A Special Group Taking Care of Our Own!

Sent in by Myrl Wallace

This remarkable six minute video was shot in June 2008 by the San Francisco Chronicle. It was taken onboard a USAF C-17 aero-medical mission from Travis AFB, CA to Bagram AB, Afghanistan, then to Ramstein AB, Germany, and return to the USA.

How special this group is can clearly be seen in the compassionate, attentive and professional care given to their patients. You will be encouraged by viewing this video.

[ http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1407952648?bctid=1664436922 ]

Social Security Offset Eliminated!

As March came to an end so did the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Social Security Offset. As a result of Public Law 108-375, the Social Security Offset for annuitants was eliminated effective April 1, 2008. The law provided for a phased-in elimination which began October 1, 2005, and ended March 31, 2008, with the last Social Security Offset deduction.

Prior to October 2005, at age 62 the SBP annuity was reduced because the beneficiary became eligible to receive the retiree’s Social Security benefits. Effective April 1, 2008, annuitants that had their annuity reduced by the Social Security Offset now have the offset removed. Annuitants that were eligible for the minimum annuity percentage of 35 percent prior to October 2005 are now entitled to the full 55 percent of the base amount. Annuitants who were receiving the Supplemental Survivor Benefit in addition to the basic benefit will also be paid at the new rate of 55 percent. The minimum annuity percentage is now 55 percent for all annuitants. For example: with a $1,000 base amount the annuitant should see an increase in monthly annuity to $550 (55% x $1,000).

This change occurred on your May 1, 2008 payment.

The above article is taken from: [ http://www.dfas.mil/rna-news/apr2008/socialsecurityoffset.html ]

Another good piece of information brought to our attention by George Torbert, Post 534 Service Officer.

Stolen Valor Act of 2005

Michael Weilbacher, shown at the Marine Corps League’s birthday ball in St. Louis, is accused of wearing military decorations he did not earn, including the Navy Cross. - Photo courtesy of Doug Sterner Personnel records at Marine Corps headquarters’ manpower branch show no record of Weilbacher ever serving in the Corps. Manpower spokesman 1st Lt. Rob Dolan said, “I have more time standing on the yellow footprints than he does in the Marine Corps.”

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Stolen Valor Act of 2005, signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 20, 2006, is a U.S. law that broadens the provisions of previous U.S. law addressing the unauthorized wear, manufacture, sale or claim (either written or verbal) of any military decorations and medals. It is a federal misdemeanor offense, which carries a punishment of imprisonment for not more than 1 year and/or a fine; the scope previously covered only the Medal of Honor.

The Act was first introduced into the United States Congress’s House of Representatives on July 19, 2005 by Representative John Salazar, a Democrat from Colorado, as H.R. 3352. It was introduced into the Senate by Senator Kent Conrad, a Democrat from North Dakota, on November 10, 2005 as S. 1998. The Senate version was passed unanimously on September 7, 2006. The Senate version then went to the same House Judiciary Committee that held the House version. The Act briefly stalled, but the House subsequently passed the Senate version, S. 1998, on December 6, 2006.

The purpose of the Act is to strengthen the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 704 by broadening its scope and strengthening penalties. Specific new provisions in the Act include: granting more authority to Federal law enforcement officers, extending scope beyond the Medal of Honor, broadening the law to cover false claims whereas previously an overt act had to be committed, covering mailing and shipping of medals, and protecting the reputation and meaning of military heroism medals.

The need for the Act came about because of large numbers of fake military heroes in the United States. For example, as of June 2, 2006 there were only 120 living Medal of Honor recipients, but there were far more known imposters. There are also large numbers of fake Navy SEALS and Army Special Forces, among others.

US Troops Losing Hearing

AP Photo: Dr. Michael Hoffer, a Navy captain and inner-ear specialists, left, checks the ears of U.S....

"The numbers are staggering," said Theresa Schulz, a former audiologist with the Air Force, past president of the National Hearing Conservation Association and author of a 2004 report titled "Troops Return With Alarming Rates of Hearing Loss."

