The American Legion Department of Minnesota

On Feb. 19, The American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford enjoyed breakfast at Gaylord Post 433, the seventh stop on his tour of Minnesota. Click on an image to enlarge.

On Feb. 18, The American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford enjoyed supper at Redwood Falls Post 38, the sixth stop on his tour of Minnesota. He spoke about the importance of growing membership to carry on Legion programs, particularly ones involving young Americans. […]

On Feb. 18, The American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford enjoyed lunch at Madelia Post 19, the fifth stop on his tour of Minnesota. He told of his 34-year military career, explained his involvement in The American Legion and how he became national […]

On Feb. 18, The American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford enjoyed breakfast at Wells Post 210, the fourth stop on his tour of Minnesota. In addition to his comments on how vital The American Legion is to the future of the country, he […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Citing The American Legion’s “historic victory” during an important Supreme Court ruling last year, the head of the nation’s largest veterans organization welcomed another court decision yesterday as a sign that veterans memorials will now have permanent legal protection. “Last year, The American […]

On Feb. 17, The American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford enjoyed supper at Albert Lea Post 56, the third stop on his tour of Minnesota. He spoke about efforts to halt veteran suicide, how the Legion is crucial to passing laws that benefit […]

On Feb. 17, The American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford enjoyed lunch at Waseca Post 228, the second stop on his tour of Minnesota. Click on the image to enlarge.

On Feb. 17, The American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford enjoyed breakfast at Adams Post 146, the first stop on his tour of Minnesota. He spoke about The American Legion’s impact on America’s youth and the importance of growing and retaining Legion membership. […]

By District 39A Rep. Bob Dettmer Some of you may have received word that two bills I authored exempting congressionally chartered veterans organizations such as American Legions and VFWs from property taxes would be heard in the House Taxes Committee on Thursday. We received further […]

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs has been forming its legislative initiatives for the 2020 session. Opening day of the session is Feb. 11, and Veterans Day on the Hill is slated for April 20. The MDVA plans to ask the state […]

ST. PAUL — Agent Orange is the topic of discussion for the February gathering of the Vietnam War Roundtable. Local veterans and experts will share the lasting impact of the defoliant chemical. The topic spurred great interest last year, according to the roundtable’s website. The […]

Commander’s Column, By Mark Dvorak American Legion State Oratorical Contest finals are set! They will be held at the Anoka and Osseo American Legion Posts on Saturday, Feb. 29. At this time, it appears all 10 districts will have a contestant. This is good news […]

By Betty Jass On Feb. 3, it will be the 77-year anniversary of the sinking of the troop ship SS Dorchester. According to Wikipedia, the “Four Chaplains,” also referred to as the “Immortal Chaplains” or the “Dorchester Chaplains,” were four World War II Chaplains who […]

FAIRMONT — The veterans memorial site in Martin County has received a Bell Cobra-Fixed Wing Attack Helicopter that served the U.S. Army in Vietnam and Laos from 1968 to 1971. Five states were vying for the acquisition of the Cobra, “due to the hard work […]

WABASHA — Andru Peters, commander of Wabasha County American Legion and former legislative chair for District 1 of Minnesota, is pushing state government to pass a bill giving 100 percent property-tax relief to posts that own buildings. He also wants posts of The American Legion […]

By Dee Dee Buckley The National Security Program promotes a strong national defense supporting servicemembers and their families. The National Security pages included 2019-2020 Unit Guide lists the three major areas that our National organization would like to see as our emphasis this year. The […]

INDIANAPOLIS — The leader of the nation’s largest veterans organization has called on health care administrators to study the findings of a recent VA inspector general’s report to ensure that circumstances that contributed to a veteran’s 2018 suicide do not re-occur. “One veteran suicide is […]

MINNEAPOLIS — Imagine taking college classes at the site of your next employer. That’s pretty much what is happening at the Minneapolis Veterans Home. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs has a new partnership with Inver Hills Community College that allows nursing students to take […]

MINNEAPOLIS — New Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Larry Herke “probably thought I was stalking him,” said Peggy Moon at the opening of the steel truss bridge outside the Minneapolis Veterans Home on Jan. 9. She said she bothered him so much about getting the bridge […]

Despite surgery and recovery, the hardest part is two soldiers who saved his life in a Tal Afar battle never made it back home This is the first in a two-part series. The first part profiles Jeremy Wolfsteller’s combat experience in the Iraq War, and […]

By Tommy Johnson I attended an appeal at the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority Tuesday, Dec. 3, on behalf of the child of a combat veteran and his fiancé. The first signs that the hearing was not going to go well were when the hearing officer […]

By Tim Engstrom Tom Mullon recalls working at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Manhattan early in his career and coordinating a meeting of 100 or so Vietnam veterans with hospital leaders. One by one, the veterans told stories reflecting “the need for the VA to […]

Greetings, Minnesota American Legion Family. The ceremony for the 100th convention plaque dedication was held in Minneapolis at Peavey Plaza on Nicollet Mall Saturday, Dec. 7. The first American Legion National Convention was held in Minneapolis in 1919 and the 100th convention was held in […]

Dr. Meghan Press will be formally honored in March in D.C. MINNEAPOLIS — American Legion officials in Minnesota recognized a general psychiatrist at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center as the Physician of the Year, not only for the Minnesota but for the entire VA Health […]

MAHNOMEN — Assistant Attorney General Sarah Gillaspey of the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office was on hand at the Fall Conference in October, and she shared the leading ways for nonprofit corporations to get investigated: • Misuse of nonprofit assets.• Related-party transactions.• An absent or detached […]

The American Legion’s 2019 Physician of the Year is a Minnesota doctor. In early November, the headquarters of The American Legion notified the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration, the VA Midwest Health Care Network and the Minneapolis VA Health Care System […]

Legionnaires got to see a side of Al Zdon that they don’t often see. Zdon played the banjo and sang. By Tim Engstrom ANOKA — Past National Commander Dan Ludwig’s first impression of Al Zdon came at the 1996 Fall Conference. Zdon, the former editor […]

MINNEAPOLIS — The American Legion and the city of Minneapolis have a relationship going back for 100 years. That connection is now explained on a plaque at Peavey Plaza, near the corner of Nicollet Avenue and South 11th Street. On Pearl Harbor Day, about 25 […]