American Legion 14th District Legionnaire Veterans Day 2019

14TH DISTRICT

LEGION

Serving Fresno, Kings, and Madera Counties

NAIRE

FRESNO, KINGS AND MADERA COUNTIES

VETERANS DAY 2019

“The Nation that forgets its Defenders, will itself be forgotten.”

COMMANDER’S CORNER

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

GREETINGS COMRADES

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Hello everybody. Welcome to a new year with the American Legion in District 14.

We have just completed our first District meeting and we have quite a few challenges coming up for the Posts, Our District and of course the Department of California.

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I was very pleased with the number of Posts who showed up.

I counted fourteen, and of course Kudos to Post 4 with the largest attendance.

Quite a few ideas were expressed by everyone.

Only with participation by all of the members can we be successful.

Andy Reeve

Let us start with the Legion Act. This has been a long time coming. I have always maintained that a Veteran is a Veteran, Congress and the President have agreed. If you served one day with an Honorable Discharge you are now eligible to be a member of the American Legion. We no longer have to tell these folks they do not qualify. We can welcome them with open arms. There are quite a few guys and gals out there who are looking for a way to serve the community. It will be exciting to see them come on board.

Veterans day is fast approaching. There are several groups celebrating this, from parades to cities having presentations and serving veterans and their spouses. Get involved in what is happening near you.

Andy Reeve Commander District 14

The American Legion Auxiliary is 100 this year! As we celebrate our accomplishments let us not forget our core cause Veterans and their families. Our organization was built to last as a family through mutual helpfulness. As in any family there are ups and downs but if we work together, we can accomplish anything that we put our minds to.

Geni Lefler

Let us not ask what someone can do for us, and not what we can do for them, but what we can do together. It has always been said that it takes a village to raise a child and they do that by mutual helpfulness.

It is by working side by side with open communication that the most successful endeavors come about.

With our organization over the past 100 years there have been many changes that we have adapted to. This year is no exception. At the National Convention it was decided that any spouse of a Veteran can join the American Legion Auxiliary. This means that male or female if you are married to a Veteran you can join the Auxiliary. There is a new application online at calegionaux.org that you can print to use now. We are still waiting for updated pamphlets, until those arrive you can mark the application whether it is a male or female spouse. I encourage all of you to be accepting of this change there are a lot of male spouses who are now eligible to join us in our cause. The other change is through the Legion Act, membership is now open to any Veteran who honorable served from December 7, 1941 to present. If the time that was served by the Veteran is not on the application just write Legion Act on the application. This will also help us get more members for the Auxiliary.

We need to remember now more than ever that we are not a Men’s or Women’s organizations that it is either the Legion or Auxiliary members.

I would like to welcome our two new units William Netzer Unit 23, Sanger and Charlie Waters Unit 4, Fresno. Both units received their charter this year at convention and are excited and ready to go!

(Continued on Page 3)

PLUS INSIDE Promenade Nationale....Page 10

Legion Scouting............. Page 17

Fresno Revitalization....Page 26

Auxiliary Memership........Page 27 1

14TH DISTRICT LEGIONNAIRE | VETERANS DAY 2019

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

14TH DISTRICT OFFICERS

2 Fresno Vet.

ne s rs nli fer be s O s L l d d m n al e UF ai ai oa ra ot T P P P M T G al Go 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 % 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 5 0 7 0 13 30 43.33%

1st Vice - Frank Ducar, flducar@yahoo.com

3 Hanford

3

36

17

89

3

148

229

64.63%

4 Fresno

1

11

4

4

3

23

44

52.27%

2nd Vice - Jason Loncour, jytd@sti.net

11 Madera

2

28

10

53

4

97

150

64.67%

12 Selma

0

20

0

46

0

66

99

66.67%

23 W. Netzer

1

5

6

20

1

33

78

42.31%

35 Reedley

0

8

3

0

0

11

44

25.00%

36 Raisin

0

1

0

4

0

5

15

33.33%

Finance Officer - Barbara Lowe, barbarapost509@gmail.com

38 Fresno Star

0

10

1

0

1

12

28

42.86%

55 Easton

0

9

1

0

0

10

30

33.33%

Service Officer - Henry Lopez, asyouwere509@gmail.com

100 Lemoore

0

18

34

37

0

89

160

55.63%

110 Oakhurst

1

7

4

40

1

53

107

49.53%

147 Cecil Cox

4

75

55

153

3

290

471

61.57%

Sgt. At Arms - Lee Martinez,maillee951@gmail.com

191 Kingsburg

1

4

9

12

0

26

36

72.22%

226 Orange Cox 0

1

0

0

1

2

23

8.70%

Historian - Karen Balske, kbalske@comcast.net

245 E. Griffen

0

0

0

0

0

0

17

0.00%

355 Westland

0

4

1

7

0

12

30

40.00%

509 Fresno Fed. 2

54

39

242

8

345

653

52.83%

Exec. Off. 1 yr. - Gloria Gomez, gloriaglogomez@sbcglobal.net

511 State Center 0

3

0

7

0

10

28

35.71%

594 G. Van Vleet 0

4

3

18

0

25

45

55.56%

Exec. Off. 2 yr. - Anthony Guerro, angpc14@yahoo.com

615 Cecil Hinton 0

0

0

0

0

0

15

0.00%

621 Squaw Valley 1

3

12

26

2

44

60

73.33%

199

765

27

2019 - 2020

Commander - Andy Reeve, andyreeve49@gmail.com

3rd Vice - Jim McClurg, mcidrivr@hotmail.com Adjutant - Tom Vang, 97hoosiers@gmail.com

Chaplin - Chris Hoffman, jchoffman55@gmail.com

Judge Advocate - Fran Kilgore, fran58@hotmail.com

Exec. Off. 3 yr. - Henry Lopez, asyouwere509@gmail.com

Post#

District 14 Total

17

306

Past Commander - Les Chappel, llmntent@hotmail.com

BEST PRACTICES: LEGION MOBILE APPS Yes, The American Legion has Mobile Apps! https://www.legion.org/mobileapps

Many Legionnaires will be surprised to know, the first Legion Mobile App was released in 2010. Since the launch of the first Legion Mobile App eight years ago, several new apps have been launched and the mobile apps continue to be updated and improved.

There are four mobile apps, they are: • The American Legion Mobile App • The American Legion Claims Coach • Sons of The American Legion Mobile App • American Legion Baseball Mobile App A National Convention App is produced and distributed prior to each National Convention. Based on the feedback we have received, the 2017 Convention Mobile App was very well received as helpful tool for convention goers.

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ner uez, Ow om ig r d o R Roger ransmission.c sT Payles

1,314 2,392 54.93%

Serving Fresno, Kings, and Madera Counties P R E SI DE N T ' S M E S S AG E

(Continued from Page 1) If you have not yet, please like our us on Facebook there is a lot of information there on upcoming events and when and where the District 14 Meeting will be held. We are listed as the American Legion Auxiliary District 14.

I look forward to another amazing year with all of you! Last year we were second in the state for membership finishing out the year at 105.99% All goals this year are +1 over what your membership was as of June 30th. We should all be able to obtain that goal. If you have membership questions, please contact Debbie Hurado or me. We are here to help you grow and better help Veterans and their families and let us not forget the communities where we live.

I look forward to growing the American Legion Auxiliary with all of you and although we may not be around for the 200th year celebration we can still make this an organization that members are proud to be a part of.

Be kind to one another and understanding of our differences, may we all speak from a point of love and most importantly work together for a better future.

Sincerely,

Geni Lefler, President American Legion Auxiliary District 14

License #655566

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14TH DISTRICT LEGIONNAIRE | VETERANS DAY 2019

LEGION'S 2ND CENTURY AN OPPORTUNIT Y TO WELC OME IN MORE VETER ANS THE AMERICAN LEGION

At about every American Legion national convention over the last 40 years that National Adjutant Daniel Wheeler has attended, a resolution is brought forth about opening some periods of war dates for Legion membership.