One major explanation given is the insurgency's use of a fearsome weapon the Pentagon did not fully anticipate: powerful roadside bombs. Their blasts cause violent changes in air pressure that can rupture the eardrum and break bones inside the ear.

Also, much of the fighting consists of ambushes, bombings and firefights, which come suddenly and unexpectedly, giving soldiers no time to use their military-issued hearing protection.

"They can't say, `Wait a minute, let me put my earplugs in,'" said Dr. Michael E. Hoffer, a Navy captain and one of the country's leading inner-ear specialists. "They are in the fight of their lives."

In addition, some servicemen on patrol refuse to wear earplugs for fear of dulling their senses and missing sounds that can make the difference between life and death, Hoffer and others said. Others were not given earplugs or did not take them along when they were sent into the war zone. And some Marines weren't told how to use their specialized earplugs and inserted them incorrectly.

Hearing damage has been a battlefield risk ever since the introduction of explosives and artillery, and the U.S. military recognized it in Iraq and Afghanistan and issued earplugs early on. But the sheer number of injuries and their nature ? particularly the high incidence of tinnitus ? came as a surprise to military medical specialists and outside experts.

The military has responded over the past three years with better and easier-to-use earplugs, greater efforts to educate troops about protecting their hearing, and more testing in the war zone to detect ear injuries.

The results aren't in yet on the new measures, but Army officials believe they will significantly slow the rate of new cases of hearing damage, said Col. Kathy Gates, the Army surgeon general's audiology adviser.

Considerable damage has already been done.

For former Staff Sgt. Ryan Kelly, 27, of Austin, Texas, the noise of war is still with him more than four years after the simultaneous explosion of three roadside bombs near Baghdad.

"It's funny, you know. When it happened, I didn't feel my leg gone. What I remember was my ears ringing," said Kelly, whose leg was blown off below the knee in 2003. Today, his leg has been replaced with a prosthetic, but his ears are still ringing.

"It is constantly there," he said. "It constantly reminds me of getting hit. I don't want to sit here and think about getting blown up all the time. But that's what it does."

Sixty percent of U.S. personnel exposed to blasts suffer from permanent hearing loss, and 49 percent also suffer from tinnitus, according to military audiology reports. The hearing damage ranges from mild, such as an inability to hear whispers or low pitches, to severe, including total deafness or a constant loud ringing that destroys the ability to concentrate. There is no known cure for tinnitus or hearing loss.

The number of servicemen and servicewomen on disability because of hearing damage is expected to grow 18 percent a year, with payments totaling $1.1 billion annually by 2011, according to an analysis of VA data by the American Tinnitus Association. Anyone with at least a 10 percent loss in hearing qualifies for disability.

From World War II and well through Vietnam, hearing damage has been a leading disability.

Despite everything that has been learned over the years, U.S. troops are suffering hearing damage at about the same rate as World War II vets, according to VA figures. But World War II and Iraq cannot easily be compared. World War II was a different kind of war, waged to a far greater extent by way of vast artillery barrages, bombing raids and epic tank battles.

Given today's fearsome weaponry, even the best hearing protection is only partly effective ? and only if it's properly used.

Some Marines were issued a $7.40 pair of double-sided earplugs, with one side designed to protect from weapons fire and explosions, the other from aircraft and tank noise. But the Marines were not given instructions in how to use the earplugs, and some cut them in half, while others used the wrong sides, making the devices virtually useless, Hoffer said. Today, instructions are handed out with the earplugs.

In any case, hearing protection has its limits. While damage can occur at 80 to 85 decibels ? the noise level of a moving tank ? the best protection cuts that by only 20 to 25 decibels. That is not enough to protect the ears against an explosion or a firefight, which can range upwards of 183 decibels, said Dr. Ben Balough, a Navy captain and chairman of otolaryngology at the Balboa Navy Medical Center in San Diego.

The Navy and Marines have begun buying and distributing state-of-the-art earplugs, known as QuietPro, that contain digital processors that block out damaging sound waves from gunshots and explosions and still allow users to hear everyday noises. They cost about $600 a pair.

