Legion s highest honors awarded

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1 Vol. 23 No. 7 THE AMERICAN LEGION NEWS ALERT Eagle Scout deadline March 2013 A National Headquarters Publication WASHINGTON CONFERENCE American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year applications are due to National Headquarters by April 1. Download a nomination form: documents/legion/pdf/ eaglescoutnomform.pdf Legacy Scholarship applications Jim Webb Photo by Eldon Lindsay Bob Woodruff Legion s highest honors awarded ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff received The American Legion National Commander s Public Relations Award during a luncheon Feb. 27 at the 53rd annual Washington Conference. He was on assignment in Syria and was unable to attend the luncheon. Woodruff was co-anchor of ABC s World News Tonight when he was wounded by a roadside bomb near Taji, Iraq, on Jan. 29, In addition to his outstanding reporting about the challenges facing veterans and their families, Woodruff created the nonprofit Bob Woodruff Foundation, which is dedicated to helping wounded veterans recover and readjust into society. Former U.S. Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia received The American Legion Distinguished Public Service Award on Feb. 26 during the Washington Conference. I thank you for recognizing me for this award, Webb said to those in attendance. And to all of you here, I appreciate what you have done for your country and what you are doing now on behalf of those who serve. Webb earned an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated in 1968 as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He served in Vietnam as a platoon leader, earning the Navy Cross, Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts. He is also an author and sponsor of the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act. National Commander Jim Koutz called Webb a man of courage, intelligence and integrity, who was honored with the award for his service to the Marine Corps, the Department of Defense, the Naval Academy and the Post-9/11 GI Bill. When I put that GI Bill in the hopper I said, You know, we keep saying this is the next greatest generation, but remember what we did for the greatest generation - we gave them the best GI Bill in history, we paid their tuition, bought their books and gave them a stipend. Let s do that again. And we did. Now there s 900,000 (veterans and servicemembers) who have a chance of a first-class future because of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Webb was also the recipient of the National Commander s Public Relations Award in 1979 after writing Fields of Fire, a novel about several Marines serving during the Vietnam War. The Public Relations Award is on my office wall and this award, which I deeply appreciate, will join it. American Legion Legacy Scholarship applications are due to National Headquarters by April 15. The Legacy Scholarship ensures that the children of parents who died while on active-duty military service on or after Sept. 11, 2001, achieve their dream of attending college. Download an application: documents/legion/pdf/ legacy_scholarship.pdf 76th High School Oratorical Contest The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program, A Constitutional Speech Contest, is April 19 to 21 in Indianapolis. Watch the top three finalists compete live April 21 at 10 a.m. (EDT): Legion-sponsored career fairs Veterans and military spouses are invited to attend any of the upcoming career fairs sponsored throughout the country by The American Legion, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Recruit Military. Search for job fairs near you: jobfairs

2 2 COMMANDER S MESSAGE Our duty to those who served James E. Koutz National Commander During The American Legion s 53rd annual Washington Conference in February, I listened to many decision-making politicians speak on a variety of issues affecting veterans today. However, the one poignant topic continually addressed was the VA claims backlog. As troops are coming home from war and separating from military service, it is imperative that we, as a nation, ease their transition to civilian life. And a vital aspect of that transition is timely decisions on VA benefits claims. The backlog of pending benefits claims is now estimated to be nearing 1 million, averaging more than 270 days between application and decision. I recently met with President Barack Obama to discuss the backlog issue because The American Legion and the White House are both disappointed that the number of undecided claims continues to grow and little progress has been made to shorten wait times. The president and I both agreed that now is not the time for finger-pointing. With that said, the Legion will continue to work diligently with VA to achieve workable solutions and ensure that its new Fully Developed Claims processing system is effective at the regional office level. During the Washington Conference, Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, promised Legion family members that lawmakers and the administration are unified in their commitment, regardless of party affiliation, to reverse the growing backlog of undecided benefits claims and to provide better access to mental health services. Miller s remark reassures me that our elected and appointed officials in the nation s capital are committed to provide the resources and personnel needed to tackle the claims backlog and mental health-care needs for veterans. This is a very challenging time for VA, but it s the duty of our nation to provide care for the men and women who have served in uniform. The president fully understands that duty, and I assured him that the 2.4 million members of The American Legion are at work across the country every day to ensure that it is upheld. As a Legionnaire, what you do each day for our nation s servicemembers, veterans and their families is important. It s important to me, to The American Legion, and to the millions of veterans who are counting on us to be their voices in Congress and to represent them in every way. I m proud of each and every one of you. FUNDRAISING PROGRAM OCW goal: $500,000 The American Legion Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW) program is dedicated to meeting the needs of wounded, injured or ill military personnel by providing them with comfort items. OCW ensures that patients at U.S. military hospitals and warrior transition units are given items such as exercise equipment, rehabilitation gear, books, DVDs and more. OCW also provides larger items such as ping pong tables, entertainment centers, computers, kayaks and other recreational goods for use by wounded warriors in common areas. National Commander Jim Koutz has made OCW his primary fundraising program during his tenure. His goal is to raise $500,000. All donations made go directly toward the purchase of these comfort items. To donate: MEMBERSHIP Recruiters to be honored with Every Day Is Veterans Day pin During the membership year, National Commander Jim Koutz will award his national commander pin to any Legion Family member who obtains a minimum of three headquarters post transfers, and also obtains an additional combination of 10 new members, renewals and headquarters post transfers to equal a combined number of 13. A new member is any eligible person joining for the 2013 membership year who was not a member of The American Legion during the 2012 membership year. Each member listed must be eligible for membership in The American Legion. Forward names of SAL members or Auxiliary members to your detachment or unit for use in their respective incentive programs. To maintain the integrity of the national commander s pin program, only one pin will be awarded per individual. Upon receipt of the certification form, national membership staff will confirm the names and mail the pin directly to the person who earned it. Commander Koutz s Every Day Is Veterans Day pin incentive program will end June 30, or when supplies are exhausted. Also, Legionnaires who recruit one new member from each eligible war period will receive a certificate. LUCKY13PININCENTIVE.pdf

3 3 NATIONAL ADJUTANT S MESSAGE Bridging the Gap The Legion s new educational comic book helps youth uth recognize, prevent and stop bullying. By Daniel S. Wheeler Photo by Eldon Lindsay Often, when I watch the news on TV, I am reminded ed of the No. 1 challenge many of our children and youth face ace daily in school bullying. Our youth should be focused ed on grades, friendships or sports. Instead, they are being ng bullied or acting as the bully. And as youth have access ss to cellphones and computers, cyberbullying is becoming ming more common. Technology has made it possible for children to send text messages and post comments online that are unkind, hurtful and threatening. The American Legion has a strong dedication to supporting our nation s youth and wants to see bullying stopped. To support our efforts, we have created an educational comic book, Bridging the Gap, to help middle school age children recognize, prevent and stop bullying. Bridging the Gap features six main characters and includes two stories that are interwoven throughout the book. One story focuses on physical bullying and the other on cyberbulling. Each story focuses on how to: Defi ne and recognize bullying behavior; Understand and protect the rights of others; Prevent and stop being bullied yourself; Prevent and stop bullying of others; and Stop cyberbullying. I strongly encourage Legion posts and family members to raise awareness about bullying in their community by distributing copies of Bridging the Gap to local schools. The comic book can be purchased through Emblem Sales for 75 cents each, or 59 cents each for 100 or more. emblem.legion.org/bullying-prevention-comic-book/ productinfo/ The Legion has four other educational comic books for children and youth that can be purchased through Emblem Sales: Our Country s Veterans features veterans contributions to our country and the world. Our Country s Flag explains the history, significance and proper treatment of the U.S. flag. I Pledge Allegiance includes interactive activities and stories that teach how and why we pledge allegiance to our flag. Light of Liberty details our fight for freedom, how our government works, and the rights and responsibilities of every citizen. emblem.legion.org/youth-education/products/1233/ Correspondence and letters to the editor: The American Legion Dispatch P.O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, IN What s online Q&A: How is your post supporting April is Children & Youth Month? org/dispatch Published monthly. Printed by HNE Printers, Columbus, Ind. All American Legion publications are entitled and encouraged to reproduce all staff-written stories within, but please credit Dispatch as the source. A proud member of The National American Legion Press Association. Subscriptions/Customer Service: (317) dispatch@legion.org Fax: (317) Online: EDITOR Cameran Richardson CONTRIBUTORS Andy Romey Eldon Lindsay Matt Grills Jeff Stoffer Henry Howard DESIGNER Jason Reed

