Veterans Benefits July Newsletter
Click on the link below to see the newsletter from the Veterans Benefits Administration for July 2022. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVAVBA/bulletins/31c157e
WWII veteran, last member of ‘Band of Brothers,’ Bradford Freeman dies at 97
By JOSEPH DITZLER • STARS AND STRIPES • July 6, 2022 The last surviving member of Easy Company, the World War II unit made famous by the “Band of Brothers” book and miniseries, has died. Bradford Freeman died July 3 at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, […]
Four Army veterans to receive Medals of Honor for heroic battles and selfless acts in Vietnam
By SVETLANA SHKOLNIKOVA • STARS AND STRIPES • July 4, 2022 WASHINGTON — One soldier led his unit through a deadly ambush in 1968. Another defended a besieged fire base in 1972. A third directed airstrikes after a crash landing in 1971. And a fourth […]
American Legion highlights current projects, future goals
Dickinson Press By Jason R. O’Day • June 28, 2022 01:15 PM DICKINSON — The North Dakota American Legion hosted its annual summer convention Saturday at the Grand Roosevelt Hotel in Dickinson. Two high-ranking leaders within the organization, National Vice Commander Angel Narvaez of Carolina, […]
Legion Baseball Division 1 Rankings for Week of June 30
Scheels Top 20 Rankings Rankings for Div. I teams in Minnesota American Legion Baseball are released every Thursday during baseball season. This is the rankings for June 30. (in parentheses is last week’s rank) 1. Willmar (1) 2. Hopkins (2) 3. Farmington (3) 4. Mankato […]
Last WWII Medal of Honor Recipient Passes
The American Legion Calls for State Funeral for Woody Williams (INDIANAPOLIS—June 29, 2022) – American Legion National Commander Paul E. Dillard called for President Biden to authorize a state funeral for Woody Williams, the last Medal of Honor recipient from World War II to pass […]
Legion Baseball Division I Rankings for Week of June 23
Scheels Top 20 Rankings Rankings for Div. I teams in Minnesota American Legion Baseball are released every Thursday during baseball season. This is the rankings for June 9. (in parentheses is last week’s rank) 1. Willmar (2) 2. Hopkins (3) 3. Farmington (5) 4. Mankato […]
ALR Fund 85 Run….
Fund 85 Run for 2024 was a huge success with over $40k raised to assist our Minnesota veterans. The run for 2025 is in the planning stages and we will post the run schedule as the plans develop. Please continue to check back for updates.
Legion Baseball Division I Rankings for Week of June 16
Scheels Top 20 Rankings Rankings for Div. I teams in Minnesota American Legion Baseball are released every Thursday during baseball season. This is the rankings for June 9. (in parentheses is last week’s rank) 1. Mankato National (1) 2. Willmar (2) 3. Hopkins (3) 4. […]
Senate & Congress Pass the PACT Act!
The American Legion Hails Senate, 117th Congress for ‘Historic Bipartisan Achievement’ on PACT Act WASHINGTON (June 16, 2022) – The head of the nation’s largest veterans organization praised the Senate for its passage of legislation that will provide comprehensive benefits to veterans suffering from conditions linked […]
House Democrats unveil defense budget in line with White House request, rejecting calls to tie spending to inflation
By SVETLANA SHKOLNIKOVA • STARS AND STRIPES • June 14, 2022 WASHINGTON — House Democrats unveiled a draft defense appropriations bill Tuesday that is in line with the White House’s request for Pentagon funding in fiscal 2023 despite calls by Republicans to adjust spending for […]
Legion Baseball Division I Rankings for Week of June 9
Scheels Top 20 Rankings Rankings for Div. I teams in Minnesota American Legion Baseball are released every Thursday during baseball season. This is the rankings for June 9. (in parentheses is last week’s rank) 1. Mankato National (2) 2. Willmar (3) 3. Hopkins (1) 4. […]
Application Process for the New State Veterans Homes: Preston, Bemidji, and Montevideo
TO: MDVA Stakeholders FROM: Larry Herke, Commissioner Douglas Hughes, Deputy Commissioner – Veterans Healthcare SUBJ: Resident Admission Application Process for New State Veterans Homes DATE: June 8, 2022 Construction on the three new State […]
Op/Ed: Senators can meet Lincoln’s promise to veterans with Honoring Our Pact Act support
Indy Star Paul E. Dillard • Published 5:03 a.m. ET May 31, 2022 Any day now, the U.S. Senate will consider a bill that will be a life-changer for veterans that have been exposed to poisons of war. The Honoring Our Pact Act has passed […]
American Legion carries on, but for how long?