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THE AMERICAN LEGION MOBILE APP With The American Legion Mobile App, you can sign up new members of The American Legion.

When you "Just Ask" an eligible veteran to join your American Legion Post, your cell phone can now be used to process their application. You no longer need to keep a paper Legion application stuffed in your wallet, as long as you have your cell phone with the Legion Mobile App installed.

The Legion Mobile App will also allow you to: • Find out about the Legion • Join the Legion or use the app to help a veteran join • Renew membership • Get Legion news • Access Legion images • Follow the Legion • Find a post • Access myLegion.org, and • Access Emblem Sales Yes, the mobile app will allow new members to join, just remember your post is still responsible for verifying eligibility via the DD-214.

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These resolutions did not pass because if The American Legion asked Congress to open war dates then they would have to open dates that were not war periods.

And then The American Legion would not be a war veterans organization, and that has tax and IRS consequences with the organization’s status under the law, Wheeler explained to attendees of the Legion’s 56th annual National Membership Workshop Aug. 9 in Indianapolis.

The idea about opening membership eligibility was raised again last year at convention, but with a tangible solution. More than 1,600 service members have been killed or were wounded in previously undeclared periods of war by Congress. Thus, the LEGION Act asked Congress to recognize these periods that “were in fact war … that gave The American Legion the opportunity to welcome wartime veterans who previously had not been acknowledged into our ranks … and to honor those who gave their lives to hostile action that was undeclared by Congress,” Wheeler said.

“The American Legion’s most important principal throughout the last century is ‘a veteran is a veteran.’”

The “Legion Act” was signed into law July 30 by President Trump, extending the ongoing declared period of war back to Dec. 7, 1941. Prior to this signing, more than 4.2 million veterans were ineligible to join The American Legion. “Those times are over,” Wheeler said.

“Their opportunity for national service to The American Legion is now as our second century unfolds.”

With more veterans eligible to join, American Legion departments will now have the opportunity to go for new

all-time membership highs heading into the Legion’s second century. Departments’ membership base will be what it was on delegate strength date this year and that will be the base departments’ operate from to get all-time high awards hereafter. “So everyone now has a chance to be an all-time high department. I think that’s really exciting,” Wheeler said.

Out of the 55 American Legion departments, 11 surpassed their membership goal for 2018-2019 – the Departments of Alabama, Alaska, California, France, Hawaii, Idaho, Mexico, New Hampshire, Philippines, Utah and Wyoming.

“It has always been and always will be our sacred responsibility to care for those who served,” said Rev. Daniel Seehafer of Wisconsin, chairman of the National Membership and Post Activities Committee. “You are the ones in the field. And you are the ones who can make that difference in membership. It only takes one.” With the LEGION Act, “I want you fired up like never before,” Seehafer added.

Since Aug. 5, less than a week after the signing of the LEGION Act, more than 300 previously ineligible veterans are known to have joined The American Legion by signing up via legion.org. It is unknown how many have signed up directly through departments and posts.

“The American Legion legacy will grow into our second century and if we build on the respect America has for our organization already and the services we provide, a mission we can and we must share with a new population of veterans who are now eligible to call themselves Legionnaires,” Wheeler said. “We stand on the precipitous of a great opportunity for growth in The American Legion and additional service extending into future generations.”

Serving Fresno, Kings, and Madera Counties

PROUD SUPPORTER OF OUR LOCAL VETERANS AND ARMED FORCES. Strong veterans make strong communities.

BankoftheSierra.com /Prosper © 2017 Bank of the Sierra. All rights reserved.

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FRESNO | BLACKSTONE 4735 North Blackstone Avenue Fresno | (559) 227-8401 FRESNO | FIRST 5776 North First Street Fresno | (559) 431-4810 5

14TH DISTRICT LEGIONNAIRE | VETERANS DAY 2019

AMERICAN LEGION 101ST CONVENTION I have not been to Indianapolis, Indiana since 1989 when I attended Advanced NCOES at Fort Ben Harrison. During liberty, that is where a group of us would head. As with everything, things change. What did not change was the beauty of the city at night. I was very happy to have been able to see the American Legion Headquarters building. I am sorry to say I did not get a chance to tour the inside. As a participant of the annual opening parade, marching with California, I got a chance to march around its boundaries.

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Mildred Wright-Pearson

I enjoy attending national conventions because it gives me the opportunity to network with other department Legionnaires, Auxiliaries, and SALs. Through networking, you get ideas about how programs, projects, and policies can be improved on all levels. You also get to vote on new resolutions that affect the future of the American Legion.

One of my favorite times at conventions is observing the results of the hard work that Departments put into the programs they work during the year. Awards, though some might say aren’t equal to the work put in, recognize the effort and pride from those who participated in the effort. The awards are well deserved. It is also amazing how the ALR raises money from their Legacy Run. You think of all the miles they have ridden to collect the money they present. God bless them.

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With the advent of the new membership eligibility guidelines, the future of the American Legion is changing. This was a big focus at the convention. Membership was foremost in everyone’s mind. Methods to improve, attract, and regain membership were discussed. It was gratifying to hear leaders from all areas of life discuss their support of what the American Legion is about and how it helps our military at all stages of their association with military life.

The 101st American Legion Convention earmarks the onset of the next 100 years.

The focus is not on selfish interest but invested interest on which direction the Legion will go and the steps we as an organization need to take to get there. Now it is up to us to ensure we move forward by making the American Legion a bigger and better organization.

Maybe next year you may want to attend the National American Legion Convention and find out what you like best. It will be in Louisville, KY. Hope to see you there.

For God and Country.

Mildred S. Wright-Pearson Fresno Federal Post 509

Veterans serving Veterans

Serving Fresno, Kings, and Madera Counties

District Council 16 Northern California • Northern Nevada International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Jeff Roberts, Business Representative 4650 E. Weathermaker Avenue • Fresno, CA 93703 Ph: (559) 255-2113 • Fax: (559) 255-3806 • Email: Jeff@Dc16.us

VETERANS CORNER C H A M P VA H E A LT H C A R E B E N E F I T

ank you to our vets and current active military!

Since

1971

2970 N. Clovis Ave., Fresno • (559) 291-5220 ClovisAveSelfStorageCA.com

The Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA) is a program very similar to TRICARE. But, they are not the same. When a veteran is retired from the military, both the veteran and their family members are eligible for TRICARE. People eligible for TRICARE are not eligible for CHAMPVA. Additionally, veterans are not eligible for CHAMPVA care for themselves. Only family members qualify for CHAMPVA benefits.

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There are several ways to qualify. You can qualify if the veteran has a 100% permanent and total service-connected rating, or if the veteran dies while rated 100% permanent and total. This does not include Individual Unemployability which is a temporary rating. You can also qualify if the veteran dies of a service-connected condition, or a service member dies in the line of duty after 30 days of entry into service for reasons other than misconduct. If a surviving spouse remarries prior to age 55, eligibility terminates. Remarry after 55 and the benefit continues.

CHAMPVA can save a veteran, and their family, thousands of dollars a year. For more information contact our office. You can also view related fact-sheets at www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/pubs/factsheets.asp#champva.

The Kings County Veterans Service Office can complete the DMV Veteran Status Verification Form for the California Veteran Designation on your driver's license and also issues Veteran 1.0. Cards to honorably discharged veterans. Contact Scott Holwell at the email address provided below, if you would like to receive periodic veteran's information by email. There are many state and federal benefits and programs available to veterans and their dependents. To determine if you are eligible for any of these benefits, visit or call our office. We can and will assist you in completing all required application forms. You can get information on the web from the Kings County Veterans Service Office webpage at www.countyofkings.com/vets.

Scott Holwell, retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer, is the Veterans Service Officer for Kings County.

