Department of California District 18

For further information contact Peggy McIntosh, 626–287-0139

The regular monthly meeting of District 18 will be held Friday, March 19TH, 7:30 p.m. at Alhambra Post 139, 24 N Stoneman, Alhambra.  Reservations for dinner preceding the meeting can be made by calling the Post, 626-457-2723.  Commander George Curtis will preside, as the 91st   birthday of The American Legion is celebrated.  The American Legion was formed in 1919 in Paris while WWI troops were still in France by 20 AEF officers, including Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt.  Cementing the ties of comradeship formed in the service led to formation of a vast medical service system, programs for our nations children, advanced education and training for all veterans, sponsorship of legislation involving veteran issues and the rehabilitation of our nation’s veterans who served and the care of their dependents.

Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Chairman Pam Lee of Covina will up-date the membership on the program “Operation Comfort Warriors”, a campaign by The American Legion to provide comfort items such as DVDs, calling cards, portable electronics, clothing, puzzles and other gifts to military troops recovering in hospitals and bouncy castle for sale warrior transition units.  More than 35,000 men and women in the military have been injured as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Operation Comfort Warriors is not political in any way; its intent is to support the military troops.  The American Legion has successfully delivered more than $200,000 in comfort items to recovering troops at facilities across the United States.

One of the new laws taking effect this year is setting aside March 30th as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day”.  To celebrate this event, it has been announced that Dignity Memorial is bringing its 3/4 scale traveling Vietnam Wall to Southern California.  The Wall will be on display at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier March 23rd through March 30th, and a special invitation is extended to citizens to attend any and all of the events during the days the Wall will be on display.