By Mike Crowley • Meadville Tribune • May 30, 2022 CONNEAUTVILLE — A familiar scene will take place this morning in this corner of northwestern Crawford County and across the country. After meeting for breakfast at 8 a.m., members of the Means-Flynn American Legion Post […]
Eagan man named American Legion Firefighter of Year
Amid crashes, fireman saves lives EAGAN — The winner of the Minnesota American Legion Firefighter of the Year dragged a highway crash victim to safety despite being struck by a vehicle. Paul P. Burgett of Apple Valley is a firefighter at the Eagan Fire Department’s […]
VA Offers $20 Million in Prizes for New Ideas to Reduce Suicides Among Veterans
Follow the link below to read the article and learn more about the VA program. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/05/25/va-offers-20-million-prizes-new-ideas-reduce-suicides-among-veterans.html?ESRC=mr_220530.nl
Do you Qualify for a Tax Exclusion?
You may qualify for a property tax exclusion on your home. The exclusion may lower the amount of property taxes you pay. This program is administered by Minnesota counties. Do I qualify for this exclusion? You may qualify if all of these are true: You […]
Deal on toxic exposure bill includes more VA staff, dozens of new VA medical clinics
Military Times By Leo Shane III • May 24, 06:01 PM Veterans Affairs officials would set up 31 major medical clinics across America and hire thousands more claims processors and health care staff under compromise toxic exposure legislation unveiled in the Senate Tuesday. The provisions […]
US keeps world guessing on Taiwan stance
Associated Press By CHRIS MEGERIAN and MATTHEW LEE • yesterday WASHINGTON (AP) — For the third time in less than a year, President Joe Biden has stirred controversy with his comments about Taiwan. The latest example came during his visit to Japan, when a reporter […]
Lawmakers move to guarantee cost-of-living boost for veterans benefits
Military Times By Leo Shane III • May 23, 02:21 PM Lawmakers in recent days took the first steps in ensuring that veterans receive a cost-of-living boost in their federal benefits later this year, introducing legislation that would guarantee the veterans’ checks see the same […]
A Veteran’s Guide To Documenting and Sharing Life Stories
A time for reflection and remembrance, Memorial Day inevitably stirs up memories of our own time in the service. We often find ourselves sharing these stories with our loved ones. Some stories are humorous, while others are poignant–no matter the feeling evoked, each story is […]
Sailors must wait 5 weeks for mental health appointments as Navy battles suicides, top enlisted leader says
By CAITLIN DOORNBOS • STARS AND STRIPES • May 18, 2022 WASHINGTON — It takes more than a month for sailors struggling with thoughts of suicide to get a mental health appointment, the Navy’s top enlisted leader told House lawmakers Wednesday. Master Chief Petty Officer […]
Senators reach deal to advance sweeping military toxic exposure legislation
By Leo Shane III • May 18, 08:30 AM Senate leaders on Wednesday announced they have reached a deal to pass sweeping military toxic exposure legislation later this summer, paving the way for millions of veterans exposed to burn pit smoke and other battlefield toxins […]
Captain Charlie Plumb Keynote Speaker
New military suicide prevention study group to begin work this summer
Military Times By Leo Shane III • May 17, 05:25 PM Defense Department officials on Tuesday unveiled their 10-member panel charged with studying suicide prevention and behavioral health programs across the services, and the nine military installations they’ll visit in coming months to evaluate what […]
Researchers Think They’ve Found the Cause of Gulf War Illness
17 May 2022 • Military.com • By Patricia Kime After nearly 30 years of trying to prove a theory — that an environmental toxin was responsible for sickening roughly 250,000 U.S. troops who served in the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War — Dr. Robert Haley says […]
Thousands of smartphones purchased by VA went unused
Associated Press By MICHAEL CASEY • May 5, 2022 The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs wasted nearly $2 million when most of the smartphones bought during the pandemic for homeless veterans went unused, according to an inspector general’s report. The report, released Wednesday, found that […]
This week in American Legion history
May 8-10, 1919: The American Legion’s constitution is approved at the St. Louis Caucus, conducted inside the Shubert Theater. Before declining nomination to lead the new organization but serving as temporary chairman of the caucus, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., calls the session to order with a […]
Under Rotunda, Rep. Bob Dettmer gives farewell address to veterans
By Tim Engstrom The Minnesota Legionnaire ST. PAUL — Veterans Day on the Hill on April 20 was a time to tell state leaders about legislation Minnesota military veterans want passed, but this time around, it also was the farewell for state Rep. Bob Dettmer, […]