Send your questions to the Veterans Service Office, 1400 W Lacey Blvd, Hanford, CA 93230; call (559)852-2669; or e-mail scott. holwel/@co.kings.ca. us

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14TH DISTRICT LEGIONNAIRE | VETERANS DAY 2019

FULL 2019 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE AGENDA Mental Health & Wellness A study of VA mental health services utilization reports 1.6 million American men and women have served or are serving currently in the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, or surrounding areas. Multiple studies have reported a high prevalence of emerging mental health disorders in this population.

These mental health issues include, but are not limited to:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Substance Use Disorders

• Military Sexual Trauma

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

M

CAVSA is committed to ensuring that all veterans gain access to mental health care by supporting member agencies in their individual missions to serve the needs of California’s veteran population. We help nearly 10,000 veterans access counseling and mental health services.

AB 43 (Gloria): Current law authorizes the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) to be amended by a 2/3 vote of the Legislature if the amendments are consistent with, and further the intent of, the act. Current law authorizes the Legislature to add provisions to clarify procedures and terms of the act by majority vote. This bill would clarify that the planning process for innovative programs is to be completed in collaboration with stakeholders and is to comply with open meetings laws.

AB 550 (Flora): This bill would establish the Medical Foster Home Pilot Program until January 1, 2023, under which a United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) facility may establish a medical foster home that is not subject to licensure or regulation as a residential care facility for the elderly, a community care facility, or a residential care facility for persons with chronic, life-threatening illness, pursuant to specified federal requirements. The bill would require a USDVA facility establishing the home to agree to be subject to the jurisdiction of the California State Auditor, and would require a medical foster home caregiver or an individual, other than a veteran resident, who is over 18 years of age and is residing in the medical foster home to be a registered independent home care aid, as specified. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature that the California State Auditor, in response to a request to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, conduct an audit evaluating the pilot program created by this bill no sooner than January 1, 2021, as specified.

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AB 563 (Quirk-Silva): Current law, the Mental Health Services Act, an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, funds a system of county mental health plans for the provision of mental health services, as specified. The act establishes the Mental Health Services Fund, which is continuously appropriated to, and administered by, the State Department of Health Care Services to fund specified county mental health programs. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.

AB 581 (Levine): Current law requires a court, if it concludes that a defendant convicted of a felony offense is or was a member of the United States military who may be suffering from sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental health problems as a result of the defendant’s military service, to consider that circumstance as a factor in mitigation when imposing a sentence. Current law allows a defendant who is currently serving a felony sentence and meets these criteria to petition for resentencing if those criteria were not considered at the time of sentencing and the person was sentenced prior to January 1, 2015. This bill would allow a defendant meeting these criteria to petition for recall of sentence and resentencing without regard to whether the defendant was sentenced prior to January 1, 2015.

SB 10 (Beall): This bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services to establish, no later than July 1, 2020, a statewide peer, parent, transition-age, and family support specialist certification program, as a part of the state’s comprehensive mental health and substance use disorder delivery system and the Medi-Cal program. The bill would include 4 certification categories: adult peer support specialist, transition-age youth peer support specialist, family peer support specialist, and parent peer support specialist.

SB 11 (Beall): This bill would require a health care service plan and a health insurer to submit an annual report to the Department of Managed Health Care or the Department of Insurance, as appropriate, certifying compliance with state and federal mental health parity laws, as specified. The bill would require the departments to review the reports submitted by health care service plans to ensure compliance with state and federal mental health parity laws and would require the departments to make the reports and the results of the reviews available upon request and to post the

reports and the results of the reviews on the departments’ Internet Web site.

SB 245 (Chang): This bill would prohibit a public animal shelter from charging an adoption fee for a dog or cat if the person adopting the dog or cat presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver’s license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to the above-described provision.

SB 289 (Archuleta): Would require the continued Medi-Cal HCBS eligibility or waiting list status of a Medi-Cal beneficiary who is a dependent child or spouse of an active duty military service member, if the military service member receives a military order to transfer to another state, as long as the military service member retains California as the state of legal residence and the Medi-Cal beneficiary retains eligibility for those services.

SB 389 (Hertzberg): Would amend the Mental Health Services Act to authorize the counties to use MHSA moneys to provide services to persons who are participating in a presentencing or post sentencing diversion program or who are on parole, probation, post release community supervision, or mandatory supervision. By authorizing a new use of continuously appropriated moneys, this bill would make an appropriation. The bill would state the finding of the Legislature that this act is consistent with, and furthers the intent of, the Mental Health Services Act. Homelessness & Housing Veterans are disproportionately represented among California’s homeless population. California is home to nearly 1.8 million veterans, the largest veteran population in the nation. However, unlike homeless veterans in other parts of the U.S. where 38% are unsheltered, a shocking 67% of California veterans were unsheltered in 2017. Additionally, according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, the rate of female veteran homelessness is at least three times greater than their non-veteran civilian peers. CAVSA prioritizes programming for veterans to help reverse these trends. We operate over 2,500 units of stabilization, transitional and permanent housing.

Serving Fresno, Kings, and Madera Counties

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9

14TH DISTRICT LEGIONNAIRE | VETERANS DAY 2019 40&8

PROMENADE NATIONALE IN MYRTLE BEACH

Prior to our arrival, Hurricane Dorian savaged the area where we were to stay. We received daily updates on the status of the aftermath of the storm. Upon arrival, we could see the remnants of the storm. Our hotel was still in great shape. We were grateful to Dave Hill, President, 100th Promenade National Corporation, for his attention to detail about the status of the storm and the hotel.

The biggest plus of the Promenade National for me is there was no need to walk far because the hotel was connected to the Convention Center. This came in handy when it rained. Even though the outside temperature ranged between the low to high 80’s, the humidity was a factor for some. Having lived on the east coast, I relished the humidity. I will also tell you this, there was no problem with the air conditioning.

Activities of the Promenade Nationale were great. There was a record number of children at the Children’s Party (over 160). The food was great. The service should not be compared to our fast food atmosphere. It is strictly southern and is not to be considered negative.

Being a member of 40&8 is fun. The eligibility qualifications were reviewed for everyone at the Promenade Nationale. Being an honor society and by invitation only, everyone is eligible who is an honorably discharged veteran. There were many awards given for participation in thirteen programs and two trusts. California went home with four awards.

I haven’t seen the Atlantic Ocean in years.

The last was at the National American Legion Convention in Baltimore, MD. The time I spent in Myrtle Beach this year for Promenade Nationale was right on the ocean. The view from my hotel room was spectacular. My dog Frenchie and I got the chance to get our feet wet in the warm water.

I

Mildred Wright-Pearson

10

This year is the 100th Promenade for La Société des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux (40&8). It was filled with southern hospitality. All the “locals” are very patriotic. Unlike California, I saw American Flags flying in front of almost every home and business. It is not presumptuous for me to say Myrtle Beach is pro-military.

Right before going home, Hurricane Humberto came through the Bahamas. There was speculation whether Myrtle Beach would once again be hit. It wasn’t. What I noticed was the change in the motion of the sea. The tide came further onto the beach. The riptides became larger. And, of course, you had the surfers in the water. The waves for surfing were nowhere like the Pacific. Sorry Atlantic. It was, all in all, a great experience at a Promenade Nationale. I was sorry to leave but look forward to next year.

La Société, Sea to Sea

Mildred S. Wright-Pearson Grand Chef de Train

Veterans serving Veterans

Serving Fresno, Kings, and Madera Counties

ADCO is honored to support the American Legion and proudly supports our veterans Thank You For Your Service

THE MERCI BOX CAR Once again, I am writing about our state box car. A committee of veterans and concerned citizens are seeking donations to be used to provide a cover for the box car. If you do not know, the Merci Box Car is a gift from the French people to the people of California. The box car is located at 3509 N. First Street, Fresno, CA.

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The box car was used during WWI and WWII to transport our troops throughout France during those wars. It holds 40 men or 8 horses or mules. When it was sent to California is 1952, through San Diego, the box car was placed in Roeding Park, Fresno, CA. When it fell into disrepair, the box car was moved in 2004 to its current place at Fresno Federal Post 509’s parking lot.

If you would like to donate to this worthy cause, we are seeking $55 – 60K for the total cost of the cover, please send your checks or money orders made payable to: Grande Voiture of California, PO Box 2114, Toluca Lake CA 91610-0114. Put “Merci Box Car Cover” in the memo line. We do have donation letters. Any donation is appreciated and is tax deductible. If you have any questions, please text me or leave a message at: (559) 250-8247, I will get back to you. Thank you in advance for any contribution to this worthy cause.

Mildred S. Wright-Pearson Grand Chef de Train

Veterans serving Veterans

ADCO Manufacturing 2170 Academy Avenue Sanger, CA 93657 USA Toll Free: 888.608.5946 Tel: 559.875.5563 www.adcomfg.com

11

14TH DISTRICT LEGIONNAIRE | VETERANS DAY 2019 AREA 3

VICE COMMANDER GREETINGS

I wish to extend greetings to the 14th District and its Posts and members.

I would like to thank all of you for having faith in me by electing me as your Area Vice Commander. It has already been a whirlwind of events and Anthony N. Guerrero activities that I have had the opportunity to attend. I will eventually see all of you over the year.

I

With the new policy on membership eligibility, the prospect of increased membership numbers has opened new possibilities. With anything, it takes some work to get the word out and let those potential members know. It is very sad when Posts throw up their hands and give up their charters because of lack of interest. The American Legion is re-thinking its stance on media and communications. It is coming into the 21st century in terms of interacting within and outside of the organization. Posts need to follow suit.

I want to congratulate all Posts that attained 100% last year. I am told we, as a Department, were seated in the front of the convention this year. No opera

glasses!! It is my hope you repeat and/or improve your status this year. Make your goal 100% or better.

As this is the Veteran’s Day edition of the District Newspaper, I want to thank all of you for your service.

This is your day of camaraderie and affords you the opportunity to extend membership to other veterans to join our American Legion ranks. Extend that hand of welcome to those you meet today, tomorrow, and into the future.

McCarty’s Collision Center

Thank You Veterans!

1870 Dockery Ave. Selma, CA 93662

(559) 896-3500

Attempt to make your Post/District one of comfort and a place of positive energy – a joy to be at. Be a leader by motivating others, mentoring new and old members, and using protocol in your activities.

Remember, a good leader also listens. When I visit, I will be observing for the use of these things. I am sure none of you will let me down. Start planning and seeking ways your Post can improve and move into the 21st century.

Once again, have a wonderful Veteran’s Day. Be safe and help each other. This way we all succeed as an organization.

Anthony N. Guerrero Third Area Vice Commander Department of California

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Our services include, but are not limited to: Housing assistance through Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Employment assistance, training and certification through VSWP and HVRP Transitional living programs in Fresno for homeless female Veterans with or without children and homeless male Veterans Life-skills workshops, groups and a Family Counselor on hand (Fresno Location) Clothing/haircut vouchers and discounted bus passes Call today! We have four locations to better serve you!

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13

14TH DISTRICT LEGIONNAIRE | VETERANS DAY 2019 POST 509

MESSAGE

FROM THE COMMANDER

Fellow Legionaries My name is Thad Miller. I was elected Commander of Post 509 in July. I am new to California moving here from Kansas City in July 2018. My wife of 55 years passed away in February 2018 and now my entire focus is on the American Legion and Post 509. My goal is to make Post 509 a strong and vibrant post. I am planning on having many events at the Post with an eye towards bringing families together with a spirit of comradeship and fun. I invite everyone to keep an eye on the Post website and Facebook page for all the upcoming events I look forward to seeing all of you around the Post.

Sincerely, Thad Miller, Commander

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Serving Fresno, Kings, and Madera Counties POST 147

QUILT OF VALOR 2019 BOB CLARK

Bob was born in Hayward California 1922. Bob and his brother Clarence were raised by a single mom during the great depression. Myrtle Clark supported the boys by giving music lessons in Selma. Bob started playing music on the piano at 5 years old, taught by his mother. He played in grade school, high school, college, in the Navy, and afterwards often twice a day in all types of bands.

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At the age of 97 years young, Bob plays baritone, valve trombone, and slide trombone with the Sounds of Freedom military band for the Association of the United States Army.

On most Wednesday nights he is here for rehearsal. Tonight, he has graced us with his presence accompanied by his daughter Cheryl Deaton, Granddaughter Robin and Great Granddaughter Maggie. On Sunday Bob played a two-hour concert in the ball room here.

Bob Clark was working in a Chevy Garage in Selma and attending Fresno State when the radio announcer badly mispronounced OAHU and reported the attack on Pearl Harbor. Bob moved to Berkeley and at 20 years old volunteered for the Navy December 7, 1942, one year after Pearl Harbor Attack on Oahu. Bob trained in San Pedro in Navy Intelligence for three months. Seaman First Class was assigned to Pearl Harbor, transported to Hawaii on the Battleship USS New Mexico, on his way to Hawaii he filled in with the band. He landed on Oahu, but special orders from the USS New Mexico recalled him to the ship. The band wanted his talents and he played twice a day for enlisted men and officers. Bob's battle station job was as a medic assisting the doctors.

Bob travel on the New Mexico was like a list of the Pacific War. USS New Mexico provided support for military landing and bombing of islands all over the Pacific. Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, Maloelap Atoll, Wotje, Marshall Islands, Kavieng, New Ireland, Tinian, Mariana Islands, Saipan, Guam, Ulithi, Caroline Islands, Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands, Mindoro, Lingayen Gulf.

While in battle in the Lingayen Gulf, the USS New Mexico was struck by a kamikaze pilot.

Among the 30 men killed were her commanding officer Captain Robert Walton Fleming and members of an observing British military mission, including Lieutenant General Herbert Lumsden, Winston Churchill's personal military representative to General of the Army Douglas MacArthur.

Bob's initially directed traffic during the battle and ended up in the operating room assisting Doctors saving the wounded. His story of the work with Doctors are the his most vivid memories. The USS New Mexico returned to Pearl Harbor for extensive repair and the band was re-assigned to Washington DC. Bob's was subsequently sent to Miami, Florida replacing a band member from the USS York Town. The band members were on the USS York Town when it went down, they were rescued from the water. One band member was from Fresno, George Weiser.

Bob was discharged November 3, 1945 in Miami Florida.

Bob and his wife bought a 36 Dodge coupe and drove back to Fresno. Bob continued to serve our country after his discharge. Bob re-entered Fresno State and become an English teacher at Edison High School. He was dean of Boys, councilor and Vice Principle 1963-1964. Bob moved on to Reedley College as a counselor in August 1964. Bob retired in 1982. Bob always played in dance bands, orchestras, and small combos many times twice in one day. Bob recently moved from his home which he and his wife bought in 1949. His wife Francis Louise passed away 6 years ago, after 71 years of marriage. Bob has 3 daughters and a one son who passed away in November.

Bob earned many medals and ribbons during WWII: American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with six battle stars WWII Victory Medal Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars Just to name a few of his many medals.

15

14TH DISTRICT LEGIONNAIRE | VETERANS DAY 2019 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

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Serving Fresno, Kings, and Madera Counties

100TH ANNIVERSARY OF LEGION SCOUTING

campaign. I ask each Post to consider a donation to your local Sequoia Council in your budget. It costs about $125 for each Scout, to support the Sequoia Council for one year.

You might consider $5 for each member in your Post, as a suggestion. You can also give individually to Scouting.

Family Scouting can promote Legion membership – Beginning this year, the Boy Scouts of America is fully committed to Family Scouting. The programs at all ages are offered to Boys and Girls. Families of Veterans can involve their entire family in Scouting, which gives your Post another opportunity to drawn young Veterans into the American Legion.

