VA & Rehabilitation By Jeremy Wolfsteller The American Legion’s national commander sends President Trump a letter on behalf of veterans, service-member, families and survivors asking on the president to instruct the secretary of veterans affairs to maintain the 48-hour review, a decades-old practice allowing veteran […]
Organization works toward consistency NEW ULM — This is the 75th year of the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers, but their plans for the big year were wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic. But you know how a first convention takes place in […]
By Tim Engstrom ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Commanders’ Task Force, a body that meets monthly and pushes for veterans-related legislation, voiced their displeasure and frustration with lack of access to state lawmakers at their June meeting. “I’m very concerned that other interests will take […]
Get the goods to the needs WINNEBAGO — When life knocked this Legionnaire down, he got right back up. Randy Olson of the 2nd District is an Army veteran and an electrician who worked on a contract basis at Birds Eye Foods in Waseca until […]
A fire chief who is involved in his community is The American Legion Outstanding Firefighter of the Year for Minnesota. Kevin Grote, chief of the North Branch Fire Department and Region 7 representative with the Minnesota Fire Chief Association, was nominated by North Branch Post […]
GROTON, Connecticut — The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Minnesota, SSN 783, homeported at Naval Submarine Base New London, was announced as the winner of the 2019 Battenberg Cup Award April 23. The Battenberg Cup Award for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet Battle Efficiency “E” winner is […]
National Guard veteran Tony DeCristofaro talks about his fall from stellar soldier to meth dealer to life as a recovery coach By Tim Engstrom SAUK CENTRE — Tony DeCristofaro, 35, has been a substance abuser since he was 13. If you prefer, you could call […]
Meet the Minnesota Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year A life-saving deputy has been The American Legion 2020 Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for Minnesota. Tracey Pagel of the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office performed actions last fall that saved the life of […]
By Tim Engstrom ST. PAUL — There were only three pieces of veterans-related legislation that passed out of the unusual 2020 legislative session. One was $6.2 million in COVID-19 Disaster Relief and Special Needs Grants for Minnesota Veterans. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs is […]
By Betty Jass This year’s remembrance of Memorial Day was bittersweet with the coronavirus restrictions of not having public programs to recognize our Fallen Heroes. Many areas weren’t putting up flag displays in their cemeteries to honor them so that crowds do not gather in […]
Blake Madison of Adrian earns American Legion scholarship ADRIAN — Blake Madison, an 18-year-old sponsored by Adrian Post 32, is The American Legion Department of Minnesota’s Eagle Scout of the Year. Madison earns a $1,000 scholarship from the Department of Minnesota. The honor was announced […]
Editor’s note: The Legionnaire recognizes most or all Memorial Day ceremonies on May 25 will not happen. Let retired Lt. Gen. Richard Nash’s words serve as your Memorial Day speech during the statewide stay-at-home order. You may reprint this in local newspapers. Remembrance during COVID-19 […]
By Minnesota Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Larry Herke This year more than ever, we want to extend our deepest appreciation to the caring staff at our five Minnesota Veterans Homes during National Skilled Nursing Care Week, which we are renaming Minnesota Veterans Homes Week. I […]
Longtime Department of Minneosota National Executive Committee Man Don Schroedl, 98, of Minneapolis, died April 7. Funeral services and burial at Fort Snelling were private. Schroedl, an Air Force veteran of World War II, served 22 years as NEC man, from 1975 to 1997. He […]
Go big or go home By Tim Engstrom The Minnesota Legionnaire The Minnesota Military Museum has existed in a building — actually several buildings — at Camp Ripley for 40 years. If all goes as planned, the museum will have a major new home in […]
BRAINERD — The motto of the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor Regiment, is: “Remember Bataan … Never Forget!” The 78th annual wreath-laying ceremony in Brainerd in honor of the 194th Armor Regiment soldiers who endured the brutality of the Bataan Death March happened April […]
The American Legion and MACV found solutions By Tim Engstrom The Minnesota Legionnaire MINNEAPOLIS — Imagine suffering from a life-threatening health problem in an unfamiliar state, and then the hospital kicks you out on the street to fend for yourself because you lack proper insurance. […]
ST. PAUL — Has the coronavirus restrictions caused you to lose your job? Has it shut down your veteran-owned business? The American Legion suggests you get your documentation ready for Monday, April 6, when you can apply for relief from the state of Minnesota. That’s […]
With Minnesota now under a stay-at-home order by the governor for a minimum of two weeks, Department Membership Director Sy Fix is asking now more then ever to put MyLegion.org to use. He said it is unfortunate that it takes a situation like this for […]
By The American Legion The Small Business Administration has streamlined the application process and reduced the administrative burden as of today. Start applying for the disaster relief loan or emergency $10k relief grant here: https://covid19relief.sba.gov/ PAYCHECK PROTECTION LOAN • Small Business Administration Loans-$349 billion authorized […]
By Jennifer Gedney Havlick The Minnesota Legionnaire TWO HARBORS — Heard of Enhanced Buddy Checks? In response to the COVID-19 pandemic American Legion National Commander Bill Oxford placed a strong emphasis on our Buddy Check program. As I watched the pandemic begin to unfold, I […]
By Tim Engstrom The Minnesota Legionnaire ST. PAUL — The Department Executive Committee met by remote communications on Saturday, March 21, during a time when America and the world were struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic. The most newsworthy aspect? Pulling the meeting off in the […]
By Tim Engstrom The Minnesota Legionnaire ST. PAUL — Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Herke said he was disappointed his agency’s request for funding three new veterans homes didn’t make the federal Department of Veterans Affairs budget. The projects had all the requirements, […]
The coronavirus pandemic has given rise to online scam artists offering phony cures and trying to steal scared people’s money. Americans were told to stop selling sham vaccines, but that is the tip of iceberg and global catfishing is increasing as with all epidemics when […]
By Greg Colby Judge Advocate for the Department of Minnesota Minnesota’s Emergency Executive Orders On March 13, 2020, Governor Tim Walz signed a number of emergency executive orders, not one. It may be helpful to go through each one and explain the gist of […]
MINNEAPOLIS — Conferences cancelled. Screening at the VA. The Legislature on hold. Here is what is happening in the Minnesota veterans community as of today, Monday, March 16. Screening The VA hospitals in Minneapolis and St. Cloud, as well as at clinics around the […]
By Tommy Johnson In the January edition of The Minnesota Legionnaire, the story was told about Minneapolis Public Housing Authority’s decision to make the 2-year-old child of a two-tour Iraqi combat veteran and his fiancé homeless. The headline was “Minneapolis housing authority opts to make […]
WASHINGTON — The director of suicide prevention for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs struggles with the notion that suicide is preventable. “I have a love/hate relationship with that saying,” Matt Miller told a room of Legionnaires at the Washington Conference of The American Legion […]
WASHINGTON — Most of the calls the Veterans Benefits Administration receives are young veterans asking about their benefits. Solid Start is a program the VBA launched on Dec. 2, where the VA reaches out to new veterans in their first year after their military time […]
WASHINGTON — When recruiting young veterans to join The American Legion, Legionnaires have to do more than merely sign them up, said Past National Commander Dan Ludwig. They also need to treat them respect and hear their ideas. “If you want to live in yesterday, […]