The Army also has equipped every soldier being sent to Iraq and Afghanistan with newly developed one-sided earplugs that cost about $8.50, and it has begun testing QuietPro with some troops.

In addition, the Navy is working with San Diego-based American BioHealth Group to develop a "hearing pill" that could protect troops' ears. An early study in 2003 on 566 recruits showed a 25 to 27 percent reduction in permanent hearing loss. But further testing is planned.

And for the first time in American warfare, for the past three years, hearing specialists or hearing-trained medics have been put on the front lines instead of just at field hospitals, Hoffer said.

Marines and soldiers are getting hearing tests before going on patrol and when they return to base if they were exposed to bombs or gunfire.

"You have guys that don't want to admit they have a problem," Hoffer said. "But if they can't hear what they need to on patrol, they could jeopardize their lives, their buddies' lives and, ultimately, their mission."

Veteran's Medical Claims

The plaintiffs want the judge to order the government to provide immediate health care for the veterans who are on a suicide watch and to spend another 60 million on health care. The plaintiffs contend that the VA has a backlog of more than 600,000 claims and that 120 vets a week commit suicide. In his January 10 ruling, Judge Conti ruled that federal law entitles vets to health care for a specific period after leaving the service, rejecting the government’s assertion that it was required to provide only as much care as the VA’s budget allowed in a given year. The VA has hired 3,800 mental health professionals in the past 2 years and at least one post-traumatic specialist at each of its medical centers.

In a related story this month National Public Radio (npr.org) reported the Department of the Army has told the VA that the Veterans Administration has filed too many medical claims. On February 5, the Bush Administration argued in a lawsuit that veterans have no right to specific types of medical care. The arguments filed in federal court in San Francisco are a rebuttal to the lawsuit filed last July. The Justice Department lawyers have stated that the VA is making progress in increasing its staffing and screening veterans for combat-related stress. But the principle objection by the government administration is that Congress left decisions about who is entitled to health care to the VA, not to the veterans or the courts. A federal law is in effect however stating that five years of health care from the date of the discharge establishes a veteran’s eligibility to health care. Government attorneys agree that, “veterans are entitled to health care, but it does not create an entitlement to any particular medical service.” The government lawyers claim that the law states that the secretary of the VA determines what is needed, and if funds are available.

A new collection of information of interest to retired military and other veterans is now available at the Post. Now a two drawer filing cabinet is located near the coffee maker at the end of the bar that holds all this information. More will be added in the future.

George K. Torbert, Service Officer

National Commander Marty Conatser’s
"New Member" Incentive Program

Country star Michael Peterson to serve as spokesman for

The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund

INDIANAPOLIS (August 3, 2007) - The nation’s largest veterans organization today announced that country music artist Michael Peterson will serve as the national spokesman for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund.

“Michael Peterson is a staunch supporter of this cause,” said National Commander Paul A. Morin. “I am delighted that he has agreed to champion this great program that benefits the children of our fallen heroes.”

The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund provides college scholarships for children of military personnel killed on duty since Sept. 11, 2001. Peterson has pledged that 50 percent of the profits of his upcoming DVD, “It’s Who We Are,” will go to the fund.

“When it started off, it was just a song, ‘It’s Who We Are,” written for The American Legion National Convention last year,” Peterson said. “After I recorded the song this spring, I saw it move a lot of folks to tears. I wanted to help more people understand and appreciate the immeasurable contribution of The American Legion and so the vision grew beyond just a music video. Simply by hitting ‘play,’ any viewer will gain a broader understanding, in a way that’s highly inviting, of what’s going on with The American Legion. Our goal was to be entertaining, inspirational and highly informational. That was the target, and I think we accomplished that in a way that’s also connected to a higher purpose: raising awareness, recruiting and raising funds for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship.”

The million selling Peterson, whose hits “From Here to Eternity,” “Drink Swear Steal & Lie” and “Too Good To Be True" reached number one on the charts, will be at The American Legion’s 89th National Convention in Reno, held Aug. 24-30. He will be promoting The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund and “It’s Who We Are.”