As you all know 2019 is the 100th Anniversary of the American Legion. It is also the 100th anniversary of Scouting as the premier youth serving program of the American Legion. In addition, 2019 is the 100th Anniversary of the Sequoia Council. To celebrate all three, there will be a Sequoia Council Camporee at Camp Chawanakee, Shaver Lake, next weekend. All of your Scouting Units: Cubs, Scouts, and Venturing units are encouraged to participate. As sponsors of Scouting, you too are invited to attend, and see scouting in Action at all age levels. If your Post sponsors a Scout Unit, you should contact you Charter Organizational Representative and visit the Camp next Saturday.

You can come up for the day, even if you don’t sponsor a Scouting unit. I will have an American Legion Scouting display tent, and games. You could hang out with me for the day and enjoy the beautiful camp. Bring a lunch.

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For those of you who are registered with the BSA, or who are a member of the Scouting Alumni Association, I have a special anniversary pin for you.

This does not mean that Scouting is a Coed program. Cub Scouting, at the Elementary School level, is organized into Packs, consisting of smaller groups called Dens of 6-8 kids.

These Dens are either Boys or Girls. Each has their own Adult and youth leaders. At this age the Parents play a major role in the program.

Scouting in your Post – Scouting is an official part of the American Legion, and your Post. If your Post sponsors a Scouting Unit you can find many opportunities to participate in the leadership as a member of the Unit Parent Committee. If you don’t have a Scouting Unit you can help in many other ways. You can be a merit badge counselor, or a member of the BSA District Committee as a Mentor and Advisor.

Kids from 11-18 are now “Scouts, BSA� or just Scouts. They are organized as Troops, with troops of all Boys, and troops of all Girls. Again, each has their own leadership and programs based on the leadership goals of the Youth Leaders. A single Post can have one or many, of each type of Scout Troop meeting at the Post.

Just as Baseball, Oratorical, and Boys State needs money to support their program, Your local Sequoia Council needs financial support. When Scouts and Parents pay their $40 annual fee to Scouting, that entire amount goes to the National Office. All funds needed to operate the two Scout Offices, Staff, Professional Scouter and the programs and training that they provide, must be raised locally. A small amount comes from the Popcorn sales, that the Scouts are now doing. Most of the finances come from community organizations, businesses, families, and individual donors. Last year Post 147 gave $1500 to the Sequoia Council to support their “Friends of Scouting�

So, there is a lot of good stuff happening in American Legion Scouting. I hope you will have the opportunity to be a part of it.

Michael Feist, Chairman Scouting Commission Dept of California, TAL

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE

ADAM C. GRAY

CAPITOL OFFICE P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249 916.319.2121

DISTRICT OFFICE 690 W. 16th St. Merced, CA 95340 209.5726.5465

DISTRICT OFFICE 1010 Tenth St., Ste. 5800 Modesto, CA 95354 209.521.2111

ASSEMBLYMEMBER, TWENTY-FIRST DISTRICT

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Thank You for Your Service The Central Valley is home to countless men and women who have served or are currently serving our great country. Table Mountain Casino honors these brave citizens and the families who support them.

Must be 18 years to game. Management reserves all rights.

14TH DISTRICT LEGIONNAIRE | VETERANS DAY 2019 POST 3225

VETERANS MEMORIAL DAY GOLF TOURNAMENT

On May 23rd, 2019 we held our 6th Annual Veterans Memorial Golf Tournament netting $35,000. 100 percent of all the proceeds have been donated to benefit our local veterans. Members of our post started this annual golf tournament six years to benefit our local veterans. The first year we raised $3,500 which was donated to Volunteer Services at the Fresno VA. Since then, our Tournament has grown steadily. Three years ago we invited our local VFW (Post 3225) and AmVets (Post 2011) to join us in this endeavor. The results were fantastic with our net proceeds jumping to $18,000. Each year we have continued to exceed the previous year and

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netted $35,000 this past May. On September 10th of this year we presented the Volunteer Services at the Fresno VA with a check for $25,000. The remaining $10,000 has been donated to various local veteran support organizations. We have already begun planning for our 2020 Tournament and have invited our local Military Order of the Purple to join us.

Additional information concerning what Volunteer Services does can be found at: www.fresno.gov/giving

Individuals in the photo are from left to right: 1. Mary Golden, Program Manager Volunteer Services; 2. Karen Uhl, Loan Officer Big Valley Mortgage; 3. "Max," VFW Post 3225; 4. Tom Gritton, VFW Post 3225; 5. August Flach, Director Clovis Veterans Memorial District (and member American Legion Post 147); 6. Michael Burton, Commander VFW Post 3225; 7. Chuck Benneinger, Director of VA Fresno; Medical Center; 8. Frank Ducar, Commander American Legion Post 147 (and member VFW Post 3225 and AmVets Post 2011); 9. George Alvarez, Commander AmVets Post 2011 (and member American Legion Post 147); 10. Peggy Sperry, Executive Committee American Legion Post 147; 11. Gerald Hayden, Jr Past Cmdr VFW Post 3225 (and member American Legion Post 147); 12. Bob Lindsey, Quartermaster VFW Post 3225

20

Serving Fresno, Kings, and Madera Counties POST 147

CECIL COX

G OL F TO U R NA M E N T Frank L Ducar Commander, Throughout the year members of our post support our fellow veterans, youth and youth programs and our community. This past May we held our 6th annual Veterans Memorial Day Golf Tournament at the Belmont Country Club. The American Legion partnered with the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 3225, AmVets Post 2011and the Clovis Veterans Memorial District to raise $35,000 with $25,000 going to support various Voluntary Service Programs at the VA. Below is a list of some of the programs and services supported by these donations: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Donations are now being accepted for The Squaw Valley Cemetery Veterans flag memorial.

To be located at the Squaw Valley Cemetery. All Donations are tax deductible

Recreational Mental Health Programs Veteran Transportation Caregiver Support Walk of Honor Veteran Outreach Services Chaplain Services Homeless Veterans Wheelchair Games Creative Arts Festival (Mental Health) Winter Sports Clinic Golden Age Games Christmas Activities Women’s Veteran Programs

The remaining $10,000 is being donated to various Veterans Support Organizations benefiting Central Valley Veterans. We have donated these funds to the following Veteran Support Organizations: • • • • • • •

$1,000 to Assoc. of the United States Army $1,000 to Heart of the Horse Foundation $1,000 to Central Valley Veterans Foundation $1,000 to the Fischer House Foundation $1,000 to Central Valley Veterans Home $2,500 to Honor Flight $2,500 to Blue Star Moms

This year the Military Order of the Purple Heart will be joining us as a partner. These donations would not be possible without your generous support to our local Veterans and we look forward to having you as one of our Sponsors. Please note that 100% of all proceeds go to benefit our local Veterans.

Make Checks payable to American Legion Post 621 (flag Memorial) P.O.Box 706 Squaw Valley Ca. 93675

4747 N 1st St #113, Fresno, CA 93726 Phone: (559) 203-3637 21

14TH DISTRICT LEGIONNAIRE | VETERANS DAY 2019

TWISTED HISTORY THE NIKE "BET SY ROSS FL AG" C ONTROVERSY

BY DR. JOHN ELLIS

Yes! There was slavery in the United States as we fought for our freedom and it continued for years thereafter. That doesn’t make it right. But… it’s a part of our history and it can't be undone even if revisionists are trying to rewrite it in an attempt to be overly politically correct. Instead of decrying history however... they would do well to embrace it... and learn from it including the fact that the Betsy Ross flag was prominently displayed behind the podium as when America’s first black president, Barack Obama, was inaugurated.