4 4 Photo by Eldon Lindsay MEMBERSHIP Brochures help recruit members Two new American Legion brochures illustrate the many ways the organization serves veterans and their communities nationwide: How We Help and Why You Should Belong. How We Help. This brochure focuses on programs and services the Legion provides at the local level to improve the lives of veterans, military personnel, their families and communities. The full-color booklet chronicles in photography and text many of the ways that the Legion works on behalf of veterans who served, and those who are still serving, our nation. The booklet is packed with valuable information about how the Legion provides expert resources, financial assistance, advocacy and more on a range of topics, from career training to benefit claims assistance to family and community support. Why You Should Belong. This full-color brochure educates prospective new members on the Legion s Four Pillars and how they translate into action. To those unfamiliar with the Legion s reach into nearly every community in America, this brochure identifies and explains dozens of helpful programs that impact millions of lives each year. Both publications are part of this spring s bulk shipment, and are available now for download: Departments, districts or posts can request additional copies. Posts and districts are encouraged to work with their departments to order them. Orders can be made through Diane Andretti at The American Legion Magazine Division. dandretti@legion.org (317) ASK A SERVICE OFFICER Cajun Comeau Department Service Officer, North Carolina VA priority groups Q. What are the VA s health-care priority groups? A. Since VA funding from Congress is limited, VA set up eight Priority Groups to make sure that certain groups of veterans are able to be enrolled before others. A veteran will be assigned a Priority Group based on eligibility status 1 is the highest priority for enrollment. Priority Group 1: Veterans with a 50 percent or higher serviceconnected rating and/or determined by VA to be unemployable. Priority Group 2: Veterans with service-connected disabilities rating at 30 or 40 percent. Priority Group 3: POWs, Purple Heart recipients and veterans who were discharged for disabilities incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, serviceconnected at 10 percent or 20 percent, and receiving benefits under 38 U.S. Code 1151 or vocational rehabilitation. Priority Group 4: Veterans in receipt of compensation or pension at the housebound or aid-and-attendance rate, as well as veterans determined by VA to be catastrophically disabled. Priority Group 5: Nonservice-connected veterans and noncompensable service-connected veterans rated at 0 percent and with a net worth not greater than VA financial thresholds, and veterans receiving pension benefits or eligible for Medicaid. Priority Group 6: Veterans who are 0 percent service-connected, exposed to ionizing radiation, served in Vietnam from 1962 to 1975, served in a combat theater and were discharged after Jan. 28, 2003 (for a period of five years after discharge). Priority Group 7: Veterans with an income below the geographically adjusted income threshold for their resident location and agreeing to pay co-pays. Priority Group 8: Veterans with gross household incomes above the VA national income threshold and agreeing to pay co-pays. If you do not fall into one of the groups, see your local VA medical center eligibility adviser for other options. You may also use the Priority Group 8 calculator: Calculator.html Have a claims question? it to: askso@legion.org TAPS Howard Headings Tupelo, Miss. Howard Headings of Post 130 (Department of Mississippi) passed away Feb. 14 at 87. He was a World War II Navy veteran. Mr. Headings served as National and Homeland Security Council vice chairman from 1992 to Robert Skallerud Madison, Minn. Robert Skallerud of Post 158 (Department of Minnesota) passed away Feb. 8 at 82. He was a Korean War Army veteran. Mr. Skallerud served as national vice commander from 1999 to 2000, National Americanism Commission Liaison Committee member from 2004 to 2005, National Children & Youth Commission Liaison Committee member from 2003 to 2004, National Executive Committee member from 2001 to 2005, National Public Relations Commission Liaison Committee member from 2001 to 2003, and department commander from 1998 to Charles A. Wilson Cullen, Va. Charles A. Wilson of Post 42 (Department of Virginia) passed away Feb. 1 at 83. He was a Korean War Navy veteran. Mr. Wilson served as department commander from 1979 to 1980, and National Cemetery Committee member from 1980 to 1989.

