REDWOOD FALLS — The Department of Minnesota Convention is back on after a year hiatus resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. It is slated to happen July 15-17 at Jackpot Junction Casino and is hosted by Redwood Falls Post 38. Please note that some committees will […]
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 […]
Minnesota Veterans Homes will be located in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston [This is a news release from the Governor’s Office] ST. PAUL — Gov. Tim Walz announced Tuesday, March 30, that all three of Minnesota’s proposed new State Veterans Homes projects, to be located in […]
We recently interviewed Navy veteran Jamie Wood about her experience as a member of the Minnesota American Legion, and we’re excited to share her story with you in her own words: I joined the U.S. Navy to see the world. To my surprise, I was […]
By Tim Engstrom The Minnesota Legionnaire Note: The Minnesota Legionnaire’s press deadline was March 25. ST. PAUL — An effort to reduce property taxes to zero on Posts belonging to congressionally chartered veteran organizations seem pretty much dead for the 2021 legislative session. Bills that […]
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, March 29, 2021 CONTACT: Tim Engstrom Director of Communications American Legion Dept. of Minnesota tengstrom@mnlegion.org 952-679-0134 American Legion National Commander to Speak at Twin Cities locations ~~ Members of the media and public are invited to […]
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 […]
WAITE PARK — Don’t believe the rumors. Waite Park Post 428 is not turning in its charter. Its not giving up conducting the work of The American Legion, especially in a vet-heavy community with a VA hospital and many veteran funerals. It is, however, selling […]
It is time for our American Legion Posts with a Post Home to call on their legislators to move the “Veterans Organizations Property Tax Exemption” bill out of the Taxation Committees. Both SF259 and HF182 have been in the Senate Taxes Committee and the House […]
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 […]
A changing of the guard RICHFIELD — The restaurant, bar and banquet operations of Minneapolis-Richfield Post 435 have been closed since January 2020, and since that time, there has been a fair share of wild speculation. “The goal of Post 435 has been to endure […]
Click on any image to enlarge or bring up a left-to-right gallery. Past National Vice Commander Al Davis reports on the Convention Corporation on Saturday, March 6, at the Department Executive Committee at La Crescent Post 595, as Past National Commander Dan Ludwig, right, watches […]
Greetings, American Legion Family. A big thank you to Department Auxiliary Secretary Marsha Bible for organizing our Sweetheart Rally on Feb. 6 at Paynesville Post 271. Great job, Marsha! Paynesville Post 271 did an excellent job hosting the rally. Thanks to Teresa Ash and Jennifer […]
2021 legislative priorities could include: vets courts, tax relief, memorial highway, adult day care By Tim Engstrom ST. PAUL — The Department of Minnesota Executive Committee meets March 6 at La Crescent Post 595. On the agenda will be determining the state legislative priorities for […]
ST. PAUL — Many American Legion Posts with bar and restaurant operations across Minnesota reported being denied by the Minnesota Department of Revenue for COVID-19 Business Relief Payments. Why? Because the classification system counts many of them as social and civic organizations, rather than bars […]
By Tim Engstrom SACRED HEART— American Legion Baseball is heading into the 2021 season on pace with last season. “I think the interest has been as strong or stronger than it has in the past,” said Director Randy Schaub, a Sons of The American Legion […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, March 1, 2021 ANOKA — A senior at Litchfield High School is the champion of the Minnesota American Legion Oratorical Contest. Hazel Chvatal, 17, earns a $1,500 scholarship from The American Legion Department of Minnesota. Normally, she would move on to […]
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 […]
For Release: February 19, 2021 The American Legion Department of Minnesota helps get National Personnel Records Center to reopen ST. PAUL, February 19, 2021 — The American Legion Department of Minnesota had a key role in this week’s reopening of the National Personnel […]
American Legion and VFW Posts Urged to Contact County ASAP for COVID-19 Relief Minnesota American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts that did not receive a direct COVID-19 Business Relief Payment from the Minnesota Department of Revenue earlier this year are urged to contact […]
We recently interviewed Navy veteran, Christine Wendt, about her experience as a member of the Minnesota American Legion and we’re excited to share her story with you in her own words: After watching my cousin struggle from semester to semester to come up with enough […]
By Paul Edwards Training Committee member Have you ever received a message, whether by email, letter, or text where someone is telling you about an issue and encouraging you to contact your state or national elected official? How often does your mind say, “I can’t […]
By Tim Engstrom ST. PAUL — The 109th Airlift Squadron, part of the 133rd Airlift Wing based at Minneapolis-St. Paul Joint Air Reserve Station at Fort Snelling, turned 100 on Jan. 17. The 109th is the first federally recognized air unit in the Air National […]
Letter from Mark Parkinson, CEO of American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living to Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the federal Centers for Disease Control Dear Dr. Walensky, Thank you for your leadership in helping to prioritize long term care residents and staff for […]
ST. PAUL — American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford returns to Minnesota in April. In February 2020, Oxford, who hails from Post 29 in Lenoir, N.C., toured southern Minnesota. This time, the National Commander’s Tour will start in St. Paul and head northward. […]
Air Force strong By Tim Engstrom ELK RIVER — One recipient of the Jeff Hill Legacy Scholarship is a first-assignment instructor pilot at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi. Another is flying C-17s at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. Another is learning to fly […]
‘My parents are in heaven celebrating today’ LINO LAKES — The 10th District Snowmobile Run has come to the end of the trail. After 50 years, organizer Patti Coleman has decided to hang it up. Her father, Gerald “Jerry” Coleman, began the Snowmobile Run as […]
ST. PAUL — The COVID-19 vaccine does not stop the spreading of the coronavirus. It does stop people from the resulting illness. “You still have the ability to spread the disease but not get sick from it,” said Pat Kelley, director of the Minneapolis VA […]