The “It’s Who We Are” DVD includes interviews with celebrities and Legionnaires, along with public service announcements about The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund. It will be available for purchase on August 15 on The American Legion’s website, www.legion.org <http://www.legion.org/>, and by calling 1-866 539-2509. They can also be purchased by sending a check for $12.00 each, which includes shipping and handling, to The American Legion, American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund, Michael Peterson DVD, PO Box 1055, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46206.

With a current membership of 2.7-million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and patriotic youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.

Fisher House matches Landstuhl phone card purchases

INDIANAPOLIS (July 30, 2007) - Just days after the national commander of The American Legion announced the purchase of $25,000 in pre-paid telephone calling cards to be given to troops as part of Operation Landstuhl (Lond Stool), an official with the Fisher House Foundation announced his organization’s intention to match the donation given to U.S. troops recovering at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.

“We are going to send $25,000 of our own calling cards to the heroes recovering there,” said James D. Weiskopf, Vice President of Communications for Fisher House. “This is in addition to the periodic shipment of cards we make to both the Pastoral Care Division and the manager of the two Landstuhl Fisher Houses. We stand ready to assist The American Legion in this special program to take care of servicemembers and their families.”

“This is an example of two great organizations working together,” National Commander Paul A. Morin said. “Thanks to the Fisher House Foundation and The American Legion family, the troops will soon be getting $50,000 worth of calling cards instead of $25,000. As a consequence of war, a steady stream of new patients arrives there daily. These cards will all be put to good use.”

Operation Landstuhl is an initiative by Morin, Auxiliary President JoAnn Cronin and Sons of the American Legion Commander Earl Ruttkofsy. It was prompted by a recent visit to the center by Morin and Cronin.

“Brig. Gen. David Rubenstein and his staff at Landstuhl do an outstanding job of making sure the patients there receive the best medical care in the world. They are to be commended. But there are some personal comfort items that the patients could use,” Morin said. “Whether it’s a set of civilian clothes, DVDs, CDs, magazines or books, we want to provide it for them. We owe it to them. These phone cards are just the start.”

The hospital is a stopping point on the journey home for many wounded servicemembers, who are injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. During peak fighting periods, the hospital often accepts more than 900 new patients per month.

Credit card donations for the program are accepted online at www.legion.org <http://www.legion.org> and checks can be mailed to Operation Landstuhl, c/o The American Legion, P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1055.

“Operation Landstuhl is just more than a month old and we are already on our way to achieving our goal,” Morin said. “The generosity of the American people has been overwhelming. I am confident that we will meet our goal by the close of our 89th National Convention on August 30.”

The Fisher House Foundation was established in 1990 by the late Zachary Fisher, a New York builder, and his wife Elizabeth. Fisher House is designed to diminish emotional and financial drains on veterans’ families and provide wheelchair-friendly places for veterans to visit. In recognition of the special sacrifices of severely wounded or ill U.S. servicemembers and their families, the foundation donates “comfort homes” so families can face medical difficulties together.

Contact: John Raughter or Joe March (317) 630-1253.

Operation Landstuhl begins phone card purchases

INDIANAPOLIS (July 26, 2007) - The national commander of The American Legion has authorized the immediate purchase of $25,000 of telephone calling cards to be given to U.S. troops recovering at Landstuhl (Lond Stool) Regional Medical Center in Germany.

The cards are the result of Operation Landstuhl, an initiative by National Commander Paul A. Morin that was prompted by his recent visit to the center.

“The staff at Landstuhl do an outstanding job but the patients don’t have all of the personal comfort items that they need,” Morin said. “Many of the troops could use some civilian clothes, others might want DVDs, CDs or magazines. We owe it to them. These phone cards are just the start.”

The hospital is a stopping point on the journey home for many wounded servicemembers, who are injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. During peak fighting periods, the hospital often accepts more than 900 new patients per month.