5 5 WASHINGTON CONFERENCE Did you know???? Dale Barnett, National Economic Commission Chairman, gives opening remarks. Photo by Eldon Lindsay FILM SPARKS DEBATE On Feb. 26, Legion family members attending The American Legion s 53rd annual Washington Conference watched a special screening of a new feature film, Emperor, debuting nationwide in theaters March 8. Emperor tells the story of Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Brig. Gen. Bonner Fellers critical mission to determine the fate of Emperor Hirohito, who approved the attack on Pearl Harbor that led to Japan and the United States being drawn into World War II. Hirohito was spared punishment for crimes committed by his empire, a decision politically unpopular among many Americans. However, a movie about the unpopular decision and winning the peace in Japan after a horrific war had not been produced until now. Oscar winner Tommy Lee Jones plays MacArthur, while Matthew Fox from TVs Lost and Party of Five plays Fellers. The film is a story of strong men with forward-thinking vision, who were not seduced by the political and emotional feelings of revenge, but were looking to build long-lasting peace and relationships around the world, said Gary Foster, one of the film s producers. I hope Legionnaires who see this film use it as an example of how we really can make significant changes and long-standing peace if we take the petty, small, personal items out of it. Legion family members shared their thoughts about the film and asked questions during a panel discussion following the screening. The No. 1 question asked was whether the decision to keep Hirohito as an emperor was the soundest choice. Without the emperor, Japan would have ventured into chaos, said panelist Michael Green, a Georgetown University professor who served as a historical consultant for the film. Without Japan beginning to rebuild, we would have had a heck of a time responding to Korea we would not have See Emperor on Page 6 Since Jan. 1, The American Legion s Temporary Financial Assistance program has disbursed more than $100,000 in grants, benefiting nearly 350 children. Drea Garcia, a member of American Legion Hollywood Post 43, appeared in the Jeep Whole Again commercial that aired during Super Bowl XLVII on Feb VETERANS BENEFITS New Claims Coach app The Legion s free Claims Coach mobile app was initially launched last November to help veterans and their families connect with a service officer and navigate the VA claims process. After feedback from users, a new version of the app has been launched and is now available. Download from the mobile applications Web page: For those who do not have a smartphone but have access to a computer, instructions on how to use the app are on the Web page. The new Claims Coach app includes a recoded directory of accredited American Legion service officers nationwide that links live to the Legion s membership database and is automatically updated each time the app is launched. The directory is now searchable by state, and search results for each state now include an other resources button that links veterans from the app to that state s Department of Veterans Affairs website. This is an all new app, not an update. Those wishing to download the new app must delete the old version first. However, if you are curently working with a service officer and have a checklist in progress within the original app, we recommend that you continue to use that version. Claims Coach app media print-ready materials are available on the mobile applications Web page. Hard copies of the Claims Coach Users Guide are available through National Headquarters. Request stock #

