested.

The Committee will meet at the Mid-Winter Conference.

General Hospital The updated allocation lists were handed out to the District Chairman. The Chairman discussed various ongoing projects in their districts.

No motions were made and no funds requested. The Committee will meet at the MidWinter Conference.

Continued on page 6

Page 4

Hoosier Legionnaire

October 2008

DISTRICT 1

Salute to Heroes

Department Southern Vice Commander Rodney Strong, left, salutes as the National Colors are posted by one of Indianapolis Public Schools Junior ROTC units. Along with Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, to his right, Strong participated in a “Legacy Walk” and recognition event sponsored by members of the National Headquarters Staff to draw attention to the Legion’s program of providing scholarships to the children of those who have perished in the War on Terror.

Ernest Komasinksi Commander

It’s time again to let everyone know about the exciting events that occurred in the First District over the last two months.

In August, I had the opportunity to attend the National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. To say it was hot compared to here is an understatement.

It was over 100 degrees every day and at night it went down to a “comfortable” 90. It felt like we were the turkeys on Thanksgiving Day. Besides the hot temperature we experienced what the locals call monsoon season. The storms that came up in the evening or night produced heavy winds, hail, and lightening. It was windy enough for trees to knock out electricity, planes to overturn and roofs to collapse. We were in the remnants of the hurricanes further down south.

Hopefully, Kentucky will be better.

On September 14 a number of First District Legion, Auxiliary, and SAL members went to Knightstown for Knightstown Home day. Special thanks goes out to those people who made the trip because of the weather and flooding conditions in our area. We drove thru heavy rain most of the way down state. A number of people braved it out to the end of the event wondering if they would make it home and if they had a home to go home to. Traffic was at a standstill on the expressway around Lebanon and so we had to detour through local roads to find another route to the expressway farther along.

Most of the windy and rainy trip was tolerable the rest of the way until we reached northwest Indiana where almost all of the north and south roads were blocked by rising water.

At one point we moved almost one mile in over an hour. Everyone was happy to make it back home. It was a very long day for everyone who traveled there. Although the weather was better at Knightstown than the forecast, it was a shame it couldn’t be better for the students that day.

On Friday September 19 I was invited to speak at a POW/MIA National Recognition Day service at Post 80 in Whiting. Post 80 Commander Mel Hobbs came up with the

idea to have this first ever service at his post. He told me he plans to continue this event in the future. The service was attended by about 30 Legion members and other guests.

Job well done, Commander, I’m sure attendance will grow as the word spreads in the area and with the help of some more publicity.

On Monday September 29, the First District had the honor of hosting a dinner for American Legion National Commander Dave Rehbein.

Commander Rehbein, Commander Ralph Tolan, Auxiliary President Shirley Firkins, SAL Detachment Commander Gary Gregory, and a number of other Legion, Auxiliary, and SAL officers toured the state in the last week of September.

At the Knightstown visit, I was asked to choose a Post in the First District for the event.

Commander John Rassbach of Post 100 immediately volunteered to do the honors.

The normally scheduled event for that night at his Post was cancelled to pave the way for the dinner. Commander John made almost all of the arrangements for the dinner even down to requesting that the post cook prepare something other than the traditional Legion food.

Thank you Commander John, I’m sure our guests appreciated your efforts.

The First District moved into first place in membership at the Knightstown Home card turn in. Membership Chairman Juan Roman, our Vice Commanders, Post Commanders, and adjutants did an outstanding job of gathering in the cards for the turn in. Hopefully we will keep the trophy for awhile. We will have it on display at our District meetings.

Special get well wishes go out to Past First District Commander Don Sales on his recent illness. We pray that everything will turn out okay for him. Also, sympathy wishes to the family and friends of Harry Zuvich who passed away recently. Harry was a prominent and very important member of the First District and many other organizations. His importance to us all was very apparent at his wake in the overcrowded funeral home.

DISTRICT 2 Robert Rettig Commander

Greetings from the Second District Green Machine!

Our Legion Family has been busy throughout the District meeting the challenges of Legion programs.

The year is off to a great start and we are all looking forward to Fall Conference in Indianapolis October 10 and 11. We will be attending the sessions with keen interest in learning and setting the stage for a great 2008-2009 Legion year.

Since my last article I’ve returned from the Phoenix National Convention. First Lady Sharon and I had a great time and learned a tremendous amount of information about our Legion Family and the many programs available to us. The general sessions were very informative covering a wide range of topics. The election of our new National Commander Dave Rehbein from the Department Of Iowa was a highlight that Sharon and I will never forget.

Another highlight was the mass re-enlistment of hundreds of young soldiers, sailors and flyers. We were asked to raise our hands and take the oath with them. It brought back memories of 1968 when I was inducted into the US

Army. It was a great experience to stand along with these young men and women as they begin a new life serving our nation.

American Legion programs are the heart and soul of our organization. Programs help us attract new members when they see what we do.

Programs and activities give our current members a feeling of belonging to an active group that gets things done in the local post, the state and the nation. Step back and take a close look at your post. Are you taking advantage of the many opportunities that are available to make your post stand out?

Sunday, September 14 was Legion Day at the Indiana Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Children’s Home at Knightstown, Indiana. The Second District Family (Legion, Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion) were present in great numbers. We had our booth on the grounds stocked with snacks and drinks so that the kids had a great time. Several posts made cash donations so that along with the volunteer help it made “Legion Day” a great success.

National Commander Re-

Continued from column 4

DISTRICT 3 Robert Claypool Commander

No column submitted.

DISTRICT 4 Charlie Rathsack Commander

At the National Convention in Phoenix we met our National Commander Dave Rehbein from Iowa. The National Commander will be making his Indiana visits from Sept.

29 to Oct.3.

Plans have not been completed as I write this. But, we do know Orland Post 423 will be a priority visit.. Past Post Commander from Orland will be driving the Orland Post bus for his entire Indiana tour. A big thank you to Bill Shough for donating his time to do this.

Our District meeting was held at Orland and we had another great Post Officer turn out.

Our Northern Vice Commanders Ron Kizer and Rick Hudson presented our Department Commander Ralph Tolan’s ‘One Member At A Time’ program. This will be my main objective on our Post visitations. Ron also presented the District Elementary School Teacher Award to Julia Page. She plans to use the monetary award to further her students’ education in future programs.

Your District Officers have been busy, we visited Posts in Albion, Avilla, Fremont and Angola. We also are making it a point to visit with our Legion Family. Getting to know them as their friends. Our reception has been outstanding.

We now prepare for our District to advance to Knight-

stown. The Legion Riders will join us as usual, as well as Greg Spaulding and his SAL Officers. Pam Shook and her Auxiliary Officers and members, bring and prepare a mouth watering lunch, which is always appreciated.

October will bring new challenges. We will have our Fall Conference in Indianapolis, Post visitations and, first and foremost, getting out our membership teams to “GROW” by one member at a time.

Hope to see you all at our Fall Conference, after which we will be starting another busy month. The 4th District will be Honoring its Past Commander at Garrett Post 178 on Nov. 6. Don’t forget to vote on Nov. 4. This should be an interesting election. On Nov. 11 we honor our veterans. Many Posts are having some sort of program. Please join your Post to help honor our veterans.

We also have visitations for November at Decatur Post 43, Ligonier Post 243, Garrett Post 178 and Leo Post 409.

Bob Newman our candidate for Dept Commander and his campaign team will be busy traveling throughout Indiana during the coming months.

May your trips be safe ones.

My District Officers and their families, my wife and myself wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.

DISTRICT 5 Pete Brannon Commander

The American Legion Riders Chapter at Wabash Post 15 hosted a breakfast to raise money for the Legacy Fund.

Attendance was pretty good.

Fifth District Legion Rider Chairman Kent Mullett of Wabash Post 15 reports that he and Legion Rider Randy Titus rode down to Indy for the start of the Legacy Ride to Phoenix with the National Commander. They rode as far as the first gas stop -- and before they even left Indy on the ride west $147,000 was raised for the cause.

Fifth District Members Ed Trice and Jerry Stevens of Fairmount Post 313 and Tom and Jill Riding from Jonesboro Post 95 rode their cycles along with the National Commander all the way to Phoenix to attend the National Convention.

The end result was that over $500,000 was raised. Wow!!

This is the American Legion in action, ladies and gentlemen.

Continued on page 6 This is what we are about and

only some of what we do for our fellow veterans. We, as Legion members, should be proud!

Fifth District Commander Pete Brannon reports that he and Membership Chairman Don Cole are covering lots of miles making their visitations around the District at various Legion Posts. One of their stops was as Lapel Post 212 where they attended a Post Everlasting Ceremony.

Under the direction of Post Commander Steve Short and his Officers, the program was presented in an outstanding respectful manner honoring deceased members.

Wabash Post 15 Commander Jack Lynn just got back from Viet Nam. Commander Lynn, with his particular expertise, went over there for a couple of weeks to help put in a wood factory.

While many that came back from ’Nam would never want

Continued in column 5

to breathe another breath in that part of the world, Commander Lynn went over to help our former enemies become a part of the modern capitalistic world with their own business which will help their economy and local people and showed to them the American Spirit at its fullest 360 degrees of ability, compassion, and response.

