Author: Mike Maxa

Stars & Stripes: Bill allowing Global War on Terrorism Memorial on National Mall could set bad precedent, senator argues BY NIKKI WENTLING • STARS AND STRIPES • SEPTEMBER 21, 2021  WASHINGTON — An effort to pass legislation that would allow for the construction of a […]

Military.com: 20 Sep 2021 | Military.com | By Patricia Kime  Military families and retirees who use retail pharmacies or the Tricare mail-order delivery system for their medications will see an increase in copayments in 2022, according to a notice to be published Tuesday in the […]

New York Times: By Dave Philipps | Sept. 20, 2021  FORT CARSON, Colo. — A taut line of soldiers crossed the sprawling Army post’s parade ground in the afternoon, hoisting flags draped with a rainbow of streamers from past deployments: Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, Korea, Germany, […]

Effective Oct. 18, the Department of Veterans Affairs is launching its new Ask VA (AVA) system, which will replace the current Inquiry Routing & Information System (IRIS). IRIS is a web-based system that allows anyone to submit a question to the appropriate VA office, accessed […]

Twin Cities Pioneer Press Minnesota American Legion launching summer fastpitch for girls next summer Minnesota American Legion announced Thursday it will begin offering fastpitch softball for girls in 2022. The launch was approved at the Legion’s Minnesota Executive Committee during an Aug. 7 meeting. “Fastpitch […]

Marine Times By Philip Athey Sep 8, 09:22 AM ARLINGTON, Virginia ― At the end of August a large crowd gathered around the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, to pay respects to the 13 service members that died on Aug. 26 while defending the gates of Hamid […]

Military Times By Leo Shane III Sep 8, 01:50 PM Cadets line up outside Lee Barracks on the campus of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. (Army) White House officials have asked for the resignation of multiple members of the military academies’ advisory boards who were appointed by President […]

Veterans preach importance of communication, seeking help, in wake of Van De Water’s death Matt Spillane Poughkeepsie Journal Kyle Van De Water’s death spread a veil of grief over veterans throughout the Hudson Valley this week. It also gave them an opportunity to let each […]

Military Times By Leo Shane III Sep 7, 02:13 PM Blue Water Vietnam veterans are getting their disability benefits paid out by the Department of Veterans Affairs, but it might not be exactly how much they deserve, according to a new watchdog report. The VA Inspector General’s Office found that while department staff […]

Veteran from Lake Kiowa, Texas, Elected  National Commander of The American Legion  PHOENIX (Sept. 2, 2021) –  Paul E. Dillard was elected national commander of the nearly two-million member American Legion today in Phoenix, during the organization’s 102nd national convention. He first joined the nation’s […]

PHOENIX (August 26, 2021) – James W. “Bill” Oxford, national commander of The American Legion, issued the following statement about today’s terrorist attacks in Afghanistan: “As an organization of wartime veterans, The American Legion profoundly feels sorrow for the needless loss of life that occurred […]

Aug. 26, 1982: The American Legion, at its national convention in Chicago, presents a check for $1 million to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, making it the single largest contributor to the monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.   The road to its dedication […]

By Christina Estes After two years of debate, Phoenix leaders have unanimously approved the sale of a city-owned lot that houses Arizona’s oldest American Legion Post. The 1.7-acre site at Seventh Avenue and Polk Street will include 132 units, a mix of market rate and lower income, […]

Lippert represents Minnesota in Washington, D.C. By Kevin Mertens – Staff Writer | Aug 22, 2021 Noah Lippert, who is going to be a senior at Maple River High School this fall, has had quite a summer. Lippert, who lives on a farm north of Easton, not […]

Sign up for the 2022 Department Calendar! You have all the important dates for the Minnesota American Legion, Minnesota American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of The American Legion and American Legion Riders — all in one place. And you get really cool photos of your Department […]

Afghanistan veterans made the Middle East and the world a safer place Aug. 18, 2021 Dear Afghanistan veterans of Minnesota, The American Legion Department of Minnesota respects the sacrifices made by our Afghanistan veterans and salutes you for your service in an unconventional warzone over […]

13 News: Author: Mike Gooding | Published: 6:05 PM EDT August 18, 2021 | Updated: 6:25 PM EDT August 18, 2021  WASHINGTON — The U.S. military is currently averaging 20 C-17 flights out of Afghanistan every 24 hours.  So far, about 5,000 people have been […]

NEW YORK TIMES: By Mark Mazzetti, Julian E. Barnes and Adam Goldman | Aug. 17, 2021  WASHINGTON — Classified assessments by American spy agencies over the summer painted an increasingly grim picture of the prospect of a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and warned of the […]

BY NIKKI WENTLING | STARS AND STRIPES | AUGUST 10, 2021  WASHINGTON — Veterans struggling with mental health conditions will be eligible to receive service dogs through a pilot program approved by Congress. Congress finalized a bill Friday that orders the Department of Veterans Affairs […]

BY NIKKI WENTLING | STARS AND STRIPES | AUGUST 4, 2021  WASHINGTON — Senate appropriators voted Wednesday to advance the largest-ever budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs, backing President Joe Biden’s 10% increase for the agency. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 25-5 to advance […]

The link below will take you to a video of why you should join Post 36, Fairmont MN. Great job! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dqq3Es4BOI

California Student Elected President of the 2021 American Legion Boys Nation; Alabama Student Elected Vice President WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 28, 2021) – Two prominent leaders emerged from The American Legion Boys Nation program Tuesday night. Ryan Jung, of Irvine, Calif., was elected President of The […]

(INDIANAPOLIS—July 19, 2021) – The head of the nation’s largest veterans organization warned Congress that the American people will “be furious,” if partisan gridlock causes a shutdown of the National Guard and delayed paychecks for its soldiers. “Congress and the White House need to act […]

Reuters: By Tim Reid | 8 MIN READ | JULY 20, 2021 6:07 AM UPDATED 14 MINUTES AGO  GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (Reuters) – Jason Lilley was a special operations forces Marine Raider who fought in multiple battles in Iraq and Afghanistan during America’s longest war. […]

Washington Post: By Dan Lamothe | July 19, 2021 | Updated yesterday at 6:33 p.m. EDT  The Biden administration is planning to temporarily house about 2,500 Afghans fleeing unrest in their home country at Fort Lee, Va., with expansion to other military bases possible in […]

Are you a Veteran or do you  know a Veteran who can benefit from learning how to golf from a professional?  This is a free program granted by PGA HOPE Minnesota and facilitated by MNGOLF at U of M Les Bolstad Golf Course – Falcon […]

The American Legion Department of Minnesota It was a rather successful year for our legislative efforts. Your Department of Minnesota had a key role in the successful passage of the following: Three new Minnesota Veterans Homes. Groundbreaking will be Aug. 19 in Preston, Aug. 23 […]

BY NIKKI WENTLING | STARS AND STRIPES | JULY 16, 2021  WASHINGTON — A congressman from Florida wants active-duty military officers to take charge of Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers, arguing the hospitals are plagued by crises and need a new leadership approach. Rep. […]

July 19, 1918: Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt Jr., is shot through the right leg with a machine gun during battle near Soissons, France.  He is evacuated in the sidecar of a motorcycle before catching an automobile ride to a Paris apartment where his wife, Eleanor, […]