Congress considers separate funding for VA medical care
Stars & Stripes BY NIKKI WENTLING • STARS AND STRIPES • APRIL 6, 2022 WASHINGTON — House lawmakers began a debate Wednesday about a White House proposal to separate funding for veterans’ medical care from the rest of the federal budget — an action that […]
Spike in veteran calls expected with launch of new three-digit suicide prevention line this summer
Military Times By Leo Shane III • Apr 6, 03:02 PM Veterans Affairs officials expect calls to the Veterans Crisis Line to increase by as much as 150% after a new three-digit dialing code for suicide prevention services starts operating this July. That would mean […]
Afghanistan veteran endures tumors and surgeries during time in service
The battle of broken knee By Tim Engstrom BOVEY — Some battles are fought on the operating table. Such is the story of Peter Dubey, a Legionnaire leading a post way up in God’s Country, where the lakes are abundant and the woods are all-around. […]
‘Be the one to save one’ …National Commander sends message to veterans to reduce suicides
Oelwein Daily Register (IA): Oelwein American Legion Post 9 legionnaires and auxiliary were honored to host a visit from the American Legion National Commander Paul Dillard on Thursday morning. Dillard, of Lake Kiowa, Texas, was joined by an entourage of state and national legion dignitaries […]
The American Legion National Commander To Tour Minnesota in April
The American Legion National Commander Paul E. Dillard is scheduled to tour Minnesota next month. From April 10-15, Dillard will travel through southern Minnesota, visiting and speaking at several MN American Legion posts. The theme of his tour is “No Veteran Left Behind.” Read on […]
Suicide Crisis Documentary
Sunday, March 20th – 2:00 PM Documentary Viewing of HBO film – CRISIS HOTLINE: VETERANS PRESS 1 (event flyer attached) Location: Faribault, MN – American Legion Post 43 There will be open discussion with a Q&A session following the film. Staff from Minneapolis VA Medical […]
Commissioner: Every veteran deserves a place to call home
By Larry Herke from March 2022 issue of The Minnesota Legionnaire During the cold Minnesota winters, we are reminded of the importance of a warm and safe place to live. Sadly, for hundreds of Minnesota veterans, homelessness has become a way of life. Since 2014, […]
WWII hero to receive French Legion of Honor at Montgomery Post 79
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 9, 2022 CONTACT: Tim Engstrom Mike Maxa Director of Communications Adjutant American Legion Dept. of Minnesota American Legion Dept. of Minnesota tengstrom@mnlegion.org mmaxa@mnlegion.org 952-679-0134 763-229-7595 WWII hero to receive French Legion of Honor at Montgomery Post 79 ~~ Please […]
The American Legion’s Physician of the Year is a doctor at St. Cloud VA
ST. CLOUD — The American Legion Headquarters in Indianapolis on Jan. 31 notified Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough, several VA officials and Minnesota American Legion Commander Tom Fernlund — of St. Cloud — of some news. Dr. Joel N. Syvrud of the St. Cloud […]
Resolution No. 1: Statement on Ukraine
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN LEGION 2022 Resolution No. 1: Statement on Ukraine Origin: Register Resolution No. 2816 (NC) Department Executive Committee Submitted By: National Security Commission WHEREAS, The American Legion believes in a rules-based international order where the territorial boundaries of any sovereign […]
Congressional support increases for permanent US military bases in the Baltics
BY SVETLANA SHKOLNIKOVA • STARS AND STRIPES • MARCH 2, 2022 WASHINGTON — Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is prompting congressional lawmakers to reconsider the U.S. security structure in the Baltics, where leaders have long sought permanent American military bases in their countries. “Having a U.S. […]
Release: Eden Valley-Watkins High School student wins state level of American Legion Oratorical Contest
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, March 2, 2021 mnlegion.org CONTACT: Tim Engstrom Director of Communications American Legion Department of Minnesota tengstrom@mnlegion.org 952-679-0134 Eden Valley-Watkins High School student wins state level of American Legion Oratorical Contest ANOKA — A […]
There is a serious blood shortage now
Mail Call from The Minnesota Legionnaire This letter to the editor contains information I have come across from the American Red Cross and is pertinent to our mission as Legionnaires: Donate Blood to Save Lives: There may be different reasons behind the blood requirement of […]
The American Legion at Work for our Children
Below are the numbers for one of our four pillars “Children & Youth”. These numbers represent the great work we Legionnaires and the Legion family do. This pillar is one of our why’s, why we belong and for those who don’t belong to this fantastic […]
Have we Forgotten Our Why?