Commander Brannon reports that Jonesboro Post 95 and Gas City VFW assisted Gas City with a 911 Memorial Program on 9-11-08. The Mayor spoke along with the Chief of Police and Fire Chief.

Post Commander Wayne “Spike” Gaskin of Jonesboro Post 95, put the whole program together.

There was a parade into downtown prior to the program which consisted of the American Legion Riders and other parties to the program.

This is one of those things that the American Legion does as part of the community. This is a picture perfect example of the American Legion working hand in hand with the community for a noble cause.

For those present watching and listening I’m sure seeing the American Legion as part of this program had a positive effect. Post Commander Spike: we in the Fifth District salute you, sir.

Job Well Done!

Pendleton Post 117 will have a haunted house over Halloween. Here is another American Legion Post participating in community activities and getting The American Legion name out there in a positive manner.

Montpelier Post 156 participated in their annual Jamboree Days. Our Fifth District was represented quite well in the parade. Commander Brannon, Membership Chairman Don Cole, Past State American Legion Commander Roger Baker, and Past District Commanders Dug Fugitt and Doug Howard were all a part of the parade.

Huntington Post 85 will be hosting our spring District golf outing. This should make for a fun time for everyone.

As soon as a date is set I will let you know and Huntington Post 85 will be giving out flyers about the event later on.

This is one of the ways we make money for the District so please try to attend and if you are not a golfer but still want to help the District than please go out and sell some tee sponsors for the District.

Congratulations to the Fifth District’s Fairmount Post 313 members Ed Trice and Bob Bach in receiving the Distinguished Service Award. It is rather ironic that Bob taught Ed in High School and both are members of the same Post and received this high award at the same time. And it goes without saying, .two better Legionnaires there is not. Both deserve this award to be recognized for all that they do and continue to do for The American Legion.

Happy Birthday United States Navy on October 13, and to the United States Marine Corps November 10.

Membership is coming in and we need to step up to bat

and start the contact to retain and get new members. Now is the time. Don’t wait till close of books to start worrying about this. Do it now. ‘Git R Done…Git R Done now.’

What would be ideal would be for each Post have their 100 per cent by December 31, and after the first of the year to not have to worry about anything except to work to achieve as high as one can over the 100 per cent number—kind of like icing on the cake. But we will be hard pressed for retention of present members or get new members if your Legion Post here in the Fifth District does not project an aura of respect and friendliness towards members and potential new members.

We, as Legion members are on display 24/7. Potential new members and the current members are watching what we do and what we say. If we project a negative image then that is what is perceived and the same is true if we project a positive image. And this image has a ripple effect. It will affect the SAL and the AUX members as well. Instead of crapping about membership, go out and get some new members. Show some love and consideration toward fellow comrade members and potential members.

Instead of being envious, be glad that someone is helping out our cause. Instead of bad mouthing someone, pat them on the back for something they did that was good for the Legion. These things have a ripple-down effect and who is not to say that some of the membership problem is not related to what is reflected in the mirror???

If we were in battle right now, on the front lines, there is not one of us that I know of that would not put his or her life on the line for a fellow comrade. Well, we are on the front line of retaining members and getting new members. We are in a battle with other organizations and other venues for members.

Let’s drop the bad projection that sometimes we cause and project what is in our hearts and creed which is good and decent with love for God, Country, Family, and our Legion family.

If you would take a bullet for me or I could take a bullet for you, how hard is it to swallow some ego pride and work together for the Good of the Legion? Let us just simply work together as a unit.

Commander Brannon advises that Jonesboro Post 95 is working with the community to build a walkway memorial with an eternal flame to honor all veterans who have, are, and will, protect our freedom.

Two sizes of bricks are on sale for your organization or yourself to purchase. You can send your contributions for the bricks to the Community Foundation of Grant County, 503 W. 3rd Marion, Indiana 46952. For further information you can contact Commander Brannon.

Marion Post 10 stepped into the 21st century by putting in a wireless router for your lap top use in the members’ lounge. Marion Post 10

Continued on page 6

October 2008

Hoosier Legionnaire

DISTRICT 6 Donald Hudson Commander

Greetings!

As you know, everybody who went to Phoenix had a hot time there.

We are well along in the year 2008-2009, and our membership, unfortunately, is lagging behind last year. We all need to work together and try to get out the word to all these younger veterans about the benefits of being a Legion member.

The fall conference was a lot of fun for those of you who were able to attend. We did get some work done in the

district. Among them was a resolution to close Wingate Post 174.

Our November District meeting will be at Rockville, The post has a new building they want to show off to everyone, so try to be there.

This year has been busy and seems to be flying by real quick. By the time I feel like I know what I’m doing, I will be done.

Let’s all try to sign up at least one new member so we can keep this Legion strong..

In Comradeship, Don.

DISTRICT 7 Jerry Ward Commander

They wouldn’t know what to do When times are trouble free They look a lot like you and me They work the same job They shop at the same store But they don’t realize Being an American Means so much more Lead by example A method tried and true Teach respect for our country And our red, white and blue Show respect for yourselves And each other, too Spread the words We all know are true Tell them what this country means For me and for you Show others you meet That the job is never done Even when we think The battles are won We must work every day For the things we love

By Dave Sharber 9 Sept. 2008 It’s an election year and we all have enjoyed the preempting of favorite TV shows and the great wisdom of political commentators telling us exactly what we have just watched and what we are supposed to think about it.

We each have our ideas of which candidates are best and why one should win over another. What we must all remember is, when the dust of the election settles and the winners and almost winners have been sorted out, our job as Americans is to support the new administration. We must then help the right decisions to be made by voicing our opinions to the new legislators with letters and e-mails and petitions.

We are approaching the harsh months of the year, months when many vets who are homeless will face bitter cold on the streets. Now is the time for all of us to reach

into our hearts and help the shelters in our areas with donations of food and clothing and money. “There but by the grace of God go you and I.” In our lives the one thing that is constant is change. If we do not become a part of the change around us we will become victims of it. We need to allow our Post homes and Legion families to change with the times and accept new ideas. If we do not, we will continue to see a decline in membership and funding for Legion programs. And the things we have worked so hard to promote and grow in our organization will surely follow us right to the grave.

The American Legion is too important to our veterans and our nation to sit back let it die while we wait for someone else to do the job for us. Get busy. If every Legion Family member this year made it their goal to learn enough about the American Legion and what it does and then just ask just three people to join our organization while explaining to them just why they should join the Legion family.

Think about the impact on our membership and the potential growth in our programs, think about how many people could be helped and how much the growth in our programs could strengthen our nation.

(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 me, David Sharber, by e-mail to wobegon@sit-co.net or by mail at PO Box 60 in Mt. Vernon, IN 47620. We need newsworthy legion, veteran, community-related information.

No gossip please, just news.

be going to Lafayette Home on Nov. 9 for bingo with the residents come one come all and have a great time with our fellow veterans. And don't forget that winter is coming on and we need to be thinking of the homeless veterans. Donations of money and or clothing are always a big help.

Commander Larry Dinkens had the honor of presenting Steve Perry of Post 121 of Washington his purple heart after waiting 39 years.

Congratulations, Steve. The American Legion does a lot of great things, so ladies and gentlemen, don't wait please get those dues paid and help us make a difference. Remember we are proud to be Legionnaires.

I want to give thanks to Shirley Firkins our state president. Shirley, you are doing a great job. I am proud to be on your team.

DISTRICT And we can't forget 7th 9 District president Sue Liford.

Thanks, Sue, for being there Raymond Kerner to help out.

Commander OK team, it’s time to quickstart membership the year No column submitted. is coming to an end we need to start working harder and don't forget about 707 got to work the program. If the 7th DISTRICT is to make a move the time is 10 now. Our drive around will be the first weekend in DecemNiles Gammon ber, so be ready we will be Commander heading your way.

That's about it for now. ation room and played binGreetings from the 10th.

Thanks for all your hard work, The National Convention is go, where there were prizes team. behind us now. I hope every- for the winners. We passed We play hard, but we al- one had a good time. I know out snacks, cookies and soft ways ‘git-r-done.’

I did. drinks. Some of the veterans We had a good turnout at were taken to the local Ameriour last district meeting at can Legioni Post for supper.

Knightstown. Some of the state Everyone seemed to enjoy DISTRICT and auxiliary officers were themselves. This was our first 8 there. We had a good turnout time going to this function, for Knightstown Home Day, and my wife and I enjoyed our Randy Dooley even though the weather was day. We hope to attend again Commander threatening and we had to cut next year. the day a little short.

On October 11 & 12 The Greetings to all from the paid your dues and you still The 10th District had a American Legion had its fall “Great 8th” and I hope all receive a dues notice, please membership drive-around conference in Indianapolis. faired well from the storm. just ignore it, sometimes it on September 28, with a fair There was a lot of fun, games, Knowing some had prob- takes a while for the system to amount of cards picked up. good food and laughs. There lems not only at home but at catch up, as long as you have We will be having another was also a lot of business that the posts as well, to my col- paid and are satisfied that you drive-around in November, leagues at Alton Post 133, I have, please just ignore it. had to taken care of. and I hope we will have a betWhile we are talking memknow it bothered you to have I would like to address the ter card pick up on this driveto make the call that you were bership let me also remind all Legionnaires who chair one around. without power and would be of you it is up to all of us to help of the many committees that On October 5 some of the for sometime, and you had to with membership, not just the meet during the conferences.