6 6 From Emperor on Page 5 been able to contain the Soviets in the Pacific and, today, it s the U.S.-Japan alliance that gives us the best chance we have should China rise. The opening scene of Emperor created concern among viewers as it shows the United States dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I was disappointed that the film didn t show what brought us to dropping that bomb, said panelist Bill Christoffersen, a Legionnaire and World War II veteran. I was 18 years old, in the infantry, spent all my time in the Pacific seeing kamikaze attacks and other things. If it hadn t been for that atomic bomb, I wouldn t be sitting here. Past National Commander Jake Comer agreed with Christoffersen s position that the film should have started with the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. They started the war, not us, Comer said, but it looked like we were starting something there with the bombing of two cities. Green responded that showing the Pearl Harbor attack would have shown how angry the American people were, and how extraordinary some of these (later) decisions were. Producers of the film encourage Legionnaires to watch Emperor and host a panel discussion afterward at their affiliated post to address the historical, political, social and cultural issues it raises. This film honors all the sacrifice that was made by those who survived after the war and those who gave their lives during the war, Foster said. It wouldn t have been possible without them. Our hope is that people will see this movie and delve further into reading and looking into the history of what happened in World War II in the Pacific. Download a discussion guide: DATELINE: CAPITOL HILL Sequestration s effects on the military, veterans Kenneth F. Governor Chairman, National Legislative Commission On March 1, President Barack Obama submitted his Office of Management and Budget order, detailing more precisely how $85 billion in across-the-board budget cuts will be made. Overall, sequestration will have wide-ranging and long-term negative effects on the military and veterans. Before any federal civilian employee is furloughed the military is exempt by presidential order the government must first identify and provide employees with a 30-day notice. Employees who receive furlough notices have seven days to appeal. For furlough notices to federal contractor employees, President Obama decided that although war spending is subject to sequestration, defense contractors did not need to follow the law and issue layoff notices. Thus, if contracts are to be altered, there may be a 30-day notice period that still must be given to contractor employees affected by sequestration. In terms of Department of Defense (DoD) spending, military pay is exempt, causing Pentagon accounts to take a heavier reduction of funding because the money that goes toward military pay must be made up somewhere else in the Pentagon s budget. According to testimony from military and civilian Pentagon officials, it appears that DoD will target modernization and readiness accounts for the brunt of these reductions. Modernization is the purchase of new equipment needed for an uncertain future; readiness is how the United States currently pays to train and equip our military forces. However, The American Legion wants no further reductions in DoD accounts as we feel this will be a disastrous public policy decision for our national security. Like the Legion s concern for the billion dollar reduction in VA medical major construction, which means ever-increasing maintenance costs for aging buildings, this delay in military modernization will cause costs to rise in order to maintain aging military equipment that has been heavily used in the past 10 years of warfare. And the loss of readiness funding means current servicemembers will be subjected to longer deployments, their families will be subjected to greater stress due to their loved one being constantly in harm s way, war equipment will further degrade due to lack of parts and replacement with new equipment, and there will be more breakdowns of equipment over time due to equipment overuse. Lastly, units that remain in home station will not have enough funds for training and supplies to deploy. In addition to sequestration, federal government funding is set to expire March 27 when Public Law expires. This means that the final six months of fiscal year 2013 must be funded to avoid a possible government shutdown. The House of Representatives has developed a measure to fund the government until Oct. 1, and is scheduled to vote on it soon.

