22nd District
“The Nation that forgets its Defenders, will itself be forgotten.” San Diego County American Legion www.ALD22.org
Monday, November 11, 2019 VETERANS DAY 1
“Serving San Diego County Communities”
C OM MA N DE R 2 0 1 9 - 2 0 2 0 :
AU X I L IA RY PRESIDENT 2019- 2020:
SAM FLORES
DONNA L. SMITH
Since the beginning of this American Legion calendar year, District 22 has continued with our veteran volunteers’ excellent service to country and organization. This forward motion shows the focus and embodiment of what we represent.
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In the Department of California, there are currently 12 American Legion Accredited Veteran Service Officers and 2 part-time VSO’s, with more currently going through the accreditation process. In District 22, we have three fully accredited VSO’s, with one pending the accreditation process. We are working hard to tend to the over 45,000 claims that the San Diego Regional Office handles, with many more coming in daily. The VSO’s are engaged in assisting veterans and their families in many ways, including: answering the tough questions of navigating through the VA system; advising and educating individuals and groups on what benefits are available from federal, state, county, and local resources; and assisting eligible persons in filing all necessary claims. The various programs of American Legion District 22 and its 29 local Posts are supported by our fundraising efforts. Thank you for your continued support in the direct effort of helping our veterans in need. These programs supported by District 22 include the following. PRTMS (personalized repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) is an innovative, noninvasive, and above all a drug-free treatment for depression and other mental health conditions, which continues to be an essential program in our District. This treatment gives much needed help for hurting veterans. Do You Want To Know More? American Legion Baseball provides young baseball athletes with a thorough under-
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PLUS INSIDE...
What’s in a name?
We are the America Legion Auxiliary. We are not the Ladies Auxiliary, the Auxiliary Women of any Post, or members of any Post (unless a dual member — a woman veteran belonging to The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary). We are members of a Unit. We are the American Legion Auxiliary and therefore a part of the American Legion Family. Men — male spouses of women veterans — may now be eligible for membership with the American Legion Auxiliary. We are a separately chartered organization. If the American Legion Post to which we are attached by name and number surrenders its charter, it does not mean that the American Legion Auxiliary also surrenders its organizational charter: that Auxiliary Unit becomes a “widow” unit. There can only be one Unit carrying the name and number of a Post. In contrast, the Sons of the American Legion and the Legion Riders are both programs of the American Legion, and therefore, they must disband in the event the American Legion Post turns in its charter. When we use the name and number of the American Legion Auxiliary, it reflects upon every member of the Unit. No one member or group of members has the right to use the name of the organization without permission of the body; such use needs to be brought up at a meeting, discussed and then voted on, as it is a reflection on the entire membership. Allowing just anyone to use the Auxiliary Unit's name opens the door for every member to use the name and organization without permission, which can cause huge ramifications. It should go without saying that Unit funds cannot be used for any individual purpose but only to benefit the entire organization.
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A PROUD CALIFORNIA AMERICAN LEGION PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARD WINNING PUBLICATION
A Letter Back Home...........Page 5
Final Honor......................Page 7
Impressive Guest Speaker......Page 16
Blood Drive................... Page 18
Memorial Plaque........... Page 20