As this Veterans Day approaches, therefore, stand proud. Don't kowtow to the misinformed few. Instead, feel liberated to raise the Betsy Ross flag. Fly it high. Fly it proudly. Because the reality is... it represents the foundation upon which this great country is built. And nothing... not Kaepernick and not even Nike can change that.

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Nike was all set to release a special patriotic sneaker this past 4th of July featuring what's historically called "the Betsy Ross flag" — a flag that has a ring of stars representing the original 13 colonies during the American Revolution. However, when Colin Kaepernick called the flag representative of America's oppressive history of slavery, Nike immediately caved in and pulled the planned release.

(You may recall that Kaepernick is the former San Francisco 49er's NFL quarterback who onceupon-a-time caused massive controversy by refusing to stand for the national anthem as a protest against what he felt were an inordinate number police brutality cases against blacks.)

But why would a major international company like Nike cave in so quickly to one guys personal (yet historically twisted) perspective? We're still scratching our heads over that one considering the flag's history.

On June 14, 1777, Congress passed the first flag law... "Resolved. That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a news constellation." This was a full 6 years before the end of the Revolutionary War... six years of fighting and dying under that banner for our country's freedom from Great Britain.

Since this flag design was the first representation for what would become a fledgling new nation, its patriotic tenor and what it stands for in American history simply cannot be denied. Yet, if the Betsy Ross flag is deemed a "racist symbol" what's next... decrying the one dollar bill because it shows George Washington ... the "father of our country" on it... Washington... an undeniable slave owner himself?

22

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14TH DISTRICT LEGIONNAIRE | VETERANS DAY 2019

ARTIST CONCEPT

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Tremendous community support has made this long overdue dream a reality.

Unveiling will be at Fresno City Hall on November 8th at 10am. For more information contact the office of Councilmember Garry Bredefeld: 559-621-7865

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Serving Fresno, Kings, and Madera Counties

SUICIDE PREVENTION M U S T S TA R T B E F O R E C R I S I S I N T E R V E N T I O N THE AMERICAN LEGION

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Suicide. It’s becoming America’s largest epidemic, cutting a swath of pain and suffering to young and old alike. It’s wreaking havoc on active duty military personnel, veterans and their families. It’s stealing hearts, futures and hope.

The American Legion hosted a Preventing Suicide: Educate, Inspire, Mobilize discussion in its Washington, D.C., office Sept. 12, in conjunction with National Suicide Prevention Week. A panel of speakers discussed this crisis with guests who must face the ghosts personally and professionally.

“We are in the midst of a crisis that is assaulting our veterans and active duty service members where they are fighting battles here at home,” said George Mitchell, American Legion deputy director of health policy, in his opening remarks. “We are in the midst of a crisis that is devastating families and the communities across our nation.”

Preventing suicides is not an easy task. It is a task that can be complex, hard to detect and quixotic. Suicide can be an ongoing underlying fight, or a sudden decision that can leave survivors and those who have attempted suicide bewildered and confused.

Chief Warrant Officer Cliff Bauman attested to this personally during his remarks. He is a survivor of an attempted suicide.

Bauman was a first responder after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon. He internalized his experiences on that fateful day – the impact to his senses, smell and touch – and those that followed. He knows today that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was stalking him. It started with alcohol, as well as with nightmares of what he saw and what he did.

Bauman said his work suffered, he denied he was dealing with a crisis, and he refused help, all classic symptoms of suicide. Compounding his crisis is that suicide was treated negatively by the military. It was different, a very different time for treating PTSD and a suicidal person.

Bauman’s life changed forever in 2002, when he attempted to end his life at his brother’s house in Kansas City, Mo. “I don’t quite know what triggered me that night,” Bauman said. “With a bottle of pills and drinks on the table, I wrote a suicide note. I wrote I was tired of the guilt of not finding anyone else alive, from the attack at the Pentagon, and I took over 20 Ambient pills and I laid on the couch.”

Bauman’s brother, a nurse at the Truman Medical Center nearby, had an unsettling feeling about his brother while at

work and called the house. No answer. His brother rushed home and found Bauman near death.

Unfortunately, the story of Daniel Somers had to be told to the panel by his surviving parents.

Daniel served as a sergeant in the California Army National Guard and was married to his high school sweetheart. He was federalized for active duty in 2004, sent to Iraq and participated in 400 combat missions. Daniel refused to accept two Purple Hearts for his combat service, and suffered from PTSD and a traumatic brain injury (TBI). His parents shared with the panel via teleconference how Daniel grasped for peace from the nightmares, guilt of war, frustrations with the system and hopelessness.

In 2013, Daniel ended his life by a single shot to his head in the parking lot of the Phoenix VA medical center.

“There was and remains a huge shortage of mental health providers not only in the VA but the community at large,” said Dr. Howard Somers, father of Daniel. “We still have the need to educate our community providers about military culture.”

At the time of Daniel’s death and even today, his parents believe the VA is reluctant to refer veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI to outside providers during a crisis situation.

Furthermore, Howard said the VA did not share with them the knowledge of other programs available to those facing this type of crisis.

“VA was not in compliance with their own regulation to make a bed available to a veteran needing urgent treatment within the VA facility or the private community,” Howard said. “There is a huge need for a community support network … and that the VA should transition to centers of excellence for service-related injuries. As some people say, VA should do what VA does best.”

Dr. Mathew Miller is a psychologist and acting national director for suicide prevention at the VA. He pointed out the need for hope for those contemplating suicide, and for families either trying to help the suicidal veteran or have to deal with the aftermath of this devastating action.

“The message we are attempting to convey is that suicide prevention must start before crisis intervention,” Miller said.

He added that while the system is making great strides in improving reaction time, case referral and resources to assist veterans facing a crisis, suicide continues to be an elusive enemy and far more needs to be done.

“In each of the suicide reports of veterans over a given year,

something stood out to me in the pages and it broke my heart. In several situations veterans who died by suicide had the Veterans Crisis Line phone number in their pants pocket,” Miller said.

More must be done “upstream,” Miller added. “The suicide prevention mission belongs to all of us. It is an eternal battle.”

Mathew Campbell is a combat veteran and navy hospital corpsman who served two tours in Iraq. Within weeks of transitioning out of the military in 2008, Campbell said he lost the mission-minded purpose he was used to.

“It is our duty and our job to be there for one another,” said Campbell, a field based implementation team consultant with the VA’s Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation. He believes reducing the number of suicides is a group effort. “I challenge you to pick up the phone, to text, to message them. To be that brother, or sister.”

Miller shared some elevated risks that veterans face during times of transition, such as financial hardship, that can play a role in the minds of a suicidal individual. Identifying these factors and initiating outreach is an important step the VA, friends and family need to be aware of to help.

Bauman’s recovery from his suicide attempt has helped provide insight for him and he believes has changed the culture of suicide in the military. No longer is the discussion of depression, mental illness or TBI a PowerPoint presentation during a lengthy briefing. “What they’ve found out is that (telling personal stories) helps enhance the training,” Bauman said.

Dr. Heather Kelly, director of Military and Veterans Health Policy for the American Psychological Association, served as the discussion moderator. Kelly said that the VA has worked hard over the past 20 years to develop outside partnerships to address the veteran suicide crisis. She advised that there are programs available to help deal with this issue, but the money must be effectively spent.

“If you want to help, you need to be willing to evaluate your programs and make sure these precious resources get to those needing assistance,” Kelly said.

Howard Somers concluded the discussion with a reminder that “the upstream support is so important. If we can get people educated to what our service members are experiencing and make them aware of some of the issues they might be suffering from and the resources available in and out of the VA, we might get better outcomes.”

25

14TH DISTRICT LEGIONNAIRE | VETERANS DAY 2019 POST 509

DONATIONS FOR FRESNO REVITALIZATION Please mail your donation to Council member Garry Bredefeld, 2600 Fresno St., 2nd floor, Fresno, CA 93721.

The check should be made payable to Fresno Revitalization Corporation.