Morin, American Legion Auxiliary President JoAnn Cronin and Sons of The American Legion Commander Earl Ruttkofsky have set a goal for The American Legion family to raise $50,000 for comfort items to be purchased and sent to the troops.

“Operation Landstuhl is only one month old and we are already on our way to achieving our goal,” Morin said. “The generosity of The American Legion has been overwhelming. I am confident that we will meet our goal by the close of our 89th National Convention on August 30.”

Departments of The American Legion will be able to present checks on the floor of The American Legion Convention in Reno. There will also be a donation booth for individuals to contribute in the Exhibit Hall of the National Convention. Credit card donations are also accepted online at www.legion.org <http://www.legion.org> and checks can be mailed to Operation Landstuhl, c/o The American Legion, P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1055.

Contact: John Raughter or Joe March (317) 630-1253.

Resignation of VA Secretary

Statement from The American Legion Regarding the Resignation of VA Secretary James Nicholson

INDIANAPOLIS (July 17, 2007) - The American Legion National Commander Paul A. Morin issued the following statement following today’s announcement of the resignation of Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Nicholson:

"The American Legion wishes VA Secretary Jim Nicholson well in his future endeavors. We thank him for his service both as a U.S. Army veteran and for his leadership as head of the nation’s largest health care system. We look forward to working with his successor on continuing to improve health benefits and services to America’s veterans."

American Legion hails amnesty's defeat, calls for better border security

Washington, DC (June 28, 2007) - The National Commander of The American Legion called today's collapse of the amnesty bill in the U.S. Senate "a victory for the American people."

The Senate's 46-53 vote to limit debate on the bill essentially killed any attempt to reform immigration until after the 2008 elections, according to the Associated Press.

"It is unconscionable that six years after the worst terrorist attack in history, America's borders are still not secure," National Commander Paul A. Morin said. "However, awarding amnesty to foreigners who have broken the law is not and will never be the way to make America more secure."
While The American Legion strongly opposed President Bush's proposal to grant amnesty to illegal aliens, the nation's largest veterans organization has repeatedly called upon the administration to construct security fences, hire more border patrol agents, invest in the necessary technology to protect the borders and search cargo entering U.S. ports.

"Some of the terrorists who plotted to murder Americans at Fort Dix fit the definition of what many call 'undocumented workers.' They are illegal aliens and that is the term I will continue to use," Morin said. "The American Legion is willing to work with our leaders in reforming immigration, but there can be no reform until our borders and ports are secure."

Morin also pointed out that illegal aliens can attend many state universities at lower tuition rates than Americans who are not state residents, a benefit not even offered to many of America's veterans and military members.

A Heritage Foundation study estimates that a typical illegal alien costs taxpayers $1.2 million in lifetime benefits and the total cost of the amnesty proposal would have been $2.6 trillion. "American taxpayers fund many of the health care, education and other public service benefits taken for granted by illegal aliens who pay no income tax," Morin said.

VA Home Loan Benefit Increase

Did you know that the Veterans Administration has raised the VA Home loan level to $417,000!

Yes, and if you are a CAL veteran, that is you entered the military from California as a resident, you are eligible for a $625,000 home loan with competitive interest rates It can be used to purchase a mobile home if you want. Best of all - No Down Payment and very competitive interest rates-lowest interest rates available.

George Torbert, Post 534 Member
Ed.D./retired US Army/ESL Instructor

The American Legion, ADF, LLI Launch National Effort To Defend Veterans’ Memorials

WASHINGTON (May 24, 2007) -- As Americans prepare for the Memorial Day holiday, The American Legion, Alliance Defense Fund, and Liberty Legal Institute today launched a national effort to defend and protect America’s veterans’ memorials from potential legal attacks from groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union. The joint announcement was made during at news conference at the National Press Club. Read Full Story

4 Pillars "Vision" Poster

Highlights the 4 pillars of The American Legion:

* Strong national security
* Taking care of veterans
* Mentoring youth
* Promoting patriotism & honor

18" x 24"

Product Number 755.901

Price:$2.95

VA Kids

The Web page, at http://www.va.gov/kids, contains areas for students in kindergarten through grade 5, for grades 6 through 12 and for teachers. VA Kids also has information about VA, Veterans Day, scholarships, student volunteer opportunities, rehabilitative and special events for disabled veterans and links to veteran-related sites.

