Department of Minnesota Adjutant Mike Maxa provides perspectives on The American Legion and the Minnesota military community.
MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY False Reporting in The Guardian Fellow Veterans and VA Employees: A news story published by the Guardian on Monday, June 16, 2025, has misled Veterans, our employees, and the public. The article was recklessly and maliciously false. It claimed that recent […]
This article’s original publication can be found here House Republican appropriators early Wednesday advanced a $453 billion budget plan for Veterans Affairs next year despite hours of objections from Democrats that looming reforms at the department could blunt the impact of the record funding levels for veterans programs. […]
AMERICAN LEGION TESTIFIES TWICE ON KEY VETERAN LEGISLATION This article’s original publication can be found here. American Legion Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Director Cole Lyle testifies during the House Veterans Affairs Committee Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing. Photo by Sarah Silbiger American Legion voices support for […]
The national commander addressed American Legion leadership on the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, base visits, Legion Baseball centennial and more. The American Legion commemorated the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and Fall of Saigon last week with personal stories (here, here and here) […]
In September 1944, eight teenagers from St. Paul high schools, having won a war bond competition, traveled to Quincy, Massachusetts, to witness the christening of USS SAINT PAUL (CA-73), a heavy cruiser named after their city. Mrs. Marie Gordon McDonough, wife of Saint Paul City […]
New Air Force Academy Mission Statement Drops Educate, Adds a Different Focus. The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) | By Mary Shinn The Air Force Academy has rolled out a new mission statement that drops the word “educate” and adds in a focus on winning wars. The statement […]
The American Legion Mobile App The American Legion is the nation’s largest organization of U.S. military veterans. This app offers a succinct description of the Legion’s forms of advocacy, opportunities to join, donate and find nearby posts. Download from the Apple Store(Opens in a new […]
The soldiers who died last week during a mission in Lithuania were remembered as a mix of dedicated young fathers, talented Army mechanics and key members of a close-knit unit. Three of them were promoted posthumously. The soldiers who died during a mission in Lithuania […]
VA Secretary Doug Collins addresses Veterans benefits rumors in latest video. VA Secretary Doug Collins released a video from his office today addressing misinformation circulating about Veterans’ benefits and VA health care. In a direct and candid message, Collins refuted several rumors he described as […]
Lawmakers slam VA for ‘rinse-and-repeat cycle’ of delays in fixing problems administering the GI Bill By LINDA F. HERSEY STARS AND STRIPES • February 11, 2025 WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers blasted Department of Veterans Affairs officials for mistakes in administering the GI Bill that led […]
The American Legion is revving up its advocacy efforts, highlighted by dozens of crucial topics important to veterans and their families. The Legislative Agenda for the first session of the 119th Congress is now available for download here. Think of the agenda as a road […]
(INDIANAPOLIS – January 30, 2025) – American Legion National Commander James A. LaCoursiere, Jr., issued the following statement today concerning last night’s collision of a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter and a passenger plane attempting to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport: “We don’t know […]
Veterans who served at least two qualifying periods of service may now qualify for up to 48 months of total GI Bill benefits. In a major victory for veterans last April, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in Rudisill v. McDonough that veterans who qualify for […]
Military Times By Karen Jowers With the start of new Tricare contracts, beneficiaries can expect some changes to their military health care, including the expansion of some benefits, according to military advocates and officials. Defense Health Agency officials said the new contracts, which went into effect […]
In the past few weeks I have noticed an increase in questions on how to upgrade a military discharge determination. Know, The American Legion Department of Minnesota is here to help our Minnesota Veterans navigate through this process. Our Department Service Officer as well as […]
By SVETLANA SHKOLNIKOVA STARS AND STRIPES • December 18, 2024 WASHINGTON — The Senate on Wednesday approved a $895 billion defense policy that in April will give junior enlisted troops a historic 14.5% pay raise and all other service members a 4.5% pay bump in […]
The American Legion Welcomes Agreement to Keep Government Open, Blasts the Process (INDIANAPOLIS – December 21, 2024) – American Legion National Commander James A. LaCoursiere, Jr. issued the following statement today concerning passage of a continuing resolution to fund the federal government into March: “The […]
Military.com | By Richard Sisk Published December 11, 2024 at 4:40 pm A Vietnam prisoner of war who spent years in captivity in the prison camp they dubbed the Hanoi Hilton and whose story was closely followed by the American public is set to be honored by Congress. For […]
Military & Retirees With ID Cards That Don’t Expire Will Need To Replace Them Within 4 Years Retirees and military family members who have identification cards with no expiration date can choose to upgrade to the new Next Generation Uniform Services Identification, or USID, cards […]
by Ellen Mitchell and Brad Dress – 11/11/24 6:00 a.m. est,THE HILL From expanded health care access to reducing suicide rates, veterans groups are preparing to lobby the 119th Congress on a host of issues affecting retired service members. Veterans groups are highlighting long-standing issues, like mental health […]
Article found in Politico By Ben Leonard 11/14/2024 06:26 PM EST Updated: 11/14/2024 07:24 PM EST President-elect Donald Trump has nominated one of his previous attorneys and former GOP House member Doug Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Collins, 58, a staunch Trump supporter and frequent Fox […]
Sons of The American Legion National Vice Commander Harl “Butch” Ray, American Legion Auxiliary Vice President Lauren Lloyd and American Legion National Vice Commander James Kellogg lay a wreath as part of the Veterans Day ceremonies at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Nov. 11, 2024, […]
Department of Veterans Affairs Delays Air Transportation Reimbursement Rule Until 2029 SOAR Campaign commends Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester, Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-KS), House Appropriations MilCon/VA Subcommittee Chairman John Carter (R-TX), House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL) House MilCon/VA Subcommittee […]
A claim shark is an individual or company that illegally charges fees to “assist” or “consult” veterans with filing their VA benefit claims. Claim sharks are not VA accredited as required by federal law. Claim sharks target veterans or family members of veterans with aggressive […]
(INDIANAPOLIS – November 6, 2024) – American Legion National Commander James A. LaCoursiere, Jr., issued the following statement today concerning yesterday’s election results: “The American people have spoken, and The American Legion congratulates President-elect Trump on his victory. We hope to continue some of the […]
Four Rules of an American Legion Program Whether a program is chartered by a post, department or national, it is incumbent on The American Legion that we control the actions of that program to best meet the needs of our organization, provide oversight and protect […]
A Report from American Legion National Headquarters We are a VOICE: “The Legion was so right to point us to Buddy Checks, which is just an opportunity to carve out time from your day to check in on somebody important to you. This is a community […]
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE PACT ACT? By Henry Howard As the two-year anniversary of the PACT Act approaches, The American Legion held a panel discussion July 11 in the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Room on Capitol Hill evaluating the impact of the far-reaching legislation while looking […]
A welcoming environment leads posts to membership success. The American Legion JUN 26, 2024 American Legion Internal Affairs and Membership Division staff at National Headquarters reached out to posts with membership growth this year to share their success stories. We will be sharing the stories […]
Firestorm erupts over requiring women to sign up for military draft The Hill; BY ALEXANDER BOLTON – 06/20/24 6:00 AM ET Senate Democrats have added language to the annual defense authorization bill to require women to register for the draft, prompting a backlash from Republicans and […]