Vol. 23 No. 6 THE AMERICAN LEGION NEWS ALERT Eagle Scout deadline American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year applications are due to department headquarters by March 1. Download a February 2013 A National Headquarters Publication nomination form: www.legion.org/ TROOP SUPPORT documents/legion/pdf/ eaglescoutnomform.pdf HOME American Legion birthday speech On March 15, Th e American Legion will celebrate its 94th FOR A birthday. Download a speech to use during your post’s celebratory events: www.legion.org/ HERO publications/160981/ american-legion-birthday- Indiana posts, community speech members construct new life for Pictured left to right: Ralph Zoccolillo, Tim Senowski and his wounded warrior. wife, Bob Luenebrink and Slim Ketchum. Promote your post American Legion posts conduct By Cameran Richardson year-round activities to benefi t Legionnaires continually provide an and food for the family by asking many their communities, veterans and abundance of emotional and fi nancial support Indiana Legion posts to provide $100 each. their families. Posts are to their fellow veterans. And Army Infantry- “Th ere is camaraderie from serving and a encouraged to share their stories man Tim Senkowski of Anderson, Ind., who sense of always wanting to give to those who and photos of the good they do lost both his legs in October 2011 to an wore the uniform,” said Ralph “Zoc” Zocco- throughout the year on the improvised explosive device while serving in lillo, Indiana Blue Star Salute program redesigned Legiontown website. Afghanistan, is witnessing this unconditional chairman and member of Post 145. “Veterans Registration is free. generosity fi rsthand. fought for their country, and they still fi ght for www.legiontown.org Senkowski will soon have a new home to the people of their country.” accommodate his ongoing needs thanks to Th e Path Home also learned that Senkows- Homes for Hoosier Heroes, an initiative ki’s wife, who has the autoimmune disease 2013 Legacy Run launched by Th e Path Home — a nonprofi t lupus, and his two children, one with autism, planning under way outreach organization founded by Indiana were living in his parents’ house while his Riders participating in the eighth Legionnaires Bob Luenebrink and Frank parents moved in to the garage. Not only was annual American Legion Legacy Parks that gives free home-related assistance the family living in a confi ned space, the home Run will depart from Wayne to veterans and their families. was not wheelchair accessible for Senkowski. Post 64 in Indianapolis Aug. 18 “Building this home for Tim Senkowski is “So we decided we were going to build a and will fi nish Aug. 22 in just one year of our work at Th e Path Home, permanent home for them, and the plans to do Houston — host city of the 95th but Tim will live with the sacrifi ces that he has so took off when we created the program National Convention. National made for our country for the rest of his life,” Homes for Hoosier Heroes,” Luenebrink said. Commander Jim E. Koutz will said Luenebrink, a member of American “I deeply appreciate everything they are accompany Riders throughout Legion Post 145 in Avon, Ind. “It is the least we doing for us,” Senkowski said. “It’s not only the 1,400-mile journey. can do for all he has done for our freedom.” giving us a house, it’s giving us a home. Th is For registration and route Th e Path Home received word about will be the fi rst stable thing my wife and I have details, visit: Senkowski’s condition from his mother when ever had.” www.legion.org/riders she called seeking assistance in getting his Th e Senkowskis’ home will be built in “Like” Legion Riders Facebook wife and two young sons to and from Walter Anderson, Ind., on a six-acre plot. Th e page: www.facebook.com/ Reed Army Medical Center where Senkowski property owner provided a discount due to pages/national-american- was undergoing treatment. Th e Path Home legion-riders/159688017493013 raised $2,700 to cover transportation, housing See Hero on Page 6 2 COMMANDER’S MESSAGE A wall of war heroes I recently had an When I visited Post 422, each member FUNDRAISING PROGRAM opportunity to visit a greeted me dressed in a suit and tie, and I newly chartered post at watched them post colors and conduct their Grasslands Estates, an monthly meeting by the book. Th e men are OCW goal: independent senior living full of energy and have a new lease on life, and facility in Wichita, Kan., I know for certain it’s because they are now a $500,000 and the home of Grass- part of Th e American Legion Family. Th e Th e American Legion lands Estate American members’ unending energy keeps them active Operation Comfort Warriors Legion Post 422. My visit in the community by attending Legion state (OCW) program is dedicated reminded me that we conferences, hosting fundraisers and sponsor- to meeting the needs of cannot forget the many ing young men to Kansas Boys State. wounded, injured or ill James E. Koutz prospective Legion Th e Wichita community and Grasslands military personnel by provid- National Commander members at nursing homes Estates administration also are proud of the ing them with comfort items. and retirement centers where a large number veterans’ ambition to charter a Legion post. OCW ensures that patients at of our aging veterans reside. To show their support, nearly 100 people U.S. military hospitals and In December 2011, Department of Kansas attended Post 422’s fi rst meeting where they warrior transition units are Commander Paul Sanford visited Grasslands were presented their charter from Sanford. given items such as exercise Estates to speak about Pearl Harbor Day. Attendees included local Legionnaires, Legion equipment, rehabilitation gear, When Sanford walked inside, he saw a “Wall Riders, state and district offi cers, news books, DVDs and more. OCW of War Heroes” that featured photographs and reporters and family members. also provides larger items such biographies of 40 veterans living in the Grasslands Estates Legion Post 422 is a as ping pong tables, entertain- independent senior living center. Aft er his great example of the number of veterans still ment centers, computers, speech, nearly 20 of them asked if they could waiting to become part of the Legion. I kayaks and other recreational join Th e American Legion. encourage you to visit your local senior living goods for use by wounded Sanford could have easily located a nearby facility or nursing home because they too may warriors in common areas. post for them to join, but instead he saw an have their own heroes waiting to join. National Commander Jim opportunity for the veterans to become a part Koutz has made OCW his of something that they personally created. As primary fundraising program a result, Grasslands Estates Post 422 was during his tenure. His goal is chartered in January 2012. And with Sanford’s to raise $500,000. All dona- guidance, Post 422 members set dues, elected tions made go directly toward post offi cers and became the only post in the the purchase of these comfort state of Kansas to have all members living items. under one roof. To donate: www.legion.org/ocw MEMBERSHIP Recruiters to be honored with ‘Every Day Is Veterans Day’ pin During the 2012-2013 joining for the 2013 membership year who national membership staff will confi rm membership year, was not a member of Th e American the names and mail the pin directly to the National Commander Legion during the 2012 membership year. person who earned it. Commander Jim Koutz will award his Each member listed must be eligible for Koutz’s “Every Day Is Veterans Day” pin national commander pin membership in Th e American Legion. incentive program will end June 30, or to any Legion Family Forward names of SAL members or when supplies are exhausted. member who obtains a minimum of three Auxiliary members to your detachment or Also, Legionnaires who recruit one headquarters post transfers, and also unit for use in their respective incentive new member from each eligible war obtains an additional combination programs. period will receive a certifi cate. of 10 new members, renewals and To maintain the integrity of the headquarters post transfers to equal a national commander’s pin program, only combined number of 13. one pin will be awarded per individual. www.legion.org/documents/pdf/ A new member is any eligible person Upon receipt of the certifi cation form, lucky13pinincentive.pdf www.legion.org/dispatch 3 NATIONAL ADJUTANT’S MESSAGE Vietnam veterans rest in honor Nearly 2,600 Michigan Vietnam War veterans’ gravesites are properly accounted for thanks to two Legion Riders. By Daniel S. Wheeler Over the past few years, Th e American Legion has been disheartened by the improper handling of thousands of veter- ans’ remains and by unmarked gravesites at some of our country’s most sacred cemeteries. Th ese cemeteries represent the sacrifi ces our servicemembers made to protect and defend our nation. Two Legion Riders have taken this sentiment to heart, making it their mission to locate the gravesites of nearly 2,600 Michigan veterans killed in the Vietnam War. In doing this, they created biographical books that provide viewers with a more intimate understanding of the war’s local impact. Th e husband-and-wife team, Charlie Babcock, a member of Harry Ollrich American Legion Post 4 in Mt. Clemens, Mich., and his wife, Ruth, took their mission a step further by ensuring the gravesites they came in contact with were in repair and had proper headstones.