Pistol Celebrates Legion's Centennial
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Vol. 24 No. 12 THE AMERICAN LEGION NEWS ALERT Certificates show your appreciation For the 2014-2015 membership year, recognize local businesses August 2014 A National Headquarters Publication that fly U.S. flags, Legionnaires who volunteer for American 100TH ANNIVERSARY Legion youth programs, Legionnaires with continuous membership, businesses who employ veterans and many others by creating an American Legion certificate of appreciation. Purchase the Certificate Maker CD online for $9.95: www.emblem. legion.org/Certificates/ products/160/1/0 Youth Cadet Law Enforcement Program PSA Currently, 17 American Legion departments conduct a weeklong Junior Youth Cadet PISTOL CELEBRATES Law Enforcement Program in partnership with their state police or highway patrol LEGION’S CENTENNIAL academy. Cadets learn officer Two separate pistols for departments and Legionnaires will be available for purchase survival techniques, defensive tactics, firearms safety, beginning Aug. 22. precision driving, law enforcement technology, By The American Legion accident and criminal In 2019, Th e American Legion will celebrate Departments are limited to the purchase of investigation, and more. Learn 100 years of service to veterans, military two pistols and only department leadership has more by watching the Legion’s personnel, families and communities. To honor authorization to make the purchase. new PSA online: www. its centennial, two limited edition pistols have Cost: $2,895 legion.org/legiontv been designed for departments and Legion- Th e American Legion Centennial Celebra- naires to purchase. Th e pistols can be kept as tion pistol for Legionnaires to personally Follow National keepsakes, raffl ed to support centennial purchase is similar in design to the department Convention coverage celebration eff orts or used to support the pistol except it has a standard grip and the Stories, photos and videos of department commander’s fundraising project. Legion emblem is inlaid. Cost: $2,695 the 96th American Legion Th e American Legion Centennial Celebra- Purchase price for both pistols from A&A National Convention in tion department pistol (pictured above) is Engravings – an approved licensee with Th e Charlotte, N.C., Aug. 22-28, fi nished with 24kt gold, antique gold, high American Legion – includes personalized will be available for Legion polished nickel and black chrome. Th e Legion engraving, a certifi cate of authenticity and a Family members to view. emblem is engraved in the custom metal grip solid oak display case. It does not include sales Follow the coverage online: while one side of the pistol is engraved with a tax or shipping and handling. World War I doughboy, the “For God and Both pistols go on sale Aug. 22 at 8 a.m. – a www.legion.org/ Country” banner, the Legion’s 100th Anniver- $1,000 deposit is required. A&A Engraving will convention sary logo, and a 1919 48-star U.S. fl ag. Th e be taking orders Aug. 22-26 during the www.legiontv.org other side of the pistol is also engraved with the Legion’s 96th National Convention in Char- www.facebook.com/ 100th Anniversary logo, “For God and Coun- lotte, N.C., at the Charlotte Convention Center TheAmericanLegion try” banner, as well as a 50-star U.S. fl ag and NationalConvention an active-duty military servicemember. See Pistol Celebrates Legion’s Centennial on Page 4 2 COMMANDER’S MESSAGE FUNDRAISING PROGRAM Membership gives us a NEF goal: $1 million seat before Congress Th e American Legion’s National Emergency Fund (NEF) program is National Commander Dan In an unprecedented year, I testifi ed four times before Dellinger’s primary fundraiser this year. Congress. Most notably was my testimony on May 15 A natural disaster can strike at any time, alongside former VA Secretary Eric Shinseki only 10 devastating the lives of men and women who days aft er Th e American Legion’s call for his resignation. honorably served their country. While we can’t Testimonies before Congress and the hundreds of media prevent a natural disaster, the Legion does provide interviews conducted by national staff and myself relief to veterans and their families aff ected regarding Shinseki’s resignation and the VA scandal that by devastation. plagued several facilities put the Legion’s name at the Since 1989, the NEF program has provided more top. than $8 million in direct fi nancial assistance to Our name right now is at the forefront of all veterans Dan Dellinger posts, Legionnaires and their families. Th e pro- service organizations. We’ve been given an opportunity, National Commander gram helps with out-of-pocket expenses, including and it’s up to us to capitalize on that now. If we want to but not limited to