In the memo line, please put Veterans Memorial Donation.

This donation is tax deductible, tax ID# is 770355251.

Any questions please contact Councilmen Bredefeld's office $80,000.00 of the $150,000.00 has been raised.

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ARTIST CONCEPT

Serving Fresno, Kings, and Madera Counties

AUXILIARY MEMBERSHIP

The American Legion Department of California Third Area Oratorical Competition

N O W O P E N T O M A L E S P O U S E S O F U. S .

V E T E R A N S A N D S E RV I C E M E M B E R S

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During The American Legion National Convention in Indianapolis in August, delegates of The American Legion voted to replace the word "wife" with "spouse" in their constitution and bylaws, opening up membership in the American Legion Auxiliary.

Why are The American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary making this change? Currently, 1.9 million women veterans are living in the United States, and 9% of the U.S. military is female. By 2045, it's estimated that 18% of the U.S. military will be comprised of women.

Will be held February 2, 2020 1:00 pm Clovis Veterans Memorial District 808 4th Street Clovis, CA 93612 The Public is invited to observe the competition Text (559) 250-8247 for questions

The American Legion Fourteenth District Oratorical Contest

"As we welcome eligible male spouses into the American Legion Auxiliary, we gain another perspective on the needs of military families - enabling the Auxiliary to support even more veterans, service members, and their families," said 2019-2020 American Legion Auxiliary National President Nicole Clapp.

This new membership eligibility has much promise for growth in the American Legion Auxiliary, leading to new resources, increased funding opportunities, and additional diversity and talent among our leadership, as well as general membership.

American Legion Auxiliary members, since the founding of our organization in 1919, have been committed to meeting the needs of veterans, the military, and their families. The American Legion Auxiliary will continue its century-old legacy of Service Not Self well into the future. An increasing number of veterans, service members, and their families will need support. The American Legion Family is taking a "big picture" look at how to help these future families, and keeping our membership strong.

About the ALA: Founded in 1919, the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) helps to advance the mission of The American Legion. With more than 600,000 members, it is one of the nation's most prominent supporters of veterans, military, and their families. ALA members volunteer millions of hours annually, with a value averaging $1 billion each year. From helping to draft the GI Bill in 1944 to advocating for veterans on Capitol Hill, The American Legion Family has been instrumental in advancing legislation that improves the quality of life for our nation's veterans. To learn more and get involved, visit www.ALAforVeterans.org.

Will be held: January 19, 2020 Clovis Veterans Memorial District 808 4th Street Clovis, CA 93612 1:00 pm The Public is invited to observe the competition Text (559) 250-8247 for questions

27

14TH DISTRICT LEGIONNAIRE | VETERANS DAY 2019

HEALTHCARE OPTIONS VA L AU N C H E S N E W H E A LT H C A R E OPTIONS UNDER MISSION ACT

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched its new and improved Veterans Community Care Program on June 6, 2019, implementing portions of the VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018 (MISSION Act), which both ends the Veterans Choice Program and establishes a new Veterans Community Care Program.

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The MISSION Act will strengthen the nationwide VA Health Care System by empowering Veterans with more health care options.

“The changes not only improve our ability to provide the health care Veterans need, but also when and where they need it,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “It will also put Veterans at the center of their care and offer options, including expanded telehealth and urgent care, so they can find the balance in the system that is right for them.”

Under the new Veterans Community Care Program, Veterans can work with their VA health care provider or other VA staff to see if they are eligible to receive community care based on new criteria. Eligibility for community care does not require a Veteran to receive that care in the community; Veterans can still choose to have VA provide their care. Veterans may elect to receive care in the community if they meet any of the following six eligibility criteria: 1. A Veteran needs a service not available at any VA medical facility.

2. A Veteran lives in a U.S. state or territory without a full-service VA medical facility.

Specifically, this would apply to Veterans living in Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire and the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

3. A Veteran qualifies under the “grandfather” provision related to distance eligibility under the Veterans Choice Program.

4. V A cannot furnish care within certain designated access standards. The specific access standards are described below:

• Drive time to a specific VA medical facility

• T hirty-minute average drive time for primary care, mental health and noninstitutional extended care services.

• S ixty-minute average drive time for specialty care.

Note: Drive times are calculated using geomapping software.

• Appointment wait time at a specific VA medical facility

• T wenty days from the date of request for primary care, mental health care and noninstitutional extended care services, unless the Veteran agrees to a later date in consultation with his or her VA health care provider.

• T wenty-eight days for specialty care from the date of request, unless the Veteran agrees to a later date in consultation with his or her VA health care provider.

(Continued on Page 32)

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VA MISSION ACT

L E G I O N B R I E F E D O N " E X C I T I N G T I M E " F O R VA

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I

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Implementation earlier this summer of the VA MISSION Act has created “an exciting time” for the Department of Veterans Affairs – specifically the Veterans Health Administration.

The reason for that excitement was shared with The American Legion’s Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission on Aug. 24 by Dr. Steven Lieberman, VA’s Principle Deputy under Secretary for Health. Lieberman talked the MISSION Act, as well as VA’s women veteran’s healthcare and suicide prevention efforts, during his presentation at The American Legion National Convention in Indianapolis.

“It’s a time of big change for us,” Lieberman said. “We are working hard in VA to become what is called a ‘high-reliability organization.’ We want VA to become the safest healthcare system in the country. We want to prevent errors, and when an error does occur that it does not lead to harm.”

The MISSION Act will provide VA to deliver “anywhere to anywhere” care legally across state lines, Lieberman said. “We can fairly quickly start taking care of patients remotely,” he said. “Veterans wanted more choice. So if the wait time in primary care and mental health is over 20 days, or in specialty care over 28 days, we are going to give a veteran the option to go out for their care.”

Increased access to community care isn’t going to transform VA from being a federal agency. “We are not privatizing. That is not our goal,” Lieberman said. “Our goal is to keep strengthening within.”

On the women veteran front, Lieberman said that veteran population is the fastest growing; VA currently serves approximately 510,000 female patients. Creating an environment in which those women feel safe and secure is a priority for VA. “We hear that some (women) veterans don’t want to come to the VA,” Lieberman said.

“We are constantly talking to women veterans to get their input on this. We heard at one VA in Virginia that they all, as they describe it, ‘dress down.’ They put on a baseball cap, sweatshirts, jeans, because they think that helps them to get a decreased amount of unwanted comments. This is primarily coming from veterans.

“This is something that we’ve been working on since 2017, but it’s clear to me that we still have not made enough inroads when we’re hearing that our female veterans are afraid to walk into the main hospital.”

Lieberman said efforts have been made to get VA staff comfortable if they hear something from a veteran saying inappropriate comment, “that it’s OK to go up to them and say ‘please sir, we all are welcome here. That is an unwelcome comment. Please don’t make that comment.’ It’s really important to get that word out.”

Suicide-prevention efforts in the veteran community need to be collaborative. “Everybody’s got a responsibility with this,” Lieberman said. “That’s why it’s important to talk about it.”

Lieberman said there is a misconception that suicide is triggered mainly by a mental health issue. “Certainly that’s an issue with many of these suicides,” he said. “But suicides, the reasons for many times are not because of a mental health disease. Suicides are complex.

There are maybe one or more reasons why someone chooses to (use) suicide. And we don’t have all the answers. Nobody has all the answers.”

Stressors such as financial difficulty, divorce and difficulty with transitioning into the civilian world can trigger suicidal thoughts and actions. Another, Lieberman said, is social isolation – something that he said The American Legion can assist with.

(Continued on Page 32)

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14TH DISTRICT LEGIONNAIRE | VETERANS DAY 2019 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Today, and every day, we honor our fallen soldiers and their families with our heartfelt thanks. We also thank all service members, veterans and their families for their contributions and service to our country.