For younger students, VA Kids has interactive activities such as puzzles, coloring pages, matching contests and age-appropriate language to describe a number of patriotic topics.

For older students, there is information on volunteer programs, scholarships and more sophisticated educational resources, games and reference links.

The teachers' section contains additional information, links and suggested classroom activities.

http://www.va.gov/kids/

American Legion Riders Have New Web Portal

The American Legion Riders have a new web site posted on the official American Legion site.

"Welcome to of The American Legion Riders web portal, operated by The American Legion as a service to The American Legion Riders of more than 550 local Riders chapters in 48 states and several foreign countries.

The American Legion Riders are a diverse group of motorcycle enthusiasts sharing common goals. All are members or spouses of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and Sons of The American Legion—and all are united by patriotism. They answer the call to ride in service to America’s military, her veterans, and for the children and youth of our country."

http://www.legion.org/legionriders/ - New! Official ALR web portal posted on American Legion web site.

American Legion Votes "Saving Pvt. Ryan” Best War Film

June 1, 2007: Legionnaires from across the nation voted “Saving Private Ryan” as the “Best War Movie Ever,” in a poll sponsored by The American Legion Magazine.

“No one knows the cost of war better than those who have experienced it,” said John Raughter, editor of The American Legion Magazine. “That firsthand experience by America’s wartime veterans have made them far better experts on what makes a good war movie than most film critics. There were no pre-selected nominees on the ballots. Participants were allowed to vote for any war movie of their choice. We received hundreds of votes and 11.3 percent chose ‘Saving Private Ryan’ as their favorite war film.”

The American Legion announced the results at the GI Film Festival in Washington on Memorial Day weekend. Dale Dye, a military advisor and an actor in the 1998 Steven Spielberg film, accepted the award.

“The movie depicts the realism of war by showing the bravery, fear, cowardice and horror of it all,” said Mark C. Hemmrich, a Legionnaire from Stevens Point, Wis., who voted for the film. “It exemplifies our American ingenuity, honor and our sense of liberty, justice, religion and family.”

The 1962 D-Day classic “The Longest Day,” and the 1955 Audie Murphy film “To Hell and Back” both tied for second place, receiving 20 votes each. “Band of Brothers,” a 2001 cable miniseries was next with 14 votes. A list of the top ten war movies will be published in an upcoming issue of The American Legion Magazine.

Cold War Certificate's

COLD WAR RECOGNITION CERTIFICATE – In accordance with section 1084 of the Fiscal Year 1998 National Defense Authorization Act, the Secretary of Defense approved awarding Cold War Recognition Certificates to all members of the armed forces and qualified federal government civilian personnel who faithfully and honorably served the United States anytime during the Cold War era, which is defined as Sept. 2, 1945 to Dec. 26, 1991.

The only official website on which to request certificates is noted below. The site is operated by the United States Army, the executive agency for the Cold War Recognition Program. Cold War Recognition Certificates are available to qualified individuals at no cost. Any other site offering these certificates or replicas for sale or purchase are not official sites and are not approved or endorsed by the US Army.

Due to the remarkable success of this program, turn-around time for mailing certificates will be a minimum of 6 months. The CWRS Operations Team is working as fast as possible to clear the backlog. Please do not request feedback prior to 6 months from the request date; your patience and interest in the Cold War Recognition program is appreciated.

Who is eligible? All members of the armed forces and federal government civilian personnel who faithfully served the United States during the Cold War era, Sept. 2, 1945 to Dec. 26, 1991. Individuals requesting a certificate will certify that their character of service was honorable. Acceptable supporting document for proof of service is any official government or military document with recipient's name, Social Security Number or Military Service Number or Foreign Service Number, and date of service.