food, temporary housing and keep a place at that table in front of Congress to make sure our veterans are clothing. All donations made to NEF go directly taken care of, it’s called membership numbers. Th e calling for Shinseki’s toward the program. resignation and the Legion’s fi ght to assist veterans that have been aff ected To donate: by delayed access to VA health care has resulted in an increase in member- www.legion.org/nef ship. I had a gentleman walk up to me in Wisconsin who said he hadn’t paid his membership dues in fi ve years. But aft er what we did to stand up for our veterans, he was going to pay his dues. Th at’s what I’m hearing NEF Commander’s around the country. Challenge I also know that the call for Shinseki’s resignation created some push- American Legion department commanders are back from our members. Louis Celli, director of the Legion’s Legislative challenged to assist in fundraising eff orts for the Division, said to me, “For those members who threaten to drop their Legion’s National Emergency Fund. Th e depart- membership, I would say to them, ‘We’re not asking you to join for you, ments currently in fi rst place for their respective we’re asking you to join and remain a member for those men and women membership category include: who are coming home today who need our assistance. We’re asking you to Category 1 (100,000+): New York support this organization so we can continue to support our returning Category 2 (65,000+): Illinois veterans, our aging veterans, and our veterans of all wars.’” Category 3 (40,000+): Maryland If we don’t continue to grow our membership, who is going to take care Category 4 (25,000+): Nebraska of our veterans? We have a big responsibility. It isn’t the cost of war, but it’s Category 5 (10,000+): New Mexico that 50 years of care for our veterans aft erward. Th at’s our charge. Category 6 (9,999-): District of Columbia www.legion.org/emergency/challenge BOYS NATION Commander takes “selfi e” with Boys Nation senators American Legion National Commander Daniel Dellinger had dinner with the Class of 2014 Boys Na- tion senators July 20 at Post 136 in Greenbelt, Md. Aft er dinner, Dellinger noted that the Auxiliary’s Girls Nation program was posting selfi e photos on Facebook, and he asked the senators to pose with him for a Boys Nation selfi e. www.legion.org/dispatch 3 NATIONAL ADJUTANT’S MESSAGE An Americanism summer Youth become leaders through Boys Nation, Shooting Sports and Legion World Series. By Daniel S. Wheeler Summer for Th e American Legion and its youth signifi es in either the precision or sporter category and shot with a .177 several weeks fi lled with education, leadership, competition, caliber air rifl e in the prone, kneeling and standing position. character development and teamwork. It’s during these warm Antonio “Andre” Gross of Webster, N.Y., won the sporter months that three of the Legion’s national-level youth programs category and Michael Steinel of New Philadelphia, Ohio, won the get underway: Boys Nation, Junior 3-Position Air-Rifl e National precision category. Each winner received a $5,000 scholarship Championship and Legion Baseball World Series. funded by Th e American Legion and the Sons of Th e American On July 18, Th e American Legion. Learn more: Legion and 98 Boys Nation www.legion.org/shooting senators celebrated the program’s On Aug. 14, the 88th 68th year in Washington, D.C. American Legion Baseball Th e weeklong program educated World Series will swing into the young men on the structure action in Shelby, N.C., with the and function of the federal top eight regional teams government while providing the competing for the champion- senators an opportunity to visit ship title. Fans unable to historical landmarks around the attend the World Series will Washington area. Th e delegates have the ability to watch all conducted senate sessions and games leading up to the party conventions, elected a president and vice president, voted championship game live on on bills and heard from special guests, such as Holocaust ESPN3.com. Now, starting survivor Nesse Godin. Th e young men also visited the National with the 2014 ALWS, viewer- Mall and the Pentagon, met with their state senator, shook hands ship will reach 80 million over with President Barack Obama and had dinner at an American the next fi ve years – the championship game will be televised live Legion post with National Commander Daniel Dellinger. on ESPNU, the fi rst time in 35 years. Th is deal is a result of the Matthew Ellow of Lacey’s Spring, Ala., was elected Boys Nation perseverance and commitment of all involved to maintain Amer- president and Louis Lombardo of Arlington, Texas, was elected ican Legion Baseball’s reputation as one of the most successful Boys Nation vice president.