Guest editorial: What The American Legion does
Published 12:02 am Wednesday, November 11, 2015
• Processes more than 600 disability claims appeals per month for veterans trying to get their VA medical benefits.
• Sponsors more than 5,000 American Legion Baseball teams, comprising more than 100,000 ballplayers.
• Helps families of deployed troops through its Family Support Network and Operation Military Family Outreach.
• Awards college scholarships to children whose mothers or fathers have sacrificed their lives in the global war on terrorism through The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund.
• Through its Temporary Financial Assistance program, helps the children of veterans who are suffering hardships.
• Through its Heroes To Hometowns program, works with communities to welcome back their returning veterans and help them make the transition to civilian life.
• 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).
• Urges Congress to provide enough VA funding to take care of veterans’ medical needs and authorize appropriations in advance.
• Volunteers about one million hours every year at about 160 VA medical facilities nationwide.
• Gives emergency financial assistance to Legion families hit by hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and other disasters through The American Legion National Emergency Fund.
• Offers community programs that encourage the intellectual and social growth of America’s children (Boys State, National Oratorical Competition, Junior Shooting Sports, Boy Scouts).
• Raises funds to improve the quality of life for active-duty troops through Operation Comfort Warriors.
(Provided by the American Legion)