10th District people went to cancel the 8th District meet- Post adjutant or membership the Indiana Veterans Home If you are not able to attend ing scheduled for Sept. 21 chairman, if all of us would at Lafayette. We started the your meetings, please get in that you had been working ask all of our American Legion day passing out bananas to touch with your District Comso hard for, just recently put- friends if they have paid their the veterans, then some of mander so he can find a reting the finishing touches on 2009 dues, and if they haven't, the people went to the recre- placement for you. many improvements and how ask them to please make a proud you all have been to be trip to the Post or drop it in able to host a meeting only the mail, I know all the Posts DISTRICT would appreciate it and so having to cancel.

11 Rest assured my friends, will I. Our programs depend on you will still have a meeting Alescia Johnson and we all can't wait to see the dues being paid, so let us Commander your improvements as well as all work for that Post quota. you all. I am still trying to work Instant Americans something out for you, let you Instant Americans Greetings from the Exciting than half of the total number Such a curious lot know as soon as I do.

Eleventh! of eligible veterans who live National will be doing an- Just add crisis I am pleased to be able to in Marion County. I am esother mass mailing for those And see what you’ve got report that the District contin- pecially pleased to recognize that have not paid their dues They pop right up ues to make slow but steady the outstanding hard work of up to this point. The mailing With flags in hand progress toward our 100 per- Commander Danny Fultz and is scheduled to go out some- Saying we’ve got to fight cent District Membership Adjutant Troy Baxter of Sahara where around October 1. So We must make a stand goal of 7,782 new members Grotto Post 264 who have althose of you that have not paid They waive the colors and renewals. ready exceeded 93 percent of up so far I encourage you to The red, white and blue I know that this sounds like their membership goal. I endo so to avoid all the mailings But to honor them a very large number but to courage all Posts of the 11th yet to follow, and if you have Continued in column 3 put it in perspective, it is less Continued in column 5 Greetings from the Fighting 7th.

By the time you receive this, the Fall Conference will be over. Let me say that all had a great time. You always gain information when you attend.

I want to thank all my chairmen for attending their meetings. And a special thanks for those who filled in for those that could not be there. You all did great.

I would like to thank the posts that donated to Knightstown Home: Post 139, Sullivan, Commander,s project; $75, Post 106, Worthington; SAL $50 for Christmas fund.

Also Post 106, Worthington, $1,000 for Christmas fund.

And Post 196, Bloomfield, $500 for the Commander,s project. These are great gifts for the home. Thanks guys and gals.

I would also like to thank Odon Post 293 for erecting their monument to the veterans as a memorial. Odon is a small town with a lot of pride.

Also thanks goes to Bloomington Post 18 for working with the other clubs in Monroe County and getting the honor flight. The November flight is full but watch for the one coming up in March.

The mission is to get as many WWII veterans to the World War II memorial as possible.

Thanks to all who came to Knightstown Home and donated food and drinks. A special thanks for those who worked in the toy booth. A good time was had by all but we had a short day because of the weather. The district will

Page 5

Continued from column 4 to maintain the momentum, continue to renew their members and sign up new people now while the weather is cooperative.

As of this writing at the beginning of October, at least seventeen Posts in the District had already exceeded or were within striking distance of the 65 percent membership target for Fall Conference. I am confident that these hard working Post Membership Chairs will continue their quality efforts throughout the entire Legion year.

By the time that you read this, many hard working compassionate members of the 11th District American Legion Family will have joined together to help Habitat for Humanity build a brand new house for a deserving veteran. This house, the far eastside near 41st and Post Road will he dedicated Tuesday, November 11, and is the first “Veteran Build” in the greater Indianapolis area. By the actions of a group of relatively few dedicated Legionnaires, Sons, Auxiliary and Riders, a pile of donated building materials will have been steadily turned into a home that will insure the enhancement of the quality of life that this Veteran and her family deserve.

I’d like to publicly recognize and thank the members of Wayne Post 64 for their generous monetary support of this very worthwhile project. This type of event is a perfect example of just one of the many reasons that many of us became Legionnaires.

Our membership gives us the ability and opportunity to profoundly affect and improve

the lives of veterans and their families. As I was speaking to Posts all over the District during my election campaign, I stressed that we members of the American Legion Family do many good things that we frequently don’t share with the general public. We ‘hide our light under a bushel basket” as the old saying goes. By being involved with activities that have a higher public focus, we allow the general citizenry as well as other members of the Legion Family to see some of the philanthropic things we do within Marion County. I believe that it is good for the non veteran public to see positive examples of the American Legion Family in action.

By demonstrating our dedication to the “Four Pillars of Service” by our actions, we educate people to what the American Legion mission and vision are all about.

These members of the general public are the parents of the children whom we desire to have participating in our programs such as Oratorical and Junior Shooting. Unless we demonstrate sincerity to our mission, why would nonveterans take an interest in participating?

I’m proud to be a member of a District full of such quality members of our Legion Family including our American Legion Riders, who are as generous and dedicated a group of ladies and gentlemen as you will ever find. I thank you for your continued support as I continue to learn something new every day and I am grateful that you have given me this opportunity to serve with all of you.

Legislative Summary Continued from page 1 dent’s FY 2009 request for VA funding. Both resolutions also rejected the administration’s policy requests outlined above. On June 4, the Senate voted 48-45 to agree to the conference report to S. Con. Res. 70. The following day the House voted in favor of the report by a 214-210 tally.

It should be stressed that the budget resolution is not law, but merely the guideline for spending bills.

The American Legion continues to support using Medical Care Recovery Funds as supplements, not offsets, to discretionary VA funding.

As the final days of September passed, congressional leadership realized that it would be impossible to pass all 12 appropriations bills to fund federal government programs for FY 2009. Therefore, a consolidated appropriations-continuing resolution bill was developed. H.R. 2638, consisted of three major elements: • A disaster relief package, for a total of $22.9 billion, that includes block grants, Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster relief funding, and community development block grants; • Funding for the majority of federal government programs, with the three exceptions noted below, that will keep government agencies functioning through March of next year, but at levels equal to FY 2008 funding. This would place the burden of developing FY 2009 appropriations bills for the last six months of the fiscal year on the next President and the 111th Congress; and, • Full FY 2009 appropriations for the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs, as well as military construction programs.

The measure passed the House on September 24 by a vote of 370-58, then was approved by the Senate three days later by a vote of 78-12.

It was signed by the President on September 30 as Public Law 110-329.

Americanism The concerted efforts of

millions of concerned Americans, including The American Legion and the Citizens Flag Alliance, to pass a constitutional amendment to protect the American flag fell one vote short of passage by the Senate two years ago in the 109th Congress. Last year, Rep. John Murtha (D.-PA) introduced House Joint Resolution 2, once more seeking to protect the American flag from acts of physical desecration through passage of a constitutional amendment. The measure currently has 72 cosponsors.

A Senate companion measure, Senate Joint Resolution 40, was introduced by Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) on June 12. However, neither measure was acted upon by either chamber when the 110th Congress adjourned.

Children and Youth On June 23, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved S. 3182, the FY 2009 funding measure for the Departments of Commerce and Justice and Science programs.

Funding for Department of Justice programs supported

by The American Legion include $7.3 billion for the FBI, $1 .95 billion for the Drug Enforcement Administration, $1.04 billion for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; $1 .4 billion for State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance grants; $968 million for the U.S. Marshals Service; and $400 million for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Economics On June 26, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved S. 3230, the FY 2009 appropriations measure for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The measure would fund veterans programs under the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training. The total for FY 2008 and the amounts for FY 2009 contained in the Senate bill are $228.1 million and $238.4 million respectively.

Stop-gap funding for DoL programs was contained in

Continued on page 9

Page 6

Hoosier Legionnaire

October 2008

Children & Youth Continued from page 3 Post 369, $200, 1st District Post 180, $11, and 1st District SAL 180 9.

Post 276 has agreed to sponsor T.C. Howe Academy for a new shooting team.

Chairman Ida Jewell shared an e-mail form Mike Buss at National American Legion regarding Pittman Robertson grant funds.

2nd District Chairman Cincoski is still working on obtaining used rifles. The state Junior Shooting Sports tournament will be November 22, 2008 at Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Children’s Home.

Chairman Jewell requested volunteers to help at the tournament. The committee was tasked with defining the number of individuals interested in becoming certified shooting coaches. A motion was made and approved to not meet at Midwinter Conference.

Knightstown Home Committee A motion was made and approved to spend $5,900 for athletic equipment. Athletes are doing better than ever.

The following dates were announced: Christmas Wrap December 7, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.; Christmas program, December 19, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.

The building trades class will be installing sidewalks and doing some remodeling. A donation of $500 was accepted from the 2nd District. There are 114 students on campus of which 18 are seniors. The financial and

emergency fund reports were distributed. Given the poor weather conditions, Legion Day attendance had decreased by about 1,000 compared to last year.

