Author: Mike Maxa

Today and this weekend in American Legion history: May 28, 1918: Maj. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., successfully leads a 26th Infantry Regiment company in the first U.S. offensive of World War I, the Battle of Cantigny. He is gassed nearly to blindness and refuses evacuation, but […]

Members, Below is the editorial from the Star Tribune today, Friday May 14, 2021. I am being asked to once again clarify ACM’s position on the bill aimed at changing electronics. ACM IS OPPOSED TO THE BILL. WE THINK THAT IT NEEDS FURTHER STUDY AND […]

This short six minute video is a great summary of why we belong, our “Programs”. Follow the link below to view and enjoy! https://www.legion.org/youthprograms/252053/responsible-citizenship-center-americanism-youth-programs-video

May 8-10, 1919: The American Legion’s constitution is approved at the St. Louis Caucus, conducted inside the Shubert Theater. Before declining nomination to lead the new organization but serving as temporary chairman of the caucus, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., calls the session to order with a […]

WASHINGTON (April 29, 2021) – Stating that “time is of the greatest essence,” American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford wrote to President Joseph Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken and called on the administration to speed up the processing of visa applications […]

The American Legion to Shelby, N.C.:  ‘Play Ball!’ The American Legion World Series to be held as originally scheduled INDIANAPOLIS (April 26, 2021) –  The head of the nation’s largest veterans organization announced that The American Legion World Series will be played in Shelby, N.C., […]

Veterans Week of Advocacy 2021  We are now half way through the inaugural Minnesota Veterans Week of Advocacy and I am reaching out to ask you to take action today. What is Veterans Week of Advocacy? This is a week set by the VSO’s in […]

The American Legion calls for ending ‘Forever War,’ repealing, replacing Authorization for Using Military Force   WASHINGTON (April 15, 2021) –  Calling the White House plan to fully withdraw troops from Afghanistan by September 11, “a good start,” the leader of the nation’s largest veteran […]

April is Children and Youth Month for The American Legion. Today is also Maundy Thursday and U.S. Air Force Academy Day (the Air Force Academy was established April 1, 1954). Today in American Legion history:  April 1, 1922: The American Legion National Headquarters moves into […]

March 16, 1926: Sgt. Stubby dies in his sleep. The only known canine to become an official – rather than honorary – member of The American Legion, the celebrated bull terrier was a stray who wandered into a training camp of the 102nd Infantry Division […]

Yesterday Commander Mark sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety and Policy Committee asking them to pass SF116 Veteran Restoration and Justice Act. The Commanders letter is below. To: Senate Judiciary Committee 95 University Ave. W. Minnesota Senate Bldg., Room 3221 St. […]

Since 1935, the American Legion has run Boys State, a week-long exercise in self-governance using the political system on the state government level. High school students are accepted into the program, where they are split into two parties, Nationalists and Federalists, that run political campaigns […]

By Daily Herald | Published 7:01 am Wednesday, February 24, 2021  The American Legion Department of Minnesota had a key role in this week’s reopening of the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). The center’s massive collection of federal-employee records is crucial for resolving veterans’ health […]

IndyStar: Jimmie Johnson unveils Carvana livery for 2021 IndyCar season  Nathan Brown | Indianapolis Star | Published 8:30 a.m. ET Feb. 22, 2021  This offseason, Jimmie Johnson has spent as many hours in the cockpit of an American open-wheel car as anyone. But up until […]

The American Legion mourns passing of baseball great Tommy Lasorda (INDIANAPOLIS, January 7, 2021)  — The nation’s largest veterans organization paid tribute today to Tommy Lasorda, the legendary Hall of Fame manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Army veteran and Legionnaire who died Jan. 7 […]

Today in American Legion history: Jan. 7, 1921: The American Legion Weekly magazine announces among the members to serve a one-year term on the new national Americanism Commission is Fiorello H. La Guardia, future governor of New York and eventual mayor of New York City. […]

I am reposting this to remind Legionnaires why we are Legionnaires…. THE AMERICAN LEGION PREAMBLE “For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to […]

Covid-19 by the Numbers: As of Date: 21-Dec-20 Population of Minnesota = 5640000 {Source Google Search} % of Population Total Tests: 5232347 Approximate # of People Tested: 2870337 50.89% % of Total Tests Positive Cases: 399311 7.08% 7.63% % of Positive Cases Recovered Cases: 373301 […]

Links for Covid-19 Relief www.minnesotaveteran.org/covidrelief Special Needs Grant Overview for Veterans, a $3000 Grant. HTTP://mn.gov/mdva/assets/2020-04-03-covid-19-special-needs-grant-overview_tcm1066-426399.pdf (Copy link  into your browser) Covid-19 Disaster Relief Grant Overview, a $1000 Grant. HTTP://mn.gov/mdva/assets/2020-04-03-covid-19-disaster-relief-overview_tcm1066-426398.pdf (Copy link  into your browser) State Soldier Assistance Program. This is a one time Grant to […]

Legion posts affected by COVID can apply for $1,000 grant The American Legion Mission Blue Post Assistance Program At the 2020 Fall National Executive Committee Meeting, Resolution #36, Subject: Mission Blue Post Assistance Program was approved. Posts impacted by a government’s public health restrictions implemented […]

November 19, 2020 The Honorable Tim Walz, Governor State of Minnesota 130 State Capitol 75 Dr. Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, MN 55155 Re: State Hospitality Emergency Relief Plan Dear Governor Walz: Our industry was dealt another devastating blow yesterday. One from […]

(INDIANAPOLIS—December 8, 2020) – American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford issued the following statement today concerning the death of legendary pilot Chuck Yeager: “America lost a great veteran last night but heaven gained a great pilot. Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager was as brave […]

  Covid-19 by the Numbers: As of Date: 7-Dec-20 Population of Minnesota = 5640000 {Source Google Search} % of Population Total Tests: 4623492 Approximate # of People Tested: 2669121 47.32% % of Total Tests Positive Cases: 356152 6.31% 7.70% % of Positive Cases Recovered Cases: […]

Leo Shane III | 2 days ago  President Donald Trump late Friday signed legislation to allow Iraq War hero Alwyn Cashe to be awarded the Medal of Honor, a move that nearly ends Cashe’s family and supporters 15-year quest to honor him with the nation’s […]

By PHILLIP WALTER WELLMAN | STARS AND STRIPES | Published: December 6, 2020  KABUL, Afghanistan — A special tactics airman will receive one of the nation’s highest military medals for risking his life to protect more than 150 American and local troops in Afghanistan, the […]

Today in history: At 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, on Dec. 7, 1941, a Japanese dive bomber bearing the red symbol of the Rising Sun of Japan on its wings appears out of the clouds above the island of Oahu. A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes […]