Airborne Ranger By Tim Engstrom CHARLOTTE — In the late 1960s, the military was taking 5,000 men per month in Minnesota alone. It was the height of the Vietnam War. Rick Cross is 74 these days, and back then, at 18, he graduated from Osseo […]
Wisconsinite elected national commander By Tim Engstrom CHARLOTTE — Keni Thomas sang the national anthem at the start of the 104th American Legion National Convention. Who is Keni Thomas? He is a country music singer and former Army Ranger who was part of Operation Restore […]
By Jody Hassing Director, Minnesota American Legion Riders Hello! I had a great time at The American Legion National Convention, Camporee and the Romp. On Tuesday, Aug. 29, representatives from the Minnesota American Legion Riders and the Minnesota American Legion Family went on stage and […]
By Pam Krill Great job, Department of Minnesota! As of this article written on Sept. 17, the Department of Minnesota was sitting in third place nationally. We were sitting behind France and South Dakota. Historically, have we come out the gates running at full speed, […]
By Paul Hassing Commander, American Legion Department of Minnesota Greetings, Legion Family, I am truly honored and humbled to be elected commander of the greatest department in the greatest veterans service organization in the world. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to so many […]
Scheels Top 20 Rankings Rankings for Div. II Sr. teams in Minnesota American Legion Baseball are released weekly during baseball season. Rankings are based off high school finishes and results submitted to the Minnesota Legion Baseball app. 1. Esko Eskomos* 2. Victoria Holy Family* 3. […]
Scheels Top 20 Rankings for Div. 1 Sr. Rankings for Div. I teams in Minnesota American Legion Baseball are released weekly during baseball season. Find last week’s rankings here. 1. St. Paul Hamline Post 418 Purple 2. Mankato Post 11 American 3. Edina Post 471 […]
Rankings for teams in Minnesota American Legion Fastpitch Softball are released on Thursdays. 1. Adams Post 146 2. Fairmont Post 36 3. Upsala Post 350 4. Browerville Post 293 5. Kerkhoven Post 223 6. Bemidji Post 14 7. New York Mills Post 116 8. La […]
Scheels Top 20 Rankings Rankings for Div. II Sr. teams in Minnesota American Legion Baseball are released weekly during baseball season. This is the first time having rankings for Div. II Sr. teams. Rankings are based off high school finishes and results submitted to the […]
Scheels Top 20 Rankings Rankings for Div. I teams in Minnesota American Legion Baseball are released weekly during baseball season. This is the rankings for the third week. Find last week’s rankings here. 1. Farmington Post 189 Tigers 2. Rosemount Post 65 Irish 3. Edina […]
Scheels Top 20 Rankings Rankings for Div. I teams in Minnesota American Legion Baseball are released weekly during baseball season. This is the rankings for the second week. Find the preseason rankings here. 1. Farmington Post 189 Tigers 2. Edina Post 471 3. Rosemount Post […]
Capitol one By Tim Engstrom The Minnesota Legionnaire ST. PAUL — Bill Strusinski is a common face at the State Capitol. He’s been involved in government since graduating from Mankato State College in political science 51 years ago. But he’s not just another lobbyist. He’s […]
Scheels Top 20 Rankings Rankings for Div. I teams in Minnesota American Legion Baseball are released weekly during baseball season. This is the rankings for the first week. Find the preseason rankings here. 1. Wayzata Post 118 #1 2. Rochester Post 92 Redhawks 3. St. […]
ST. PAUL — For the second year in a row, the Minnesota Legislature passed an omnibus bill for veterans and military affairs. Members of the Commander’s Task Force, to include American Legion Department of Minnesota, had pushed for the veterans omnibus bill so that it […]
By Allen Lund Guest Column, The Minnesota Legionnaire In May, the Minnesota House and Senate passed their Omnibus Tax Bill. It was signed into law by the governor. Included in the bill are major changes to electronic pulltabs and electronic linked bingo. Both games will […]
‘It’s going to be further back than when they came out’ By Tim Engstrom The Minnesota Legionnaire ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Legislature on May 21 sent Gov. Tim Walz a tax bill that provides some tax relief for charitable gambling but scales back electronic […]
In the 2023 legislative session, we veterans were able to get a lot — a second omnibus bill, an expansion of the post-9/11 bonus for servicemembers lawmakers missed last year, bonding-bill funding for much-needed improvements to the Hastings Veterans Home, a formula that lets homeless […]
Scheels Top 20 Rankings Rankings for Div. I teams in Minnesota American Legion Baseball are released every Thursday during baseball season. This is the preseason rankings. (The first in-season ranking comes out June 8.) 1. Mankato Post 11 National 2. St. Paul Hamline Post 418 […]
Nonprofits worried about reduction in gambling revenue ST. PAUL — They said it wasn’t going to happen. Then it happened. A bill amendment to scale back e-pulltabs came out April 17. The same amendment took the long-sought-after tax cuts to charitable gambling and reduced them […]
Statement on situation at Hastings Veterans Home attributed to Department Commander Jennifer Havlick March 20, 2023 The American Legion Department of Minnesota has a Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Committee that routinely visits the Minnesota Veterans Homes and other places where veterans of our state receive […]
By Linda Dvorak This past month I had an email from a concerned member wondering why we don’t emphasize our programs more and often talk membership. This is a very good question and one that deserves an answer. First of all, as we all know, […]
Commentary by Department Commander Jennifer Havlick March 7, 2023 Charities across Minnesota have heard a great deal of discussion about lawmakers possibly getting rid of electronic-pulltabs, better known as e-tabs. No bills have been filed, but legislators have said publicly the matter is on the […]
The American Legion, Allied Charities & Protect Our Charities MEDIA ADVISORY Tim Engstrom, Director of Communications The American Legion Department of Minnesota 952-679-0134 News conference scheduled for Monday: E-tabs are essential to Minnesota WHAT: Allied Charities of Minnesota, The American Legion Department of Minnesota and […]
MONTEVIDEO – Potential residents, future employees and local businesses are invited to learn more about the Montevideo Veterans Home at a community office open house. The event will be held Tuesday, March 7, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Montevideo Veterans Home Community Office […]
A better life By Tim Engstrom The Minnesota Legionnaire BROOKLYN CENTER — The tale is as old as veterans in America. Veterans exit the military. They don’t stay connected with veterans. They lose a sense of purpose and that feeling of camaraderie. They struggle. But […]
Ray Kane is an organ recipient ST. PAUL — The American Legion Department of Minnesota Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Committee has hired Army veteran Ray Kane of Hastings Post 47 to be the next department service officer. He will office on the first floor of […]
By Tim Engstrom SAUK CENTRE — The story of Air Force and Army veteran Nathan Smith fits the definition of serendipity: “The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.” Smith, 46, is the adjutant of Sauk Centre Post 67 […]
ST. CLOUD — Legionville Education Center is in a strong position again after a string of lean years. The Department Executive Committee on Oct. 27 received a report from Carl Moon of Zimmerman Post 560, as he was elected president of the Legionville Board of […]
A pavilion to remember BAYPORT — It’s been 100 years since South Stillwater changed its name to Bayport. City Councilor Michele Hanson wanted to mark the name-change centennial with a project in a park, and she walked into Bayport American Legion Post 491 asking for […]
By Michael Ash What? Minnesota has an American Legion College? Yes, we do! Who would benefit the most from attending this “college”? You may have guessed it, but the answer is … you! We not only teach you all kinds of important stuff that makes […]