Oratorical Committee A motion was made and approved to meet at the Midwinter conference. The following dates were set for district and zone competitions (All times are EDT.): 1st District - January 3, 2009 3:00 p.m. preliminary final at Munster HS with final January 4, 2009 3:00 p.m. at post 16 2nd District – TBD 3rd District – January 11, 2009, at post 83 2:00 p.m.

4th District – January 18, 2009, at post 43 1:00 p.m.

5th District – January 18, 2009, time and location to be determined 6th District – TBD 7th District – January 17, 2009, at post 18, 1:00 p.m.

8th District – TBD 9th District – TBD 10th District – TBD 11th District – January 4, 2009, at post 3, 1:00 p.m.

Zone 1 hosted by the 1st District at post 16, 11:30 a.m. on January 31, 2009 Zone 2 hosted by the 4th District at post 43, 1:00 p.m. on February 8, 2009 Zone 3 TBD Zone 4 TBD The following important dates were noted: December 5 is the deadline for applications to be submitted to Department Headquarters January 23 district compe-

2nd District Continued from page 4 hbien visited the Second District on Tuesday, September 30. I was fortunate to join him and approximately 50 other Legion Family members for lunch at Post 94, Valparaiso.

Commander Rehbien reminded us that our 2.7 million members in the American Legion make us a force to

be listened to. We continue to lobby for veterans’ issues to our legislators like “The New G1 Bill” that was passed and signed into law. It will give thousands of veterans the help they need returning to civilian life.

As always, I look forward to visiting with all of you during my post visits throughout the rest of the year.

Fifth District Continued from page 4 is also working on a web site and from what I’m hearing, they might just come up with the best web site in the nation.

Their new web site domain address is www.post10in.org.

Their Membership Chairman, Phil Turner, advised that the Post will be having a free “Early Bird” banquet November 8 for all who have

paid their 2009 dues. You can pay your dues at the banquet if you haven’t paid already.

There will be someone on hand to take your dues. The Post will be paying honor to all WWII members that night. They are also getting a “Group to Las Vegas” trip together and you can qualify for a free trip for two by getting involved by sponsoring three new members.

Rehabilitation Commission Continued from page 3 Homeless Veterans Shelby County is still in the process of getting grants for a Homeless Veterans Shelter.

John Hickey reported on a visit to the new 40 bed homeless shelter that just opened in Indy. Plans were made to set up a donation table for can goods at the Mid-Winter Conference. A motion was made and passed to send $1,000 each to Hope House, HVAF, and Stepping Stones for Veterans. The Committee will meet at the Mid-Winter Conference.

Indiana Veterans Home Fruit wraps will be available December 14 at 12:00 noon. Legion Riders Post 261 Donated $1,100 to the home.

Tom Applegate, Director of Veterans Affairs gave an update on the home. Jerry Horn resigned and has been replaced by intern Superintendent Rodney Dunn. The morale at the home has greatly improved over the past 60 days. Pyle Hall is ready for inspection and recertification. A motion was made and passed to donate $12,000 to raise the

rails on four of the balconies.

The Committee will meet at the Mid-Winter Conference.

Nursing Home Passed out updated allocation lists to District Chairman. Chairman discussed various projects in their districts. No motions were made and no funds requested. The Committee will not meet at the Mid-Winter Conference.

Veterans Assistance A presentation was given

by Tony Mayes on the new post-9/11 GI Bill. This bill will go into effect August 1, 2009.

More information is available on to The American Legion National website, www.gibill. va.gov. A motion was made and passed to write a resolution to waive the out of state tuition fees for veterans that use the Post 9/11 GI Bill education assistance benefit. The Committee will not meet at the Mid-Winter Conference in lieu of a post service officer training seminar.

Adjournment There being no further business to come before the commission, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

Unexpected Generosity

titions are to be completed February 13 zone competitions are to be completed March 1 State Finals at the Department Headquarters April 17-19 National Contest at Indianapolis Conference Center & Hotel.

Chairman Langley held a training session and nine individuals took the exam to become certified Oratorical workers.

Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was closed in proper manner.

Department Commander Ralph Tolan and Headquarters’ Administrative Assistant Becky Fancher prepare to draw for free drink tickets at the Indiana Department’s annual Convention Party in Phoenix. In an wildly popular departure from the usual pay-as-you-go event, the party featured a generous contribution from National Executive Committeeman Darrell Hansel to ease the cost of refreshments offered by the convention hotel.

Internal Affairs Commission Continued from page 3 There being no further business to be brought before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned.

Legislative The Committee will meet at the 2009 Mid-Winter Conference.

Auxiliary Department Legislative Chairman Carolyn Cunningham was introduced to the Committee.

Department Adjutant Steve Short reported to the Committee the transaction committee team member for IVH. IDVA Director Tom Applegate discussed the resolution of Senate Bill 250. The Bill passed and was signed by the Governor in March 2008.

He gave a report on the new happenings for the home with the passage of the bill.

Chairman Rice gave the Committee a brief report on the Washington, D.C., trip.

He reported that NEC Darrell Hansel met with Baron Hill during the trip and Adjutant Steve Short met with Mike Pence on behalf of The American Legion.

A motion was made by Chairman Baggett to accept and support the IHSAA resolution limitations for the Americanism Commission.

The motion was seconded by Larry Macy and passed unanimously.

Illegal immigration handouts were passed out to all in attendance.

A motion was made by Bob Flynn to approve $265.00 for directory and mailing costs.

The motion was seconded by Gordon Anthony and passed unanimously.

There were no requests for Department Funds.

There being no further business to be brought before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned.

Membership Commander Tolan addressed the Committee by asking all in attendance not to hold cards. He explained the repercussions from doing so and stated it is against our Constitution and By Laws to do so and can result in a suspension of their charter. He then thanked everyone for attending.

Department Auxiliary President Shirley Firkins introduced Debbie Beeler and Sue Comerford to the Committee.

Chairman Perez passed out veterans in each county and included websites to be

used as membership tools.

He announced 55 percent membership report and informed the Committee that District 1 through 10 will be receiving gas cards for hitting this target date goal.

There was a brief discussion by the 3rd District Commander regarding the District Headquarters Posts renewal and suggesting a uniform way for these members to be processed. Jim May stated that he feels that member data forms are not being updated properly and asks for a training session for Mid-Winter to be given by Department Adjutant Hugh Dagley.

A motion was made for the Department Adjutant to send a letter to the National Membership Chairman regarding the member data forms and proper processing procedures. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

A motion was made by Executive Section Ron Kizer to approve the minutes from the Spring Conference as read. The motion was seconded by Executive Section Rodney Strong and passed unanimously.

There were no requests made for Department funds.

There being no further business to be brought before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 4:05 p.m.

New Post Development/ Revitalization The minutes from the Spring Conference were approved as read.

Chairman Davis asked for a brief report from each District: 1st District Chairman Perez reported that he will have more information at the Mid-Winter Conference concerning consolidating failing posts.

2nd District was represented by Chuck Mason for William Morris and had no report for the Committee.

3rd District Chairman Sadowski had no report. Commission Chairman Mike Miller reported to the Committee on how well the Michigan City Post 130 is doing. He informed all in attendance that the 3rd District meeting will be held there on February 17 at 7:00 p.m.

4th District Rep. Krohn reported that the Hamilton Post 467 is just short of 100 percent and they have 2627 members attending their meetings. That number of attendees is right at 50 percent

of the Posts membership.

5th District Chairman Fugitt reported that the new post at the Pendleton Correctional Facility is waiting for the charter to pay their dues.

There will be at least 40 to 50 members of that new post.

He asked the SAL and Auxiliary for any ideas regarding this new post.

6th District Chairman Stephens reported that they are in the process of writing a resolution to close the Terre Haute Post 40. He expects the paperwork to be completed by the Mid-Winter Conference.

7th District Chairman Schoon had no report.

8th District Chairman Bubala reported that the Branchville Correctional Facility is going to start a new post.

9th District Chairman Urbahns had no report.

10th District Rep. Loudermilk had no report.

11th District Chairman Moore had no report.

Executive Section Member Strong reported to the Committee about Post 259 in Williamsport. He stated that the Sheriff has been taking care of all operations and duties for the past three years and can not get anyone to attend meetings. There have been no post elections resulting in no post officers. He asked the Committee and all in attendance for any guidance and input how to proceed.

Chairman Davis stated that he would speak with Department for any instruction.

There were no motions or requests for Department Funds made.

There being no further business to be brought before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 11:40 a.m.

Public Relations Commander Tolan addressed the Committee, welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending.

The minutes from the Spring Conference were approved as read.

Chairman Carroll expressed concern regarding the lack of entries for the Public Relations awards. He asked the Committee to instruct all posts to get public relations handbooks.

Mike Brady addressed the Committee and stated that he had submitted an entry and Department did not receive it in time to consider it.

