As we work “membership”, Gary Prater, Executive Secretary for the Department of California, states we are often asked,  “What does The American Legion do?”  The American Legion: Processes more than 600 disability claims appeals per month for veterans trying to get their VA medical benefits; Gives emergency financial assistance to Legion families hit by hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and other disasters; Urges Congress to provide enough VA funding to take care of veterans’ medical needs – and provide it in advance; Awards college scholarships to children whose mothers or fathers have sacrificed their lives in the global war on terrorism; Volunteers about one million hours every year at about 160 VA medical facilities nationwide; Helps families of deployed troops through it’s Family Support Network and Operation Military Family Outreach; Through its Temporary Financial Assistance program, helps the children of veterans who are suffering hardships; Donates about 100,000 pints of blood annually to the American Red Cross; Lobbies Congress to upgrade and improve Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits (the Legion wrote the original 1944 GI Bill that educated 8 million veterans); Through its Heroes to Hometowns program, works with communities to welcome back their returning veterans and help them make the transition to civilian life; Sponsors more than 5,000 American Legion Baseball teams, which are made up by more than 100,000 ballplayers; Raises funds to improve the quality of life for active-duty troops, with the Wounded Warrior Recognition Program and Operation Comfort Warriors; Offers community programs that encourage the intellectual and social growth of America’s children (Boys State, National Oratorical Competition, Boys Scouts).

In a Nutshell . . . If you’re a veteran, The American Legion will help you . . . It will help you with VA health care, GI Bill benefits, sudden emergencies and the needs of your children . . . And The American Legion does it all for free, because we have an army of volunteers – each one a wartime veteran . . . We understand.  That’s why we’re here now – veterans helping veterans, service members and their families.

To find out much more about what The American Legion does, please visit www.legion.org.  If you’re an eligible veteran why not contact a local Post and join the world’s largest wartime veterans’ organization.

Peggy McIntosh, San Gabriel