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LEGION'S GI BILL E X H I BI T I N I N DY F OR N AT I O N A L C O N V E N T I O N

THE AMERICAN LEGION

T

The American Legion’s traveling GI Bill exhibit is now on display in the rotunda at the Indiana State Capitol in preparation for the 101st National Convention in Indianapolis.

“The Greatest Legislation: An American Legion Centennial Salute to the GI Bill” will be on display for the public and convention attendees through the first week of September at the Indiana State Capitol, 200 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis.

The American Legion’s exhibit documents the story of the “greatest legislation,” which The American Legion originally drafted and pushed to passage in 1943 and 1944. It features illustrated panels, video kiosks and artifacts that show the dramatic story of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, the massive effects it had on U.S. society and the ongoing effort to continue improving it for new generations, through to the passage of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 – the “Forever GI Bill.”

The exhibit has been touring the country since its debut in June 2017 at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. It has also been on exhibit at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas; two Student Veterans of America national conferences; Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in Los Angeles; the Montana Military Museum in Helena, Mont..; the Iowa Gold Star Museum at Camp Dodge, Iowa; the 100th National Convention in Minneapolis; Department of New Jersey convention; and at the Intrepid Museum in New York City as part of Fleet Week.

Originally drafted by American Legion Past National Commander Harry W. Colmery in the winter of 1943, the GI Bill transformed the U.S. economy in the second half of the 20th century. Often characterized as America’s most significant social legislation of the last 100 years, it is credited for averting economic disaster after World War II, educating millions, making college and home ownership a reasonable expectation for average Americans, leading to the all-volunteer military and advancing civil rights.

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14TH DISTRICT LEGIONNAIRE | VETERANS DAY 2019 H E A LT HC A R E OP T ION S

(Continued from Page 28) 5. T he Veteran and the referring clinician agree it is in the best medical interest of the Veteran to receive community care based on defined factors.

6. V A has determined that a VA medical service line is not providing care in a manner that complies with VA’s standards for quality based on specific conditions.

In preparation for this landmark initiative, senior VA leaders will visit more than 30 VA hospitals across the country to provide in-person support for the rollout.

The VA MISSION Act:

• Strengthens VA’s ability to recruit and retain clinicians.

• Authorizes “Anywhere to anywhere” telehealth across state lines.

• Empowers Veterans with increased access to community care.

• E stablishes a new urgent care benefit that eligible Veterans can access through VA’s network of urgent care providers in the community.

VA serves approximately 9 million enrolled Veterans at 1,255 health care facilities around the country every year.

VA M I S SION AC T

(Continued from Page 29) “If somebody loses their spouse, or moves, they go into isolation,” Lieberman said.

“They don’t have that (prior) support system … and they suddenly are very lonely. We believe if you can get them involved in a veteran service organization … get them involved in something … this is just such an important aspect.”

The commission also got an update on Project Atlas, collaboration between The American Legion, Philips Healthcare and VA. Philips is placing video communication technologies and medical devices in selected American Legion and VFW posts to enable remote examinations through a secure, high-speed internet line. Veterans will be examined and advised in real time through face-to-face video sessions with VA medical professionals, who may be located hundreds or thousands of miles away.

VA”s Kay Burnett, a primary care provider, said she sees patients both in-person and via telehealth. “Being able to have access to a space within a whole community where my veterans, my patients, can go and see me, versus having to come all the way into the facility is a great advantage,” she said. “Yes, there are still appointments that we want them to come into the facility to, but there are also appointments that I can see folks in their homes and in their home communities.”

VA’s Lesly Roose said Project Atlas also benefits those veterans in areas where cell connection can be spotty. “What Project Atlas is for those areas where you don’t have really good cellular connectivity,” she said. “I personally live in a rural area. I struggle with bandwidth sometimes at my own house, so I know what this can be like … Project Atlas will bring that connectivity to a local area where you can go.”

Dr. Paul Lawrence, VA’s Under Secretary for Benefits briefed the commission on implantation of the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act, and on the status of benefits for Blue Water Navy veterans.

On the latter, Lawrence said that while the Procopio v. Wilkie decision extending disability benefits for Agent Orange exposure to Blue Water Navy veterans won’t go into effect until Jan. 1, 2020, work already is underway regarding those claims.

“We are processing and doing development (of claims) now,” Lawrence said. “The law requires the benefits go into effect on Jan. 1. We will grant on Jan. 1 for those folks.”

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14TH DISTRICT LEGIONNAIRE | VETERANS DAY 2019

THE LEGION ACT

T E N T H I N G S YO U N E E D TO K N OW With President Trump’s signature on the LEGION ACT, the extension of the ongoing declared period of war was extended back to Dec. 7, 1941. The congressionally approved act is a way to honor thousands of veterans who were killed or wounded on duty during periods not previously considered a time of war.

Answer: Veterans who were honorably discharged but whose service did not fall into the previous defined war eras may now join The American Legion immediately. To do so, eligible members may sign up at www.legion.org/join.

“Finally Congress has acknowledged the service and sacrifice of at least 1,600 veterans who died or were wounded in previously undeclared periods of war,” said American Legion National Judge Advocate Kevin Bartlett. “This new law honors the memories of those veterans while allowing other veterans from those previously undeclared eras to receive all the American Legion benefits they have earned through their service.”

Answer: The American Legion’s founding fathers believed, “a veteran is a veteran,” an axiom that has held true throughout the organization’s more than century of service. Some veterans were ineligible to join because of the war eras that were defined by Congress.

The recent bill passage and president’s signature changed that.

W

The LEGION ACT - Let Everyone Get Involved in Opportunities for National Service Act — also redefines The American Legion’s membership eligibility dates.

The eligibility now span from Dec. 7, 1941, until a time when the U.S. is no longer at war, as determined by Congress.

Here are answers to ten key questions about the new law and what it means for The American Legion.

Question: How does this change the eligibility requirements for The American Legion?

Answer: The only change is that Congress has reduced the number of eligibility periods from seven to two. They are April 6, 1917, to Nov. 11, 1918, and Dec. 7, 1941, and continuing. No other restrictions are changed.

Question: What’s the impact on veterans who previously were not eligible for American Legion membership?

Question: I am among the veterans who were not allowed to join previously, so why do you want me now?

Question: How does this affect the eligibility for the American Legion Auxiliary?

Answer: This follows the same concept as the SAL, as noted previously. Membership in the American Legion Auxiliary is currently open to grandmothers, mothers, sisters, wives, and direct and adopted female descendants of eligible veterans.

Question: How does this affect membership for departments, districts and posts?

Answer: This change opens up American Legion membership to thousands more veterans who likely live in your communities. They may become members immediately.

Question: So how does this differentiate The American Legion from AMVETS?

Question: The current membership applications don’t address the eligibility change. How do we process those members?

Answer: The American Legion’s eligibility criteria states that veterans must have served during “wartime.” When Congress decides the U.S. is no longer in a state of war, the Legion’s membership eligibility period will close, while AMVETS will still be open to those who served.

Answer: New membership materials will be developed and provided as quickly as possible. Until then, it is recommended that prospective members from a previously undocumented war era write “Other Conflicts” in the eligibility date section and send it in to their department with the appropriate dues.

Question: How does this affect the Sons of the American Legion (SAL)?

Question: What steps should departments, districts and posts focus on?

Answer: The Sons’ eligibility criteria will change along with that of The American Legion. Any son or grandson of a living American Legion member will be able to join the SAL program. (Sons and grandsons of deceased veterans are also eligible.) For example, a son of a veteran who served between 1985 and 1988 previously would not have been eligible. With the extension of the war period, that veteran would immediately be eligible for The American Legion and the son would be able to join the SAL.

Answer: A good first step would be to review all recruiting materials to look for eligibility dates. Information on electronic media (websites, social media channels, etc.) should be changed immediately.

It is up to departments to decide on the best way to handle printed materials, while updated ones are being produced.

Mike Jura, Jr. President

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