He asked for clarification on the deadline date, whether the post marked date or ac-

tually received by. Chairman Carroll stated all entries are post marked before the deadline and it is at Department in time for judging would be considered but will confirm that by the wording on the entry form. Department Assistant Adjutant Dagley clarified that the entries must be in hand at Department by deadline date. No post markings will be looked at.

Assistant Adjutant Dagley posed a question to the Committee regarding a proposed news release promoting Legion programs Department wide. There was a brief discussion.

There were no motions or requests for Department Fund made. Being no further business to be brought before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned.

Religious Emphasis The minutes from the Spring Conference were approved as read. Chairman Keirn passed out the Department directories.

There was a brief discussion on the Chapel of the Four Chaplains. Chairman Keirn passed out and discussed the Veterans Day video “A Family Affair.” Passed out and discussed “Holy Joe’s Café” which is about service to our troops.

There was a brief discussion on N.C.O.A. Award for WWII veterans. Jim Schuck of Post 500 spoke about funeral service and would like to put together a notebook for instructional purposes.

Jim then read a poem to all in attendance. There was some discussion regarding resources available from the National “Chaplains Handbook & Chaplains Prayer Book.”

Chairman Keirn discussed the job duties and responsibilities of a Post and District Chaplains.

The Committee agreed to meet at the Mid-Winter Conference.

There were no motions or requests for Department funds made. There being no further business to be brought before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 10:58 a.m.

There were no motions or requests for Department Funds made.

There being no further business to be brought before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 11:40 a.m.

committee, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

SAL Committee The minutes from the previous meeting were read and approved.

A resolution was made for Steve Tansil as SAL Detachment Commander.

A motion was made to start an SAL relief fund based on squadron donations.

Steve Tansil asked to resign as Detachment Finance Officer. Resignation was accepted. By unanimous ballets, Ray C. Giehl Jr. was ap-

pointed to fill the position for the remainder of the term.

Duane Alexander requested that the Liaison of the 1st District get involved in the Detachment Convention and bring a favorable report to the Mid-Winter Conference. A meeting room large enough to accommodate approximately 100 members will be needed.

A Golf Tournament is scheduled for May 30, 2009.

The location will be decided at the Mid-Winter Conference.

Indiana Veterans Home Bingo dates were announced as follows: October 25, 2008, December 13, 2008, and February 7, 2009.

There was no motion made dealing with department funds.

There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

There being no further business to come before the commission, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

Americanism Continued from page 3 ciation to towns, schools, and individuals who fly the POW/ MIA flag to enhance and promote public relations. The idea was also discussed to make it an American Legion function to get one’s town to fly the POW/MIA flag.

There was a motion made to meet in January at the MidWinter Conference.

There were no motions made dealing with department funds.

There being no further business to come before the

October 2008

Hoosier Legionnaire

Page 7

Veterans Spotlight

Veterans Benefits: Gifts, Obligations, or Compensation?

Non-veterans and veterans alike sometime question the purpose of veterans’ benefits.

Some may ask why they seem so generous, especially in difficult financial times.

Others might look on veterans’ benefits as the nation’s unpaid or under funded obligation, while still others picture veterans’ benefits as an attempt to compensate for the serviceperson’s time and lost opportunities while serving our country. Let’s take a closer look.

Webster’s Dictionary defines a gift as “Something voluntarily transferred to one person to another without compensation.”

Classifying veterans’ benefits as gifts would therefore mean veterans have not earned what they receive.

Very few veterans and most non-veterans would disagree with this classification.

According to the 2000 census, only 12.7 percent of the U.S. population over age 18 are veterans. The other 195.4 million citizens over age 18 have veterans to thank for

enduring the many hardships of military service so all Americans can enjoy freeJohn dom and Hickey security.

Department Military Service service is Officer all about sacrifice from beginning to end. Service men and women leave their families, jobs and friends for months of demanding training comparable to none other in civilian life.

Without much choice, they then receive assignments to go most anywhere in the world. These assignments often place them in very difficult, uncomfortable, and, many times, life-threatening situations for prolonged periods of time.

In times of war, our country will occasionally require the soldier, sailor, airman, or marine to enter areas of most certain death in the name of freedom and national security. You can find just one exam-

ple of this in Steven Ambrose’s D-Day June 6, 1944.

Ambrose writes how the first wave of warriors to hit the beach were loaded down with extra ammunition so the next wave of brave young men could remove that ammo from the fallen bodies of their comrades while proceeding further into battle.

No doubt, service men and women have earned their benefits, and no one should ever speak of veterans benefits as a “gift.”

Webster best defines obligation as “Something one is bound to do,” or “something (as a formal contract, a promise, or the demands of conscience or custom) that obligates one to a course of action.”

One would think government would have a legal veterans’ benefits obligation, or at least an obligation to care for veterans through the “demands of conscience.”

Government’s obligation to veterans is, however, often only as strong as the public’s willingness to support our troops and the strength of veterans service organizations,

such as The American Legion.

Many WW II and Korean veterans will tell you their military recruiter “promised” them healthcare for life following military service. Even today, not all veterans are eligible for VA healthcare services. Following WW II, veterans returned and enjoyed an extremely good GI education assistance benefit crafted and promoted by The American Legion.

During more “unpopular wars,” however, VA education assistance fell from a “pay all” program to a “pay part” to a “pay some” program for Korea, Vietnam, and early Gulf War veterans. Through the efforts of The American Legion and other service organizations, government informs us it will soon upgrade the veterans education assistance program to a “pay all” system once again come August 2009.

History proves many elected government officials feel no legal or moral obligation toward veterans’ benefits.

This is especially true if those benefit programs compete with local pork barrel projects. Government should con-

sider veterans benefits to be legal and moral obligations.

Instead, veterans benefits are often “neglected obligations.”

One more Webster’s definition before we end. Compensation is defined as “Something that requires an equivalent or recompense.”

Gift and obligation describe what other’s likely “feel” about veterans benefits, but, the truth is, veterans want compensated for their sacrifices—at least their tangible sacrifices.

Veterans want simply to be made whole again, if and when possible, not to be placed at the head of the line, but to be put even with the line achieved by others in their absence from the race: While they were off enduring hardships and serving their country, they lost time from their lives as well as professional opportunities.

While non-veterans had the opportunity to attend college at an early age, veterans were attending boot camp and fulfilling other military obligations.

While non-veterans were building a career, veterans

were protecting America from all areas of the world.

While non-veterans were paying down their home mortgage, veterans were living in barracks, military housing, aboard ships, and bunkers.

While many non-veterans enjoy stable employee sponsored health plans, many veterans have no health insurance after service discharge.

While many non-veterans work in safe civilian OSHA inspected environments, veterans were risking life and injury while training in war games and serving in combat.

While most non-veterans grow and mature in relatively caring and loving home life surroundings, veterans were away from their loved ones and often experiencing and observing the most horrific events man can inflect upon one another.

Veterans aren’t looking for a gift or an obligatory feeling.

They simply want the same advantages they would have had if not for military service.

If this takes a lot—so be it! After all, where would any of us be today if not for that 12.7 percent who said “I’ll do it!”?

Service & Legislative Update

Time Limit Eased On Lou Gehrig’s Disease Service Connection Department Service Office November Business Hours The Department Service Office will be closed for Veterans Day on Tuesday, November 11, 2008, and the Thanksgiving Holiday Thursday and Friday, November 27-28, 2008. Otherwise, the office will be open each Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. during the month of November. Appointments are necessary for client visits. You may contact the Department Service Office by calling its new direct number of 317-916-3605; calling a long distance toll free number of 1-888-7237999, extension 3; by fax at 317-226-6645; or by using the following e-mail address: vsohickj@vba.va.gov.

Service Connection OK’d For ‘Lou Gehrig’s Disease’ The Department of Veterans Affairs published an interim final rule in the Federal Register on September 23, 2008, establishing a presumption of service connection for ALS for any veteran with at least 90 continuous days of active duty service who develops ALS any time after separation from service.

The new regulation is effective immediately and applies to all applications for benefits received by VA on or after September 23, 2008. The regulation also applies to claims pending before VA or one of the various appellate courts on the effective date of the interim final rule.

An older rule had established a presumption of service connection with the disease for veterans who developed ALS within a year of their separation from service.

Veterans diagnosed with ALS, including those whose claims were denied in the past, or the surviving spouse of a veteran who died as a result of ALS, are encouraged to contact their Local County Veterans Service Office or American Legion Department Service Office.

Golden Age Games Set New Competitor Record The 22nd National Veterans Golden Age Games at Indianapolis Aug. 20-24 attracted 676 competitors this year—a new record.

Veterans from 38 states, Washington, D.C., and the

Note from the Department Service Officer: The Department Service Office will be open each Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. during the month of May. Appointments are necessary for client visits.

You may contact the Department Service Office by calling our new direct number of 317-916-3605; calling a long distance toll free number of 1-888-723-7999, extension 3; faxing us at 317-226-6645; or by using the following email address: vsohickj@vba. va.gov.

U.S. Virgin Islands participated in a series of sports competitions. The American Legion Mall, the Velodrome and the Natatorium were among the venues for the games.