7 7 MEMBERSHIP INCENTIVES AND AWARDS BIG TWELVE COMPETITION The Big Twelve Competition recognizes departments that meet or exceed their pledged membership goal percentage by the March target date. The percentage does not include members gained through DMS. The competition is broken down into six categories. The winner in each category will be reimbursed for computer equipment purchases of up to $2,000, while the runners-up in each category will be reimbursed for computer equipment purchases of up to $1,000. The six categories in the Big Twelve Competition are: Category I departments of 100,000 or more members Category II departments of 70,000-99,999 members Category III departments of 40,000-69,999 members Category IV departments of 25,000-39,999 members Category V departments of 10,000-24,999 members Category VI departments of 9,999 or fewer members Read more about the Big Twelve Competition by downloading the online National Membership Points Award Manual publication located under Internal Affairs. DISTRICT LEADERS REWARDED FOR POST VISITS The District Commander Post Visitation Award is an incentive for personal visits to posts by district commanders and vice commanders. Personal contact at this level sets the example for post membership workers to make the personal contacts necessary for a successful membership program. Criteria. The district commander and/or vice commanders must visit each post in the district during their year. For districts with more than 30 posts, the district vice commanders can assist in making visits, but the district commander must visit at least 30 of the posts personally. Certification. A list of posts in each district can be obtained with the assistance of department headquarters. At the completion of the 100 percent visit requirement, the district commander will send the completed spreadsheet to the department, which will forward it to National Headquarters by Aug. 2. Awards. Category 1 (up to 20 posts), $100 Category 2 (21 to 35 posts), $200 Category 3 (36 to 50 posts), $300 Category 4 (51 to 65 posts), $400 Category 5 (65 or more posts), $500 POST EXCELLENCE AWARD CONTINUES The Post Excellence Award program honors posts that show excellence in membership participation, youth activities, community service, and support to veterans and U.S. troops. Criteria Membership. Post membership must be at least one member more than the previous year. A post officer must attend district meetings. Youth activities. The post must sponsor and actively participate in at least one primary youth program: Boys State, Legion Baseball, the Oratorical Contest, Boy Scouts of America or Junior Shooting Sports. Community service. The post must organize a community service project that involves members of the Legion, Auxiliary or Sons of The American Legion. A monetary donation may only be one part of a project. Service to troops or veterans. The post must organize a project supporting troops or veterans (e.g., Family Support Network or Operation Comfort Warriors), that involves members of the Legion, Auxiliary or SAL outside the post. A monetary donation may only be one part of a project. Certification. District commanders must certify posts as having fulfilled the four specified criteria, and submit a list of the post s name, number, address and commander s name to department headquarters. If possible, accompany with copies of press releases submitted to local media that raise awareness for the projects and enhance the Legion s public image. Awards. Each qualifying post, as well as district commanders whose districts have at least 50 percent of posts reach certification, will receive a certificate of recognition.

8 THE AMERICAN LEGION P.O. BOX 1055 INDIANAPOLIS, IN Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID THE AMERICAN LEGION March 2013 A National Headquarters Publication WHAT S INSIDE FEATURE STORY: LEGION S TWO HIGHEST AWARDS HONORED Page 1 Commander s Message: Our duty to those who served Page 2 Adjutant s Message: Bridging the Gap Page 3 Ask A Service Officer: VA priority groups Page 4 Washington Conference: Film sparks debate Page 5 Membership Incentives and Awards Page 7 POST ACTIVITIES Download Consolidated Post Report forms online The American Legion Consolidated Post Report (CPR) forms have been mailed to department headquarters for distribution to posts. Consolidated Post Reports are used to assist departments in the documentation of activities that a specific post completes during the 12-month (June 1 through May 31) reporting period. Posts can fill out and submit CPR forms online: mylegion.org; the forms are located under the Post and Department options. After completing the form online, click the submit button to send the report to National Headquarters; a copy will automatically be sent to your department headquarters. Online submission will be available at mylegion.org through July 1. When submitting the paper form, send the original and one copy to your department headquarters by the date they specify; keep the third copy for post records. Download the CPR form: American Legion National Commander Jim Koutz has instituted the following recognition to department leadership in an effort to increase participation in filling out CPRs: Plaque at National Convention for 95 percent to 100 percent reporting. Certificates mailed for more than 75 percent reporting and showing an increase in their response rate from Department commander s picture published in The American Legion Dispatch for those in the 100 Percent Club and the 95 to 99 Percent Club. PLANNER APRIL Children & Youth Month 1 Eagle Scout of the Year applications due to National Headquarters percent national membership target date 15 Legacy Scholarship applications due to National Headquarters th Oratorical Contest MAY percent national membership target date 6-9 National Executive Committee Spring Meetings calendar