Visit the Cold War Recognition Certificate website for more information and find out who is eligible and how to obtain one…their site is: http://coldwar.army.mil. To find out how to apply for the certificate, visit website [http://coldwar.army.mil/#application].

all vets honorable discharged from 1945-1989/1990

U.S. Navy/Marine Corps send requst & copy of DD-214 to:
CDR.PERSCOM
COLD WAR RECOGNITION, HOFFMAN II
ATTN: TAPC-CWRS, 3N45
200 STOVALL STREET
ALEXANDRIA,VA 22332-0473

U.S. Army send requst & copy of DD-214 to:
U.S. Army Human Resources Command
Cold War Recognition Program, Hoffman II, Room 3N45
ATTN: AHRC-CWRS
200 Stovall Street
Alexandria, VA 22332-0473

U.S. Air Force send requst & copy of DD-214 to:

Also, if veterans have a loved one who served honorable, they can get a certificate of thanks from the Veteran's Administration. You must send death cerificate and DD-214 to the receive certificates. You can request 7 copies.

Department of Veterans affairs
Memorial Programs Service
5109 Russell Road
Quantico, VA 22134-3903

Veterans Day

Joseph Ambrose, an 86-year-old World War I veteran, attends the dedication day parade for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1982. He is holding the flag that covered the casket of his son, who was killed in the Korean War.
Official name	Veterans Day
Also called	Armistice Day
Observed by	United States
Type	Federal (and most U.S. states)
Significance	Honors the 24.9 million military veterans in the United States
Date	November 11 (or nearest weekday)
Observances	Parades, school history projects, shopping
Related to	Armistice Day
President Eisenhower signs HR7786, officially changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day on June 1, 1954.

The holiday has been observed annually on November 11 since that date - first as Armistice Day, later as Veterans Day. When holidays in the United States, with the exception of New Year's Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Independence Day were moved to Mondays to create long holiday weekends, the celebration was moved to the fourth Monday of October. However, after protests by veterans groups it was moved back to November 11th in an effort to make the holiday more important. Unfortunately for those groups, the result was the opposite. Even though it is a federal and state holiday, it is formally observed in most parts of the United States only by government offices and banks. Most schools and almost all businesses stay open on regular schedules. As a result, most public transit systems are on regular schedules. Most businesses cite the holiday's proximity to Thanksgiving (when many businesses close for a four-day weekend) as the main reason for staying open on Veterans Day; but most schools and businesses also stay open on Columbus Day, a full month earlier.

On November 11, 1953, the citizens of Emporia, Kansas staged a Veterans Day observance in lieu of an Armistice Day remembrance. Congressman Ed Rees of Emporia, Kansas subsequently introduced legislation in the United States House of Representatives to officially change the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day. Following a letter-writing campaign to secure the support of all state governors in the observance of this new holiday, the name of the holiday was changed to Veterans Day (enacted June 1, 1954), to honor those who served.

The day has since evolved as a time for honoring living veterans who have served in the military during wartime or peacetime, partially to complement Memorial Day, which primarily honors the dead. There has been some discussion of whether a person's veteran status depends upon his/her retirement or discharge from any of the armed forces. However, the term applies to any that have honorably served their country or that have served in a war zone as directed by their superior officers or as directed by lawful orders given by their country.

For Which it Stands

For Which it Stands is a DVD produced by the American Legion about the history of the flag of the United States, the significance and meaning of our flag, and respecting and caring for our flag. In addition to a 20-minute linear video, the DVD features instructional enhancements designed to give students a rich and rewarding learning experience:

• "George Learns the Pledge"-An animated feature explaining the meaning behind the Pledge of Allegiance.
• "Rally Round the Flag"-Students ask a flag expert about specific ways to care for and respect the flag and are given the opportunity to play the "Flag Quiz" game.
• "Flag Timeline"-activity allows students to learn more about the history of our flag and the rationale behind its design.

Also included is a 54 page "Teachers Guide". Cost $19.95 BSA National Supply Item: #32536

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