The National Veterans Golden Age Games are cosponsored by VA, Help Hospitalized Veterans and the Veterans Canteen Service. This year's event was hosted by the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center at Indianapolis. A big “thank you” also goes to all American Legion Posts and members whose contributions and volunteer efforts helped make this possible.

Vietnam Veterans Healthcare Until recently, veterans seeking care for exposure to Agent Orange were eligible for needed medical care, as those veterans were placed in the Department of Veterans Affairs Priority Group 6 Group. The regulation placing veterans in that category has expired, so The Legion passed Resolution Number 85 at the National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona calling for reinstatement and continued treatment of veterans exposed to Agent Orange. We will keep our membership advised as to if and when the federal government reinstates new VA healthcare enrollment of Vietnam veterans based upon their Agent Orange exposure.

VA Pharmacy Billing The VA is now billing vendor insurance companies for prescription co-pays. All veterans will sign for their prescriptions. All transaction processing is done electronically.

All Business

For the casual observer, attendance at a National Convention can seem to be nothing but fun and games, but these Hoosier delegates to the 90th annual convention in Phoenix show the serious side of the convention as they listen to reports from Indiana’s representatives on Convention Committees in preparation for carrying out their responsibilities during the general session. Below, Department Americanism Commission Chairman Dick Jewell, a delegate to the Convention Committee on Americanism, reports the committee’s proceedings.

Diabetes-Related Conditions Compensable Federal regulations allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to compensate veterans for conditions caused by a service connected disability as if those secondary conditions were service connected.

Many veterans whose Type II Diabetes has been determined to be service connected based on the disease’s relationship to the herbicide Agent Orange used in Vietnam should immediately file for secondary service connection if any of the many complications of Type II Diabetes are present. The conditions considered compensable as secondary service connected conditions for veterans currently service connected for Type II Diabetes include: Atheroscelerotic heart disease; Atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease; Cerbrovascular accidents – includes strokes and TIA; Diseases of the large arteries (including aorta, carotid, femoral, etc.); Hypertension (via diabetic

Glaucoma; fungal (UTI, gallbladder, vaginephropathy); Hearing loss; nal).

Nephropathy; Periodontal gum disease; Veterans can contact the Peripheral neuropathy; Skin disease – plaque like County Veterans Service OfMononeuropathy (foot drop, wrist drop, paralysis of lesions on the legs, blisters on ficer or The American Legion the hand and foot; and Department Service office for nerves of the eye muscle); Infections – bacterial and filing assistance.

Compression neuropathy (carpal tunnel syndrome); Radiculopathy (sensory syndrome); Autonomic neuropathy (GI: constipation, gastroparesis, dysphagia, bloating, nausea, The Department of Indiana has announced the Septemvomiting, early satiety; CV: orber and October winners of the monthly drawings in Camthostatic hypotension, syncopaign ’08, a statewide fund-raising effort to support Indipe; GU: bladder dysfunction, ana’s endorsed candidate for National Commander, James impotence, retrograde ejacuV. Koutz of Boonville. lation, UTI, incontinence; The September winners, drawn at Random by DepartNeuropatic arthropathy – ment Commander Ralph Tolan, are David Sharber, Ameridegenerative change of the can Legion Post 5, $500; the Third District’s Past District bony structure of the foot; Commanders, $250; the late Jim Pleak, (winnings paid to Foot ulcers; his home Post, Post 70 in Shelbyville); and Helen Dale, GarInjuries and burns caused field Post 88. by an accident associated In the October drawing, Kathy Miller of Morristown with the diabetes or with nonPost 102 won both the first and last place prizes, taking healing residuals due to a diahome a total of $600. Second prize of $250 went to Ameribetic complication; can Legion Post 28, and Past Department Commander HarMyopathy – atrophy and old Epley, on behalf of the Eighth District, snared the $150 weakness of large muscle third prize. groups; The drawings, which have awarded a total of $12,000 Retinopathy leading to since its launch in January 2008, offers prizes totaling $1,200 blindness; each month.

It continues through December 2008.

Cataracts;

Winners Announced In Campaign ‘08; Supports Candidate

Page 8

Hoosier Legionnaire

October 2008

All Work and No Play …

Given These Scenes From The Annual Fall Conference, Hoosier Legionnaires Appear To Be At No Risk of Being Dull

10

October 2008

Hoosier Legionnaire

Page 9

Chairman's Notes

All Signs Point To A Return To Membership Success Commander Tolan and I have conferred a number of times over the past few months concerning the Department’s membership program. It is fair to say that we remain optimistic about where we are headed, and grateful for the hard work that has got us to this point so far.

As he writes elsewhere in this issue, however, there remains much work to be done if we are to continue the turnaround in Post achievements that got underway during our predecessors’ year in office.

Our goals for this year were simple and straightforward: After careful consideration, we raised post and district goals, only slightly, to begin that trend upward anew. Last year, we were very success-

ful in attaining the 100 percent mark for our posts.

This year, we are hoping for every Ralph post to close Perez books with Membership at least one Chairman new member over the close of books last year.

I think the number of Hundred Percent Posts, listed below on this page, are evidence that this strategy is succeeding. And, in fact, the commander and I are confident our districts all will attain their 100 percent goal before the year is out. The important thing is that we all continue to

push for a return to a pattern of true growth that will carry us into the future.

I also hope you will look out for the special “Soaring Together” chart on the front page of each issue of the Hoosier Legionnaire. It will tell you, at a glance, just how well we are doing from issue to issue. Tear or cut them out and put them up on your membership office wall to serve as a reminder of how far we have come, and what still remains to be done.

Additional Challenge: No DMS We have an additional challenge this year. The National Organization has suspended its Direct Mail, or DMS, program, which means that the

more than 5,000 new members we have received each year over the past few years will not be provided by National. If we are to get them, we’ll have to go after them ourselves—and I think that is a good idea.

Nevertheless, the end of the DMS program will affect not only our total number but also our new District Headquarters Post program.

I encourage you to work with the headquarters post team in your district, because there are hundred of members in those posts that if transferred into local posts can make your net increase of one member over last year a real cakewalk.

Membership Incentives We have provided some

very desirable incentives, and we are re-emphasizing the awards that our commander can win by achieving the goals set by the National Organization. All that is required is that we work together to achieve our department goals.

Among the incentives offered to post and district officers and membership workers are membership credits, which permit posts to transmit up to ten members without paying the national and department per capita; gas cards to make the membership rounds less painful to the pocketbook; the traveling “Soaring Together” trophy for successful district membership programs; trips to Washington, DC, and a wide variety of other incentives and re-

Legislative Summary Continued from page 5 P.L. 110-329, which only provides funds for the above programs at FY 2008 levels. This temporary funding will expire on March 6, 2009.

Foreign Relations On July 17 the Senate Appropriations Committee approved S. 3288, the FY 2009 funding bill for the Department of State and Foreign Operations programs. The measure provides $36.6 billion in total funding, including $5.8 billion in global assistance to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, measles and malaria;$2.4 billion in military assistance to Israel; $1.5 billion in economic and military aid to Egypt; $859 million in economic and military aid to Jordan; $725 million in economic and military assistance to Pakistan; $662 million in assistance for nations of Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia; and $315 million for the Andean Counterdrug Initiative.

National Security On June 30, President Bush signed P.L. 110-252, the Supplemental Appropriations measure for 2008. This law includes appropriations to continue U.S. military operations in the Global War on Terrorism, as well as funding for various domestic programs.

The military funding portion of the law provides a total of $161 .8 billion in support of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. $95.9 billion of that amount will be for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2008, while $65.9 billion will be allotted for FY 2009 through next June. There are also no restrictions on how the war funding may be spent. The bill bars any permanent military bases in Iraq. It also requires that any money earmarked for Iraq reconstruction be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Iraqi government.

On July 10, President Bush signed P.L. 110-261, the “FISA Amendments Act of 2008.”

The legislation will allow warrantless surveillance of foreign targets who may be communicating with people in this country, under the provisions of Public Law 95511, the “Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978.”

Selective Service System funding for FY 2009 is contained in S. 3260, a bill to fund federal programs related to Financial Services and General Government. The measure appropriates $22 million. The American Legion continues to support funding for the Selective Service System in case of national emergency.

FY 2009 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security were a part of P.L. 110-329. The measure provides $39.9 billion for DHS programs, an increase of $2.8 billion above the White House request.

Department of Defense appropriations for FY 2009 are contained in P.L. 110-329.

It contains $487.7 billion in funding for defense programs, $4 billion less than requested by the President and $28.4 billion above the enacted amount for FY 2008.

Military construction funding for FY 2009 was contained in P.L. 110-329, the consolidated continuing appropriations bill. The military construction portion of the measure totals $25 billion.

The American Legion continues to support legislation allowing concurrent receipt of military retired pay and VA disability compensation by military retirees. The current law on concurrent receipt was established in 1944, when P.L. 78-314 allowed retired military personnel to elect to waive an amount of their retirement pay equal to their veterans’ disability compensation. The advantage is that military retirement pay is considered taxable income and veterans’ disability compensation is not subject to federal income tax.

The American Legion believes all service-connected disabled military retirees should be eligible to participate in the CRSC option regardless of length in service or VA disability rating. The American Legion also supports the elimination of the “phase in” for all concurrent retirement and disability pay recipients.

Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation The FY 2009 discretionary VA funding portion of P.L. 110-329 totals $47.6 billion, $4.5 billion over FY 2008 totals, and $2.8 billion more than the President’s request.

The American Legion lobbied Congress diligently to ensure that VA’s FY 2009 appropriations were available by October 1, the start of the new fiscal year. The chart below shows the President’s VA appropriations request for FY 2009, the funding included in the continuing resolution, and outlined in testimony earlier this year.

Significant increases in the measure are: • A minimum of $3.8 billion for specialty mental health services for veterans diagnosed with mental illness, PTSD, TBI and for suicide prevention; $375 million to increase enrollment of Priority Group 8 veterans by 10 percent; • $133 million above the President’s request to increase funding to raise the gas mileage reimbursement rate from 28.5 cents to 41.5 cents per mile for veterans traveling distances for care, and a freeze on the associated deductible; Funding to hire an additional 2,000 claims processors to work down the backlog of 390,000 benefits claims and to reduce the 6 month time to process new claims;

wards. Get a copy of the Department Membership Guide and Awards Manual—your post commander should have a copy, or contact the membership office at Department Headquarters—and read all about the awards and what you can do to win them.

Our incentives are certainly worth working toward, but the greatest rewards are not points or prizes or even recognition, but a growing American Legion, veterans who are cared for adequately and compassionately, and children whose futures are bright with promise all because of a strong and vibrant membership.

That, after all, is what the membership program is all about.

Hands-On Success

Membership success has its own rewards, most of them intangible. But every now and then, the rewards are a little more obvious, such as the one held by Bob Rettig, center left, Second District Commander, and Ernie Komasinski, First District Commander. Rettig was passing off the first place “Soaring Together” trophy to the commander of the new leading district leader following the Knightstwon Home Membership Turn-In. A beaming department membership chairman, Ralph Perez, left, (who, coincidentally, hails from the First District himself) looks on, as does Department Commander Ralph Tolan, right.

Ask Jessie

After You Pay Your Dues, Just Ignore Any 2nd Notice Dear Jessie: I just received another renewal notice and have already paid my dues. Do I need to contact my Post or the Department to see if there is a problem or should I just disregard it?

Second Notice

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!

Dear Second Notice: Just disregard it.

This is not an uncommon problem, and for some reason, it seems to really annoy our members. The National Organization prints the renewal notices for us, as well as for all other Departments in the organization. Especially early in the year, that is a lot of notices. In order to get them all printed in time, a cut-off date is established and if your paid membership reaches National after that date, your renewal notice has already been printed and prepared for mailing. It is not possible to suppress the notice once it is in the mail stream.

The best way to prevent this from happening to you is to pay your dues as soon as possible after your receive your notice, and make you’re your post transmits them to Department immediately.

The Department does not hold membership. It is not uncommon for us to transmit every week, or at least every two weeks.

Dear Jessie: I temporarily live in a warmer state during the winter months and am about to move back down there. Do I need to contact my Post each time I move back and forth or will the Post office automatically notify them of my address change?

On The Go Dear On The Go: If you have submitted both addresses to the Department through your Post (usually on a Member Data Form) and indicated that your addresses are seasonal, you don’t need to do anything. There are provisions in the membership system for what we call “Snowbirds,” and your Legion Magazine, Hoosier Legionnaire, and other official correspondence should keep up with you until the date that your return to Indiana.

However, if you change your plans and do not head south or return Indiana on the schedule you indicated when you reported yourself as a snowbird, you may have some mis-direction of your mail. Your best course is to

keep us informed when your plans change.

If you haven’t registered as a Snow-bird, as soon as you do so you can rest easy.

Dear Jessie: I am a current member of Post 777 but would like to belong to the Post near my home.

I recently received another renewal notice from Post 777 and am wondering if I have to pay them my dues first and then transfer to my local Post or can I pay my dues directly to my local Post and transfer at that time also?

Lilly Dear Lilly: Actually, you can do it either way. There are a couple of considerations, however.

If you renew your membership in Post 777, you can still transfer to a local post at any time, but your new post will not be able to count you toward its goal in the current membership year. You can do that at any time, provided that your dues are paid and the Post is willing to accept your membership. Be ready to provide proof of eligibility.

If you transfer and pay your renewal dues to your new post, your new post will be allowed to count your membership in the current year. You should do that before your current dues expire (Dec. 31, 2008).

Dear Jessie: My husband and were both quite active in The American Legion and Auxiliary for many years now. He recently passed away and I am wondering if I can still receive the monthly American Legion magazine?

Avid Reader Dear Avid: You certainly can. The American Legion Magazine maintains a subscription mailing list that is separate from the mailing list based on membership. If you will look on the first or second page of any issue of the magazine, you will find a box of information that will tell you how to enter a subscription. When you contact the magazine staff, they also should tell you how many issues remain on your late husband’s membership subscription. Every annual renewal entitles a member to twelve issues of the magazine, and if your husband had not received all 12 at the time of his death, the remaining issues will continue to come to your home.

The Hoosier Legionnaire, unfortunately, does not maintain a mailing list separate from the membership list.

CWF Grants $40,000 to Hoosier Agency

An Indiana-based not for profit organization providing organ transplant information and services to children across the nation is one of 18 organizations to receive a grant from The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation.

Children’s Organ Transplant Association of Bloomington was awarded $40,000 for its project entitled "Miracle Makers: COTA Volunteers in Action." The grant will provide opportunities Continued on page 10 for COTA patients across the

country to raise awareness of the need for more organ and tissue donors through the use of through an improved website, compact disks and related supporting materials. The Sons of The American Legion sponsor this grant.

Now in its 54th year, the CWF awarded a total of $639,875 for 2009 to nonprofit organizations whose missions are to benefit the nation’s children in some way. The grants, determined during the annual meeting of the Board of Directors held at the Sheraton Hotel City Cen-

tre in Indianapolis Sunday, October 12, 2008, are awarded specifically to support the

dissemination of information to the general public and specific target groups.

Another Good Reason To Re-new Your

MEMBERSHIP

Page 10

Hoosier Legionnaire

Commander’s Message

Auxiliary News

New Year Dawns With Hospitality And Great People What a great September!

Commander Ralph, Detachment Commander Gary and I have been traveling this great state of ours and meeting the ones that count - the LegionShirley naires.

We Firkins started off at Auxiliary Va l p a r a i s o President with the Popcorn Festival parade. Beautiful weather and wonderful people opened their doors and welcomed us in. We enjoyed the today so much by making new friends and visiting with old ones.

We all have been very busy getting ready for the Fall Conferences and as I have told Auxiliary members several times this is the “year of the change.” And yes, by time you read this I hope that each and every auxiliary member has attended the Auxiliary Fall Conference and enjoyed the theme “A New Year is Dawning with the Auxiliary.” It’s time we go back to the importance of our organization -- the Veterans -- the one serving us today and the ones that have served previously. It’s time for the Auxiliary to show that we appreciate the ones that gave us our freedom and say Thank You. We finished the month out with National Commander David Rehbein’s National Drive Around. What a wonderful National Commander the Legionnaire’s have leading the way this year. Commander Rehbein had great points in his speeches and I wish each and every one of you could have heard them. Commander Rehbein is asking the Post, Auxiliary and the SAL to work together as a family and get back to the communities in the area you live in. Let the communities know who we are and be proud to say “I’m a member of the American Legion Family and we are here to help you”. Show that you are proud of our organization and wear those shirts, hats or earrings each and every day.

Help with the youth programs by yes, writing these checks.

But also by helping and getting involved with boys or girl scouts, little league boys and girls, Junior Shooting Sports, and the Boys and Girls State programs. These are just a few of the activities you can get involved with in your communities. We must show our communities we are here to help them.

Legionnaire’s I’m asking you to help remind all Auxiliary members that their dues are due now. The renewal notices didn’t go out until September and we will not be getting another notice until February. Remember we are a family—when you pay your dues, pay those auxiliary member dues as will. We are a family and families take care of one other.

November is Veterans Day and may I be the first to say “Thank you for your service to our country and for our freedom!” God Bless you all.

October 2008

Membership Remains Essential To Success, Programs Are Priority

Distaff Conference

Department Commander Ralph Tolan takes a few minutes during the final stop on the Commander’s Tour to confer with representatives of the Indiana American Legion Auxiliary. The stop included a special dinner and the 11th District’s monthly meeting at Post 495 in Indianapolis. The ladies conferring with the commander are, from the left, the 11th District’s Phyllis Stout, Auxiliary Southern Membership Chairperson Debbie Beeler, and Department President Shirley Firkins. Chairperson Beeler and President Firkins accompanied the Commander on the tour.

Short Takes

Department Adopts Distinctive Design For Legion Covers As many of you will be embroidered may recall, the delinto the front crease egates attending our of the cover.