By Mike Maxa Are we in a permanent full-moon phase? The number of phone calls I have received these past few months is staggering on how the posts in the Department of Minnesota are conducting themselves. Have we lost our way and forgotten how to […]
American Legion volunteers bring life to forgotten cemetery
The Laurel (Miss.) Leader-Call By Mark Thornton • 12 hrs ago An old flag flapping in the breeze in the middle of town led to a grave discovery — more than 50 of them, actually. An overgrown, untended cemetery, between Masonite and Interstate 59 on […]
Appreciation Rally is around the corner
FOREST LAKE — The Minnesota American Legion Family Appreciation Rally is the next membership get-together on the Legion Family calendar. It is slated for March 12 at Forest Lake Post 225. Cost is $20. To make reservations, contact rally chairmen Terry Larson and Don Skow. […]
Statement: U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn was a friend to veterans of Minnesota and will be missed
Attributable to Department Commander Tom Fernlund Feb. 18, 2022 Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn, who died Thursday at 59 after a long battle with kidney cancer. Hagedorn was a strong supporter of veterans. Perhaps his […]
Every Third Saturday founder served on Marine security team in Kurdish Civil War
‘Able to act now’ By Tim Engstrom MINNEAPOLIS — There’s a place just six blocks west of the Minneapolis VA Medical Center on 54th Street where veterans can find clothing, boots, blankets, sleeping bags, towels, sheets, pillows, bags, hygiene products, financial assistance, temporary shelter, Alcoholic […]
VA to Overhaul Disability Evaluations for Mental Health, Other Conditions
Military.com 15 Feb 2022 • Military.com • By Patricia Kime The Department of Veterans Affairs will change its disability ratings criteria for mental health conditions, sleep apnea and tinnitus, part of a major overhaul of the review process to ensure that compensation matches veterans’ medical […]
Free game and fish licenses provided to Minnesota Veterans?
An American Legion Department of Minnesota legislative priority approved by the Department Executive Committee at the October 2021 committee meeting. Call to Action: Legionnaires call your local representatives and Senators for them to back this bill and pass it this year! HF3046; a bill for […]
Want to use both Post-9/11 and Montgomery GI Bill benefits? Hurry up and wait.
Military Times By Leo Shane III • Feb 8, 02:10 PM Another federal panel will review arguments later this year on whether veterans should be allowed to use both the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill to get a college degree, the latest legal […]
White House pushing to get more veterans into the trucking industry
Military Times By Leo Shane III • Feb 7, 01:31 PM The White House’s latest idea to fix the nation’s supply chain issues is to put more veterans in trucks. Officials from the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Labor and Transportation in coming days will […]
Congress Set to Extend CR into March Despite Pentagon’s Warnings
Air Force Magazine Feb. 7, 2022 • By Greg Hadley Congress will consider yet another continuing resolution—the third this fiscal year—to keep the government funded into March, as lawmakers continue to haggle over the fiscal 2022 budget. The Further Additional Extending Government Funding Act, introduced […]
Minnesota American Legion purchases car for veteran in need
NEW PRAGUE — An Army veteran and mother of two fell on hard times, then her 2005 Buick Terraza van with over 200,000 miles on it needed thousands of dollars in repairs. She didn’t know what to do. On Friday, Feb. 4, The American Legion […]
Minneapolis VA performs new brain surgery
There aren’t many other places to get it MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis VA Health Care System is now among the few hospitals able to offer deep brain stimulation surgery. “There was a big hole in our country,” said VA staff neurosurgeon Robert McGovern. “Until now, […]
$400M VA program to help COVID-unemployed vets has produced few new jobs
Military Times By Leo Shane III • Feb 2, 02:53 PM Only a few dozen veterans have landed jobs through the Department of Veterans Affairs’ nearly $400 million pandemic employment assistance program, despite significant backing from lawmakers and initial interest among eligible individuals. The Veteran […]
Today in American Legion history:
Feb. 3, 1943: The USAT Dorchester is struck by a German torpedo and sinks in the north Atlantic Ocean. Onboard are four Army chaplains – Methodist Church minister George L. Fox; Reform Rabbi Alexander D. Goode; Reformed Church in America minister Rev. Clark V. Poling […]
Message From Department Blood Program Chairman
Thank You for your continued service as a chair for Minnesota’s blood program. This information I have come across from the American Red Cross and other venues in the past, that I have edited. I think it might be helpful in your endeavors this year. […]