2008 Department It is a three color design with the monConvention passed a ument base and tower very noteworthy resolution for Indiana Lein silver thread, black gionnaires. Based on thread accents and a resolution submitbronze colors for the Stephen ted by Indiana’s 9th statues mounted on W. Short District, Indiana Le- Department the monument. Indigionnaires will sport ana is one of the last Adjutant a brand new look on Departments to add their official American Legion distinctive insignia/artwork covers. After working with de- to their official cover. Our design artists from National Em- sign is not as flashy as some blem Sales, we were able to states’ artwork, but exhibits a put together a very sharp fac- solemn, subtle tribute to Indisimile of the Indiana Soldiers ana’s many war memorials.

The new cover is Indiana’s and Sailors Monument which

only official cover and can be ordered in November when the new catalog comes out.

Some have asked if Emblem will be creating a “patch” of the artwork so as to sew on the new design instead of buying a new cap, but that is not the case. The Legion cover that all of us currently wear is still appropriate and one need not purchase the new cap. You should know, however, that the new design will add $8 to the cost of your new cover. Now, all we have to do is go out, retain our present members and find brand new members to fit underneath those new covers.

With the approach of accidental death, of Veterans Day, we and grant applicahave already passed tions in the event of the half-way mark in natural disaster will the membership year. not be honored.

So far, it has been a reMembers may warding and successhave acted in good ful journey for Chrissy faith, but the rules are the rules. In such and me. However, I am sure I am not the Ralph Tolan cases, right here in first commander to Department Indiana, some posts say at this point in the Commander have been required to pay the benefit or year that much work pony up the cash that the proremains to be done.

Not our highest priority, of grams would have provided course, but essential to our to the member. All this can success is our membership be avoided by observing the program. Although we are Constitutional rule that cards nearing the 90 percent target, must be transmitted within that last 10 percent is always 30 days of receipt.

Serving members is key to the toughest of our goals.

Without a strong, stable and keeping them. I have long begrowing membership, our lieves that our success lies in veterans’ rehabilitation pro- Posts returning to the way the grams, legislative activities, Legion was built. I encourand children and youth pro- age you and your membergrams will suffer. And it is not ship team not to simply call just those programs that can or write to your members or suffer. Bad habits in an other- let the renewal notice do it; I encourage a member of the wise good membership propost to go see the members gram can wreak havoc with and collect their dues. It not your long-time members and only speeds the renewal prosometimes, their survivors, cess, it provides an opportunot to mention the post. nity for you to learn how they Several programs offered are doing, what they need, are available only to mem- or even whether or not the bers who are currently on the post should help them with roles. Foremost among them their dues. In these economic are the no-cost Accidental times, we need to recognize Death and Dismemberment that our membership may insurance and eligibility for be adversely affected by the National Emergency Fund economy. We should not lose Grants. They are not the only members just because some ones, but they are sufficient have fallen on hard times or for my point. It is essential that are having trouble stretching renewals not be held so long their fixed income. that the members become As we prepare for last half delinquent or inactive. If they of this year, let me remind you are, the members are not eli- of the importance of district gible for payments of the insurance benefit in the event Continued on page 2

Chaplain’s Corner

Acceptance Is The Key To Membership In The American Legion Family As many of you know, I am a bit partial to the Marine Corps. The reason for this goes beyond the usual “brain washing” of boot camp. When I first felt the call of God to join the service during the Viet Nam Conflict, I had just graduated from Nashville Auto Diesel College. I knew I was too tall to be drafted, but felt this strong urging to volunteer to do my part. I felt certain that a kind and benevolent God would send me into the Air Force. In the Air Force I would learn aviation mechanics and advance my career while serving Uncle Sam. However, the Air Force recruiter said I was too tall. The height limit was 6’5” which I beat by an additional 4”.

Re-calculating this call and what the Lord had in store for me, I turned secondly to the Navy with its proud carrier flight wing. The Navy likewise turned me down because of my height. A bit more discouraged and frustrated, I looked at the Army. The Army was still a respectable branch with helicopters and fixed wing aircraft—surely they needed mechanics. Though the Army seemed to take anyone, being too tall I was not one of them.

Dejected, I walked down the hall of the recruitment center in Nashville, TN. As I placed my hand on the exit

door I heard God speak to my heart saying, “There’s one more!”

While I won’t write what I muttered under my breath with a Norris Keirn gasp, I turned Department Chaplain to sheepishly walk down to the Marine Recruiter’s door. As I walked in, the old Gunny said gruffly, “You want to enlist don’t you!” It was as though he had been waiting there just for me.

As I related my rejection by the big three, he sharply asked, “What’d you do?” In those days the judge often offered a choice of time in the pen or time in the Corps if the Marines would take you.

When I explained about my height he said, “How &*%# tall are you?” I said “6’9””. He responded, “Here take this test.”

When I returned he placed the answer grid on top and began marking what looked like a perfect score. With the last check, he said, “Tell you what we’re going to do… we’ll put you down as 6’5” and see what happens!”

I have a lot of stories to embellish this saga, but, simply put, there was a war going on. Since I was taller than

the measurement sticks on the scales, they could not officially measure my height so I was told, “Keep moving.”

During the bus ride to Parris Island, I had second thoughts about what I had done. I began to wish that I had listened to my mother when one D.I. threw the first two recruits off the bus for us to stomp on while yelling, “Get the &^$# off my Marine Corps bus” and the second one colorfully explained about the “yellow footprints”! Even though I signed up for four years to get “aviation mechanics,” the Marines (as I found out frequently happens), defaulted and changed my MOS. The term “Shanghaied” meant as much in the Corps as it did in China.

The Marines had a tradition of accepting those who did not fit in to the regular Armed Forces. Next to the French Foreign Legion, the Corps had the greatest rainbow of race and nationalities along with notorious pasts of all the branches. By the time we marched across the parade deck for the last time we were all loyal Marine “Green.” It was only then that we received the coveted title “Marine.” I asked my son if he cried at the end of the Crucible when they placed the Eagle, Globe and Anchor in the palm of his hand. In true Marine form, he

replied, “A little.”

A few weeks ago, I found myself again experiencing this level of acceptance after a two year process of schooling, training and examination.

My Association of the United Church of Christ granted me the “Privilege of Call” making me a ministerial member in full standing. Earlier in the year they had honored me for my thirtieth anniversary of ordination. This was the only time I have received such a reward. Though each award and recognition is an honor, most groups honor people for the time they have been a part of their organization, not the years of prior service spent in other organizations. This was one of the best examples of acceptance that I have experienced. I found a church that really practiced what it preached, “That they may all be one.”

One of the greatest gifts that we can give another person is that type of acceptance.

Much of our life is spent seeking this level of acceptance - from the old days of climbing hands up a baseball bat for team captains to joining clubs to applying for jobs or school, and of course to engaging in the whole process of love and marriage. In fact, we need acceptance so much that lack of extended family support is one of the greatest

contributing factors to marriage failure.

To make our post home open to new members we must not only invite people to support our cause, but we must convey in all possible ways that they are accepted! Whatever was not done when we joined, needs to be done for the new members so that they will not have to go through our experience. We need to honor them, include them, and make them part of the team. Oldtimers who have held key positions forever, must willingly step aside to let the “new blood” participate fully. Nothing can bring a greater reward than mentoring your replacement and then seeing him or her take off independently.

We in the American Legion like to use the word “family” a lot when referring to ourselves. However, we do not truly become a family until there is acceptance. Families may not always agree or get along, but they are always bound together by common commitment to one another.

This acceptance is our key to success.

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

Deuteronomy 7:6 NRSV

Home in Washington DC; • $37 million for Arlington National Cemetery operations; and, • $31 million for the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, not only for court operations but for the acquisition of a new facility for the Court.

On September 18, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee sent S.2969, the “Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2008,” to the full Senate for further action.

On July 30, the House by a vote of 421-0 passed H.R. 6445, the “Veterans Health Care Policy Enhancement Act of 2008.” Introduced by Rep. Donald Cazayoux (LA), this bill would: • Prohibit the collection of co-payments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled (Category Group 4) for hospital or nursing home care; • Remove a requirement for written informed consent for HIV testing among

veterans, thereby removing existing barriers to the early diagnosis of HIV infection. It would also require VA to follow the same standard of HIV care that is recommended to non-VA patients. This provision was originally contained in H.R. 6114, a stand-alone measure that passed the House VA Health Subcommittee on July 10; • Mandate the VA to centralize third party billing functions at consolidated centers, instead of individual

VA Medical Center; and, • Direct VA to develop and implement a comprehensive policy on the management of pain experienced by veterans enrolled for health care services provided by VA. On September 18, companion measures, H.R. 6939 and S. 3527, were introduced in the House and Senate to address the continuing problem of securing timely funding of veterans’ health care, through a process known as “advance funding.”

Legislative Summary Continued from page 9 • $250 million to begin a rural health initiative to improve access to medical services for veterans living in rural areas; • $1.6 billion to provide veterans with appropriate prosthetic support and sensory aids in light of recent advances in technology; and, $130 million to provide the additional case workers and medical services needed for homeless veterans, including

$30 million to hire additional personnel for the HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program.

Funding for related agencies of interest to The American Legion include: • $63 million for the American Battle Monuments Commission, for the care and operation of our military monuments and cemeteries around the world; • $63 million for operation and maintenance of the Armed Forces Retirement